Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21988, for John Porter, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (born) Porter, John Mary
W 21988
CONTENTS

CONNECTICUT
Mary Porter decd widow of John Porter who was an Artificer in the Revolution
Drawn from #132
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 240 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. 3
Exh 13 Citing 19 th August 1844 Exh 22
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Jany 1851 and sent to
Hon A. Fowler House of Reps
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Entered in Book A. Vol. 2, Page 56

1620
3774
Mary Pate wid of John de Count
Ad 7 July 1838
Maria 1784
deca 1802.
22 mo. $132 per
emg. Adolphus, pri
Col Baldwin -
Hm. J. Ingham HR

State of Connecticut Vs. East Hartford Decem r 22, 1838.
On this 22 nd day of December 1838, personally appeared before me Seth Terry, Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford, (said Court having a Seal, and being a Court of Record), Mrs. Mary Porter a resident of the town of East Hartford in the County of Hartford aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of the late John Porter Esq., and that the evidence of his service in the Connecticut line of the Continental Army is contained in a Certificate of Henry Kilbourn Esq. Comptroller of the State of Connecticut, bearing date Decem r . 18, 1838, and accompanying this declaration. She further declares that she was married to the said John Porter on the 20 th day of May in the year seven hundred and eighty four. That her husband, the aforesaid John Porter died on the 28 th day of May A.D. 1806; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated, and that she has never intermarried since the death of the said John Porter.
Mary Porter
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me
Seth Terry Judge —

Comptroller Office Hartford Dec 18, 1838
I certify that on application for evidence for the services of John Porter I have examined the records of settlements made with the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army and find his name in a settlement with the Regiment of Artillery under Baldwin Esq. Col. before 1780 where he is returned as a private and as having commenced service March 1, 1779, Time of settlement July 1, 1780, Making Ten Months; And in the same Regiment where he commenced service as a private July 1, 1780 Time of settlement Dec 31, 1780, Making Twelve Months
Henry Willbourn Compt
the two terms of service making 22 months.

John Porter born 23 rd Oct r A.D. 1757. Married Mary Williams born 15 th Sept r A.D. 1765, 20 th May 1786. Their Daughter Mary Williams born 4 th April 1785. Charles born - 5 th Sept r 12 O'Clock night 1787. Died Jan y 28 th 1791. 30 minutes past 3 O'Clock in y e morning Charles Leonard born 23 rd Novem r 1792. Henry Chester born 9 th June 1797. John Porter died May 28 th 1806, 15 minutes past 8 O'Clock in y e morning. Charles L Porter Married August 26 1811 Henry C. Porter, married Sept r 15 1824 Mary W. Porter died Feb y 13 th 1838 In the 53 rd year of her age

State of Connecticut, Hartford, Decem r 21. 1838.
This may certify that my father the late John Porter Esq. removed from Lebanon in this State to East Hartford about the year 1785, and several years after to Hartford where he resided till the time of his death. He was married to my mother who is now living, and who was a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Williams of East Hartford, on the 20 th of May 1784 as appears from a record made before I was born, in his family bible, which contained the births of my father and mother, their marriage, and the births and deaths of the members of the family. As long ago as I can remember the record of his marriage to my mother was recorded there, and it is in his own hand writing. No other record of the marriage has ever existed to my knowledge, or that I can learn of by inquiry; and at that period it was not common for Clergymen to keep a record of marriages, and it is not generally practiced in this State now. In 1797 or 1798, my father was appointed Comptroller of Public Accounts of this State, which office he held till the time of his death, which was in May 1806. My mother has remained a widow since his death till this time, and still remains so, residing part of the time with myself and family, and part of the time in the family of my brother, and for a few years past has resided at East Hartford at the Mansion House of her late father. The family bible which contains the record of the marriage of my mother, has since the death of my father been in my family when my mother resided with me, and in the family of my brother when she resided with him; and since she has resided at East Hartford it has been with her, and always among her own books. I know the record to be genuine, and that it is my father's hand. The record of the marriage of my father & of other members of the family, I have this day taken from the old family bible, and this original is enclosed & appended hereto —
Charles L. Porter
Subscribed & Sworn to the day & year
first above written —
before me Seth Ferry Judge —

Executive Office
Hartford December 21, 1932
This may certify that I am well acquainted with Charles L. Porter, who has subscribed the within the deposition, and that his testimony is entitled to full confidence & belief.
M c W. Ellsworth
foot of bond

State of Connecticut ss-
I Seth Terry Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford do hereby certify that the within & foregoing contains the proceedings before said Court held within said District on the 22 d day of December A D 1838. in the matter of the application of Mrs Mary Porter for a Pension - that I am well acquainted with the character & reputation of the said Mrs Porter & of Charles L. Porter Deponents & that their testimony is entitled to full credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office the day & year first above written.
Seth Terry Judge -
State of Connecticut
I Nathaniel Goodwin Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford and keeper of the seal thereof do certify that Seth Terry whose name is above written subscribed his name to the above certificate at the time he was & is Judge of said Court of Probate - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of said office at Hartford this 22 d day of Dec r A D 1838.
Nathaniel Goodwin, Clerk of the Court of Probate, for the District of Hartford.

I Charles L. Porter, of East Hartford, Connecticut, hereby, declare, that I am the son of Mary Porter of East Hartford, and of John Porter of Hartford, both deceased; that I am informed that the pension received by said Mary Porter, as widow of said John, an artificer in the army of the American Revolution, was less than that to which she was justly entitled; and that I claim whatever increase may be found due, as heir of said Mary, and, also, in behalf of Henry C. Porter, now residing in New York, who is the only other child and heir of said Mary.
Dated at Hartford Aug 7. 1850.
Charles L. Porter
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss Hartford August 7 th AD 1850
Personally appeared Charles L. Porter who subscribed the foregoing affidavit and made oath that the same is true.
Before me
Chas Chapman Justice of Peace

STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
I, JOHN P. C. MATHER , Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern, That Charles Chapman Esq r is, and since the fourth day of July last past hath been Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed and commissioned,---having full power and authority by the laws of said State, to take the Acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer Oaths, to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give Certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations.
And I further Certify, That I believe the foregoing signature of the said Charles Chapman to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at Hartford, this seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
John P. C. Mather Secretary of State.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 21.588
Mary Porter widow of John Porter Artificer New War
Act: March 31. 48
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 138
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Connecticut
Mary Parton widow of John Parton who was an Artificer in the Connecticut line for 22. Months.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 132. Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of June 1843, and sent to
E. L. Parton Hartford Conn.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 74.
Rep.
Ltr to C. L. Parton Aug 24 1843
" Hon. O. Horton Aug t 20/50

Department of State, Washington, August 21. 1850.
Hon: Orin Fowler, House of Representatives,
Sir,
In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 19 th instants, received this day, I herein communicate to you "the evidence of the services of John Portee and Charles Reynolds as Artillery Artificers," as found in the volume of the Washington Papers, referred to by you.
In N o 35 of the Army Returns, in a "Return of the non-commissioned officers and privates, of Capt. Thomas Patten's Company of Artill ry Artificers, who is Enlisted for the War", dated "West Point June 4, 1783", under the head of 'Privates,' appears the name of "Charles Reynolds," belonging to "Connecticut, Town of East Hartford," and also that of "John Portee, State of Connecticut, Town of Danbury." This paper is signed by "J."

"T. Patterson, Captain, Artill y Artificers."
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
D avid Webster

Hartford Conn t Aug t 19. 1843.
Sir,
Sometime in April last I enclosed to you the necessary evidence (as I supposed) for replacing on the Widows Pension list under the act of March 1843, the name of my mother Mrs Mary Porter of East Hartford, and requested that you would forward to me at this place the Certificate that she was entitled to a pension. Since then I have heard nothing from you, nor rec d any Certificate.
This morning called at the U.S. Pension Agency in this City, and found that her name had been placed on the Pension list on the 6 th of June last & among other names forwarded to them, but they cannot pay the pension when due without a Certificate. Please forward one to me or give the necessary information. If any has been sent to my address it has miscarried.
yours respectfully
E. L. Porter
248, Mary Porter ct '43
Mrs L. Edward Comm ee of Pensions

Pension office
Report to Hon. S. Ingham
H.R.

Hartford 22 d Decem r 1838
Dear Sir, Yours is received. Herewith enclose to you certain papers in reference to obtaining a pension for my mother. I have followed the form sent, as far as possible, and obtained I believe sufficient evidence to establish her right to it, as the widow of my father. If any further evidence is necessary to back my own deposition will you have the goodness to give it. In the first place there is my mother's declaration taken before the Court of Probate for this District, Seth Terry Esq. Judge. In the next place, Mr Comptroller Kilbourn's Certificate that it appears from the old army books that my father served twenty two months. In the next place, my own deposition in reference to certain facts, with Governor Ellsworth's Certificate respecting myself, and the original Recd of my mother's marriage, as recorded by my father in an old family bible. And lastly Judge Terry's Certificate in regard to the character of my mother and myself - with the Certificate of the Clerk of Probate that Mr Terry is Judge of said Court. Will you, Dear Sir, present these papers to the pension Office and have them passed upon as soon as may be. The case is simple and the facts plain, and communicate to me the result,

Thereby authorize you as my agent to do and perform any act necessary in this business, if any such authority be required.
Yours respectfully
Charles I. Porter

Original Record of the marriage of John Porter
(Mary Williams, made in the family Bible The within was attested by me as part of the proceedings of this book - Dec. 22 d 1838.
Seth Tracy. Judge

Yours of Rep?
Washington August 26 th 1850
J. L. Edwards Esq - Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir
I acknowledge honestly, that I had the honor to receive yours of the 20 th inst in relation to the application for increase in the cases of Mary Porter widow of John Porter - and Hannah Reynolds widow of Charles Reynolds. -
Herewith I forward evidence from the Secretary of State that Porter and Reynolds were 'Artillery Artificers' and served to the end  end of the war.
I would refer you to the journals of the Continental Congress for proof bearing upon their true application. Feb 11-1778 - Congress resolved to pay the Artillery Artificers of Col Benjamin Howard's Regiment, Twenty Dollars a

month - see also Vol 2 - page 442-1. Edition printed at Washington 1823
In 1779 Nov 16 - Congress resolved to pay the 'Artillery Artificers' of the several States the same with that of the 'Artil- lery Artificers' under the command of Col B. Howe. - See same Edition Vol 3 - p 392
Col Baldwin's Regiment was disbanded March 28th 1781 - See same Vol 3 p 603
Mrs Reynolds, in her Disquisition, set forth that her husband, Charles Rey- nolds served as an 'Artillery Artifi- cer' - a part of the time in Baldwin's Regiment, as she thinks. The truth was, no doubt that he served five or six years - that is, from 1777 to the close of the war - and after the disolution of Baldwin's Regi- ment he was probably probably transferred to other commands.
Both Porter and Reynolds were 'Artillery Artificers' - enlisted to serve to the end of the war, and most closely entitled to honorably

follow a month --
I have to request, that these cases may have a re-hearing , with the new evidence, I herewith present --
I have the honor to be
Sincerely yours
Orin Fowler

Increase Mary Porter as, min of John. etc.
Act 7 - July 1838
Ad Receipt for the new in Flavin's Rept - $240. per ann from 4th Oct 1836 to 19th Aug 1844, when she died, re- after 2 years -
Payable to Charles L. Porter, & Henry C. Port- er, her only surviving children -
Cert. sent to Hon. A. Fowler H. H. H. -

Judge Reston Antiquate
Charged to Mr. ...
Sept 4-50

State of Connecticut, Ss. Probate Office, District of Hartford, December 17 th 1850.
I certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to me that Mary Porter, who was a pensioner of the United States, as the widow of John Porter an artificer in the army of the American Revolution, died in the town of East Hartford, in this State, on the 19 th day of August 1844: that the names of her only surviving chil- dren are Charles L. Porter of Hartford, and Henry B. Porter of the City of New York. That the said John Porter died in the City of Hartford on the 28 th day of May 1806; and that said Mary Porter resided, while a pensioner, in the town of East Hartford, which was her native place.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Court of Probate within & for said district of Hartford the day and year first above written.
Henry Perkins. Judge of Probate.

Home of Representatives Dec. 23 rd 1850
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Henry Perkins Esq. of the City and County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, and that I know he now is and since the 16 th day of July 1850 has been Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford in said State & Connecticut, and that the written signature purporting to be his is genuine
Isaac P. Wolcott Mansfield County 1 st District, Connecticut

Name of Puff?
Washington Dec r 9 th 1850
James I Heath Esq - Comm r of Pension -
Sir
Herewith I enclose the letter from the Department of State, showing that John Porter (husband of Mary) was an Artillery Artificer, who enlisted to serve, and did serve, to the end of the War.
In another proof that he served in that capacity to the end of the war, I refer you to the Rolls under the charge of Mr Gordon in the Pension Department.
I have to request that this new evidence may be considered in the case of Mary Porter now pending in your Department -
I have the honor to be truly yours
Orin Fowler

Department of State, Washington, December 5 th 1838.
Hon. Amos Fowler,
House of Representatives.
Sir: I am directed by the Secretary to state, that the name of John Porter, respecting whose service in the Revolution you request evidence to be furnished, is found in N o 35 of the Army Returns, page 78, in a "Return of the noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Capt. Thomas Patten's Company of Artill ry Artificers who is Enlisted for the War." He is designated as belonging to the town of Danbury, Connecticut. The paper mentioned is signed by "T. Patten, Capt. Artill ry Artificers" and is dated "New Point

Point. June 4 th 1783."
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. S. Derrick, C. C.

Connecticut 1620
Let to Hn. S. Ingham Jan 16. 1839.
Mary Porter widow of John Porter
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 28. May 1806. of Hartford Co. in the State of Con. who was an Artificer in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Baldwin in the Con. line for 22 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 132 Dollars _____ Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12. th day of Jan. 1839 and sent to Hon. S. Ingham, H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. '38 330.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar. '39. 66.00 $396.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk. Book A. Vol. 1 Page 204

1820 1620
Connecticut
Mary Porter (widow)
Widow of John Porter, who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 28 th May 1806 of Hartford in the State of Connecticut who was an Artificer in the _____ of the commanded by Captain _____ Regt commanded by Col. Flowers in the Connecticut line for Voted from #138
Inscribed on the Roll of Hartford at the rate of $40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Jany 1837 and sent to
John A. Fowler House of Reps
Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by J. P. Weightman Clerk, Book 2, Vol. 1. Page 91

owen
July 21 1988
342

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3 d of March 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7. 1838.
State of Connecticut of ss. East Hartford.
On this 4 th day of April 1843, personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of Peace for the County of Hartford, Mrs. Mary Porter, a resident of East Hartford in the County of Hartford, aged about seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3 d day of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of John Porter, who was an artificer in a Regiment of Connecticut troops, the Colonel's name not remembered by her, but which appears among the papers originally forwarded to the Commissioner of Pensions, and on which the pension for five years was granted. That her certificate of a five years pension under the act of July 7. 1838, bears date January 12. 1839, and that said pension was at the rate of $132:00 per annum. She further declares that she is still a widow.
Mary Porter
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written Before me. Samuel L. Pitkin Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut ss. East Hartford April 4 th 1843.
I hereby certify that Mrs. Mary Porter the signer of the above declaration is personally known to me, and that she is the same person who received a pension for five years under the act of July 7. 1838, as the widow of the late John Porter, and that she still remains a widow. Samuel L. Pitkin. Justice of Peace

Wartford 8. April 6 1843
Hon. J. L. Edwards, Comm r of Pensions,
Sir,
Herewith enclose to you the papers which I suppose to be necessary to replace the name of my mother Mrs. Mary Porter, on the pension list for one year, under the act of Congress of March 3 rd 1843. The documents in consequence of which she was originally placed on the pension list are in your Office, and with the papers now sent I presume will be all the evidence necessary. If I am correct in this opinion, please forward to my address at this place the certificate which will entitle her to a pension as soon as made out.
very respectfully,
your obed t Serv t
E. L. Porter