Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7932, for Thomas Park, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn
Park, Thomas
R. 7932
CONTENTS

7932 P. O. Sto Park
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Dr. A. P. Park Chicago Ills. Co. Ill
New York - 31.035
Thomas Park
Revolutionary
Rejected
Let to b
Dana May 27
1834 (see City in chm R 35 W. High St. London) do to Hon. N. Halsey 9 Jan 2 1834 - DR Park Jan 7 13 1856 -
7932
Act of June 32

State of New York
Tioga County S. On this 2 nd day of January A D 1833. personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Tioga now sitting. Thomas Park a resident of Candor in the County of Tioga & State of New York aged eighty four 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 th A D 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
That he was born at Stonington in New London County, Connecticut on the 14 th day of December 1748. as he is informed by tradition as he has no record of his age. That he resided at time in Connecticut, during the period of the Revolutionary war, and from thence entered service as below stated. That some time in May 1775 after the battle of Lexington had driven the Colonies to arms, he went down to New London and engaged with Thomas Mumford a Commissary of the Army and according to present recollection under Commissary General Wallworth, to procure supplies of provisions for the Army. At that time he owned a boat or vessel, armed with two swivels, and which he manned at his own expense. The commissary supplied the money to him for the purchase of provisions, and it was his duty to make the purchases & transport them to the army.
That his first service was a voyage up the Connecticut River to Wethersfield where he purchased a cargo of provisions of one Colonel Webb which he delivered to the Commissary at New London. That he continued in this service one year and one month, and during that time was often attacked by the enemies vessels, from whom he escaped sometimes by fighting and sometimes by outsailing them, his vessel with his crew being the best sailor on the coast & river. - He was employed chiefly on Connecticut River and on Long Island Sound for the purpose before mentioned and also for procuring intelligence when necessary. Once off New Haven with a cargo of provisions he was attacked by a Tory Sloop carrying twelve guns commanded by one Thomas Thomas, by whom he was compelled to run in under the rocks at Sachems Head, by which means he escaped after having had fifty rounds with him. On June 1776. He left the Commissary's service and fitted out a Sloop which he owned called the "Defiance" as a privateer and received a commission "to take burn sink & destroy" the

the vessels & property of the enemy on the sea. The Commission was signed by Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut who was authorized to issue such warrants. Soon after the receipt of his commission he captured the George, the Harlequin, the Delancy, & three other vessels of the enemy & carried them into Wadsworth London. The same year he took a Tory vessel of twelve guns, and six sail of smugglers who were conveying provisions to the enemy. In July 1780. After the French fleet commanded by the Chevalier De Ternay anchored at Newport in Rhode Island, with the French Army under Count Rochambeau, he sailed to Newport and acted as a tender to the fleet, and foraged for the army of these allies. He was most acquainted with Count Rochambeau who apparently had the Command over both fleet & army - He continued with the fleet eleven months foraging & obtaining intelligence, and in other respect, acting as occasion required.
In the year 1781. When Arnold made an excursion in his native State, he discovered the party or army under Arnold from Fort Hill near Groton by aid of a glass, while they were landing at Groton. He went down to his vessel and armed his crew at that time consisting of no more than ten men and went down towards fort Griswold. He met a flanking party of 50. Men on whom they commenced a fire which they kept up until their ammunition was exhausted - they then went to fort Griswold about one mile & a half from where they first fired on the enemy & procured fifty shot rounds of ammunition each which from a cedar swamp they fired at the enemy. Colonel Nathan Gallop & Col. Oliver Smith were without the fort & took the direction of those persons who came to its aid.
The fort was commanded by Colonel Sedgwick. His (Col. S's) Adjutant was Enock Stanton. After the place was taken he succeeded in surprising and taking prisoner one of the enemies sentinels. On the morning after Arnold's evacuation of the place he went into the fort, and helped to bury the murdered garrison, which was done under arms. Immediately after this event he put to sea & captured a Tory Sloop - and about the same time captured a Schooner belonging to a Tory named Halsey. During the same season he recaptured a Sloop of one hundred tons loaded with earthen ware, lumber, & molasses, which had been taken by Tories & then had the captors on board. She was

called the Tartar. He carried her into the Myrtle River at Groton. He became so annoying to the Tories, that this year (1781) his house was plundered of property to the amount of more than one thousand dollars, five hundred thereof being in specie and the house itself was burned by them destroying many of his papers &c.
He continued in this service until the close of the war in 1783. He was often required by the Commandants of the forts Griswold & Trumbull to sail out for the discovery of the character of approaching vessels and for other information, & was continually employed on all the service that could be performed by his vessel, sometimes by Col. Sedgwick of Fort Griswold - at other times by Capt. Shapley at Fort Trumbull.
Amongst the masters of vessels with whom he was acquainted, were Captain Hinman of the Hancock - Capt Joseph Conklin of the Beaver - Capt Edward Conklin of the Eagle & Captain Dibble of the Andrew Doria a Continental Brig. On land he was also acquainted with an other Commissary of the name of Lockwood at Wallingford. He retained his commission until after he removed to Canford in the County of Tioga & State of New York his present place of residence, when a son of his destroyed it. He has now no documentary evidence of his service. Thomas Eldredge Helen Williams & Capt. Hugh E. Field are knowing to some part of his service whose or some of whose affidavits are annexed. Since the war, he has resided at Groton, Connecticut - at Catskill Green Co. State of New York - at Chocowit in Broome County N.Y. and lately at Canford in Tioga County where he now resides.
He is known to Messrs. Green, M c Intire, & others his neighbours, who can attest to his character for veracity and just dealing in all his services as a soldier of the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity for such services except that present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before
John Dyer
Notary Public in & for the County of Tioga
We the undersigned men in the town of Canford in the County of Tioga & State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Park who subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be right four years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have served in the war of the Revolution as the Commandant of an armed vessel in the manner stated in his declaration.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Simson Cartwright Moses Grimes
Green M c Intire

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was in the revolutionary service and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Simon Courtright and Moses Grimes who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the Town of Candor & County aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Green M. Tuthill Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Tioga County in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Park for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of said Office this 2 nd day of January A D 1835.
Green M. Tuthill
Thos. Park

State of New York Broome County §. Helena Williams of Vestal in said County aged Seventy years, being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she was born in Norton New London County in the State of Connecticut - That she was well acquainted with Thomas Park now of Canaan in the County of Tioga, during the time of her childhood, and that her acquaintance has continued from thence to the present time. That her father Thomas Eldridge was engaged with Capt. Thomas Park on board of a Vessel owned or commanded by said Park, about the year 1775. in the service of the Continental Department, under Thomas Mum- ford. That her father was offered a lieutenancy Commission in the land service but was prevented from accepting it by Mr. Mumford, who thought it would rather be his duty to enter the ship or Vessel of Capt. Park. That she cannot now say with certainty how long Captain Park & her father continued in this service but according to her best recollection it was some- thing more than a year or about that time. That at the period of the arrival of the French Fleet at Newport, Captain Park, with his vessel and crew, were engaged in procuring supplies for that fleet and the army which came over in it. That they were often passing to & from the fleet - that they were some- times in danger from the British Men of War stationed off the port. She remembers seeing the Asia, a British man of war - and also the Amazon - and the Culloden which was afterwards cast away. That she does not know the nature of the whole of the employment of Capt. Park and his Vessel at this period, but knows that he was occupied in service during the stay of the fleet and army at Newport. She remembers that in the year 1781. Arnold came down upon his native State. That she resided at the time about four miles from Fort Griswold. That she recollects Captain Park one morning brought in a British soldier whom he had captured near the fort. That the said Park had a severe engagement on Long Island Sound with a British Galley, which had severely annoyed the inhabitants on the coast - that she had a brother engaged in that action. That Capt. Park was, during the whole war actively engaged in service - that he was at home but very little during all that period, and his services were every where spoken of in the range of her acquaintance, as being highly valuable to the inhabitants, from which reports, as well as from the reports of her father & brother and from conversation with the Captain him- self she derived most of her knowledge & information as to Captain Park's services, at the time of their rendition. And this deponent further

saieth that she continued to reside at Groton aforesaid during the war and for about ten years after its close, when she removed to Vestal where she now resides, which was formerly known by the name of Chocowit and is still so called by the elder inhabitants.
Helena Williams
Sworn & subscribed this 30 th day of Dec r . 1833.
before me John La Grange for Justice Peace
I certify that Helena Williams who subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affidavit is well known to me, and is a credible person whose testimony is entitled to full credence and belief. Dated Dec r . 30 th 1833.
John La Grange for J. P.
Broome County ss. Thomas Eldridge of Vestal in said County being duly sworn deposeth and that he is aged seventy one years & upward, That he was born at Groton New London County and State of Connecticut. That he has been acquainted with Thomas Park now of Candor Tioga County ever since childhood. That at the commencement of the war of the revolution, Capt. Park with his father (Deponent) and this Deponent and others, volunteered to go to Rhode Island on the expedition under Genl. Sullivan against the British there. That Capt. Shapley commanded this Company of volunteers - That immediately after this expedition, Captain Park fitted out a Sloop of nine guns with from forty to fifty hands as a crew. The Vessel was called the Ruler. This Deponent was engaged as a hand on board the same vessel. Captain Park commanded the Vessel and had a Commission. That he was engaged in the Commissarys service under Mr. Thomas Mumford. He sailed up & down the Sound in that service. Mumford paid Captain Parks wages and the Captain paid us. Captain Park captured several vessels of the British on the Sound. When the French Fleet arrived at Newport Captain Park engaged as a tender for the fleet, and procured supplies for the army, and continued to serve with them as long as the French fleet & army remained at New Port. That the name of the Vessel was altered from "Prudence" to "Defiance," which took place after some alterations had been

made on her. That at the time Genl. Payson was out in Connecticut, Capt. Park with his crew were engaged very often on the land, against the troops under Payson.
That at one time about 1883 just before the Peace was made known on the Sound, Capt. Park with two or three vessels was down at Old man's harbor so called below Huntington, and captured several small vessels of the enemy, and Captain Park landed with about two hundred and fifty men and had a battle with some British soldiers and drove them back from the coast.
That during the whole war Captain Park was actively engaged on the Sound, and his services were highly important to the inhabitants of Connecticut on the Sound & on Connecticut River, who relied on his vessel as one of their safe guards against the depredations of the enemy made in small vessels, & small parties on land. This deponent was knowing to the fact, that Captain Park's house was burned by the enemy.
Deponent heard the Governor of Connecticut declare before the Supreme Court of that State on occasion of a trial, that the inhabitants of Connecticut were greatly indebted to Capt. Park for his services. And this deponent further saith that from the infirmities of age & the consequent loss of memory he is unable to state more particularly the amount & nature of said Park's services.
Thomas Eldridge
Sworn & subscribed this 30th day of Decr. 1833. before me.
John La Grange Jr. justice of the Peace
I certify that Thomas Eldridge who made oath to the foregoing affidavit is known to me to be a respectable & credible person whose testimony is entitled to the fullest credence & belief.
Dated Decr. 30th 1833.
John La Grange Jr. J.P.

State of New York } Broom County } - 1. Certificate for both affds
State of New York } Broom County p. }
D. B. Marvin Clerk of said county do certify, that John La Grange Jr. Esq. Before whom the within affidavit purports to have been made was on the date thereof a Justice of the peace in & for this county, and I am well acquainted with his hand writing & believe the signature of John La Grange Jr. to be his proper hand writing. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 7 th day of Jan. 1834
D. B. Marvin Clerk
Thomas Pake
31.035-
Leyus Dana Avegs NY
Application of Capt. Thomas Pake of Allega County