Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30006, for John Norman, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Conn. Sea Service R.d.
Norman, John
S. 30006
CONTENTS

27 243 Massachusetts
John Norman of Hampshire in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain APP of the Regt commanded by Col. Cram in the N. H. Vols line for 12 mos. Meats & Coon. 2 24
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of - $1 - Dollars 33 Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of March to Nathaniel and Sarah Smith Nathaniel West Springfield Mass Arrears to the 14th of March 1831 $243.99 Semi-ant. allowance and interest H.C. 67 $384.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by [Signature] Clerk. Book [Signature] Vol. [Signature] Page 100

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden
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 John Norman a resident of West Springfield in the county of Hampden aforesaid a state of Massachusetts aged seventy years last April 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 after stated That in the month of April 1776 he enlisted on board the brig Defence under the command of Capt Seth Harding & took the the British ship Loong in the Nantasket roads after firing but one broadside. That he enlisted at this time for the term of three months but after about two months the brig needing some repair she put in to New London & the crew were discharged -
That sometime about the first of April 1778 he enlisted in the army of the United States at Preston in the state of Connecticut & the same day joined his regiment at Newport  North Kingston in the state of Rhode Island. That he enlisted at this time for the term of one year. That they  Newport then held being besieged by the British then but were compelled to retreat  retire to Tiverton in the same state after a battle with the enemy - Sachuest afterwards during the year volunteered & took a British guard ship lying near that Beach near Little Compton in Rhode Island & carried it to Stonington in Connecticut . That he served during the whole time for which he enlisted & was regularly discharged at Tiverton. Marshall was the brigadier general - Archibald Crary was the Colonel of the regiment & James Williams Lieutenant Colonel John Carr was Captain, Weirs was Lieutenants & Potter Ensigns - or 2 nd Lieutenants of the company -
And the said John Norman further declares that about the first of June 1778 he was drafted for the term of three months & went to Groton in the state of Connecticut in the regiment commanded by Col Samuel Tyler & in the company of which John Williams was Captain. the other officers he does not recollect. He staid there until his time expired & then again returned to Preston -
And the said John Norman further declares that about the

first of September 1779 he enlisted on board an armed ship at New London in the state of Connecticut called the Stacey commanded by Capt William Leeds for a four months cruise - That he sailed from New London & in about 10 or 14 days was captured by the British ship called the Greyhound & all the crew made prisoners - He was by them carried to New York & put on board a British prison ship called the Good Hope & there confined for the space of about four months & I was exchanged & brought up by a Cartel as far as Sachems head & from there he proceeded to New London on foot where he arrived some time in the winter the season he cannot recollect.
The said John Storman further declares that some time in the Spring of 1780 he again enlisted in Preston for one year to fill up the continental army - in the company commanded by Capt John Stiles - & started for West Point & had proceeded nearly to Hartford in the state of Connecticut when he accidentally fell & broke his knee which confined him in Hartford nearly four months & hindered him from doing any business for nearly a year.
The said Storman further declares that at the time of these services he lived in New Preston in the state of Connecticut & that in April 1798 he removed to this town & has resided here ever since - That all the persons who served with him in the times abovenmentioned & who lived in New Preston are dead or it is not known where they live - & that he has been able to find no one except Andrew Huntington of Ashford in the state of Connecticut & local warranter of this town whose depositions accompany this declaration -
The said John Storman further declares that he was born in Norwich in the state of Connecticut on the 3 rd of April 1762 that there is a record of his birth on the record of the town of Norwich - That he lived in the town of Preston aforesaid when called into the service, & that in every instance he served by voluntary enlistment as above stated -
Given & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
That Timothy Allyn, Amos Worthington, Hannum Day & Caleb Rice Esquires & Major Gail Warriner, Robert Ely, & Elias Winchell Esq. can testify to his character for veracity, & to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
Given to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. Given & subscribed the day & year aforesaid: J. Storman

We Gad Warriner residing in the town of West Springfield, & Edmund Allen residing in Springfield, adjoining the town of West Springfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Norman, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy years of age - that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion -
Edmund Allen
Sworn to & submitted in open court } this 29 th day of August 1832 This 29 th day of August 1832
Gad Warriner
And the said Court - Present the Hon Oliver B. Morris Judge, after investigating the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states -
And the said Court do further certify that it appears to them Edmund Allen of Springfield & Gad Warriner of West Springfield aforesaid, are residents in those towns respectively & that they are credible persons & their statement entitled to credit
I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Norman for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Justin Willard Reg. Lr

I John Norman further declare & say, that the Clergyman of the Parish to which I belong has been settled with us, but about a year - that until that time he was a stranger to the inhabitants here - and since his settlement, my infirmities have prevented my attending church or getting about very much, so that he is almost as stranger to me now - Supposing that he could not know any thing concerning the general belief of my revolutionary services, is the only reason, why I did not procure his testimony.
Hampden Ga. February 27 th 1833. Then the above named John Norman made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, before me, Sam Lathrop Justice of the Peace
  1776 -  3 months -  Brig Defense    1778 -  12 "  Abner Hland    1779 -  3 "  Groton    1779 -  4 "  Col. Marray's    1780 -  12 "  winfield from service  
John Norman
5741

I Gad Warriner of West Springfield in the county of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age depose & say that about the first day of July 1778 I enlisted into the service of the United States at in this town & proceeded to Rhode Island & was in the engagement at Newport. That Jacobs was colonel of the regiment & Nathan Rowley Captain of the company to which I belonged . That John Norman then of Preston in the state of Connecticut but now of this town was a soldier in the same regiment & that I became acquainted with him soon after my arrival in Rhode Island that he belonged to the company of which Carr was captain. The time for which I enlisted was six months & I was discharged on the second day of January 1779. I not became acquainted with the said John Norman, found him there when I arrived & I think left him there when I left in January - & I also understood at the time that he enlisted for one year & have always considered that he did serve for that space of time.
Gad Warriner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. On the eighth third day of August 1832. The above named Gad Warriner, being known to me as a gentleman 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

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss.
I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record for the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Samuel Lathrop Esqr before whom the within papers were verified is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden & that his signature thereto is his true & genuine signature - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the S d Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this Second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred & thirty three
John Ingersoll Clerk

5740 John Naman
Private 22 months Seaman 2 0
DA 200 11. 12. 14 16 of Cond
July 24 1833
Retired 27 July 1833 to some letters by West Haring - filed for extension of the claim into service.
Capt P-214 on well Capt Carr's Co. Col Crary N.Y. R.I.
Hon C. Young Hofstra J. Ingalls Springfield Mass

BRIEF in the case of John Norman of Hampden Co. in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 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 - April — 2 — Seaman Capt. S. Harding (Brig Defence)   78. + 1 — — privt " Saml. Col. Gardner   79 + — 3 — " " J. Williams, Col. (Tyler)   80 Sept — 4 — Seaman captured " Col. Leeds (Ship Hovey)   80 + — 12 — disabled " J. White  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Preston Conn.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence, Living  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective time not defined - 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
7333 810 8133
Examining Clerk.

Rev
Enc
Mansfield, Pa.
Dec. 8 - 1909
Commissioner of Pensions,
Dear sir:-
Please send to my address the Resolution- ary war record of John Norman who was born in Norwich, Conn., and died at Agawam, Mass. yours,
Mr. M. F. Rose,

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by Geo M. Moore
Claim No. Dec 17, 1909
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier John Noraman
Service _____ Res.
Additional Service born in Norwich Conn.
No _____ claim, State records _____, 190_____
No claim, combination records _____, 190_____
REMARKS:
No O.M.S. No R. as above except
I.F. 36707 Plan of birth not stated
I.F. 32416 born in Sussex Co. Del.
I.F. 30006 born at Norwich Conn.
R.F. 7694 consolidated with I.F. 36707

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. John Korman Ser. File 30006
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 1776 2 mos. Seth Harding U.S. Defences and took British Ship George   Apr. 1778 1 year John Carr Archibald Crary R.I.   June 1, 1779 3 mos. John Williams Samuel Seder Conn.   Sept. 1, 1779 William Reed, on armed ship Hance   and Spring of 1780 captured by the British ship Greyhound and imprisoned on prison ship Good Hope 4 mos. & then exchanged   John Miles  
Battles engaged in, Rhode Island.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Roxton Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832. His estate at
Residence at date of application, West Springfield Hampden Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, born Apr 8 1762 in Norwich Conn.
Remarks: place of death not stated
Mss. Oct. 22, 1836 (from Army book)

30006 Rev. INVALID.
1909 Dec. 28 Hist. Soc. Mrs. M. F. Rose. V.P.
File No. 80,006
John Norman Dis. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 305
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hon. Ebenezer Young

Hon. Ebenezer Young.
Sir,
I lately wrote to Rufus Adams Esq. to procure the deposition of Sam Robbins in behalf of an applicant for a pension, requesting him also to procure a certificate of the Clerk of the Court as to the genuineness of the signature of the Justice. But instead of doing this, he has referred me to you for your certificate that Andrew T. Judson is a Justice &c. May I request of you the favor to sign the certificate, if it is correct, & then to direct the papers to the Commission of Pensions.
With sentiments of the highest respect.
I am your very obedt Servt.
Sam Lathrop.
West Springfield, Vt.
6 March 1834.

John Pitman 5/4/
The claimant must apply to R. H. Thompson Esq. for evidence of his service on board of the Brig "Defiance" & to the Comptroller of Public Ac- counts at Hartford for evidence of all the other forms of service performed by him. The claimant should also state in his declaration the name of the Colonel under whom he served in 1780.
Hon. E. Young Samuel Lathrop Esq. West Springfield J. J. May J. Ingalls Esq. 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 John Sherman 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? NO
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
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? He
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? He
B. C Simmons must affix his seal of office to his Certificate
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? no
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."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.

Elisha Phelps
Hon Samuel Dathrop West Springfield Massachusetts.

Comptrollers Office Aug. 16 th 1833-
I Elisha Phelps, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Connecticut do certify that it appears by the books in this office, that John Miles was a Captain in Col. Danks Regiment  Regiment in the year 1780; and that, by a bond, executed by John Miles, Capt. 2 d Artillery, dated May 8 th 1780 it appears that he was "appointed to recruit men for Colonel Danks Reg t of Artillery continental army."
I further certify, that I have not been able to find the name of John Norman upon any of the muster or pay rolls remaining in this office, or any evidence of his having served in the army of the revolution.
E. Phelps

Hartford 16 th Aug. 1833
D r Sir I have examined with much labour the rolls do in this office, but cannot find the name of John Norman. Neither can I find the names of any of the officers under whom he states he served in 1778. Gen. Tyler had command of the militia at New London & Groton in 1779, but I cannot find the name of Capt. John Williams. He might have been a Capt. of militia. Neither can I find the ship Nancy mentioned upon the accounts as one of our armed ships.
Having no rolls of Capt. Miles company here I have certified what appears by a roll of Col. Lumb's reg t for 1780, & the bond of Capt. Miles.
I am very respectfully
Yours respectfully J. Phelps
If Norman can spare one dollar, he ought to send me one, as I could have earned twice that sum, in hoeing corn in the time spent

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions

West Springfield March 6. 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir,
I return you the papers of John Norman. Agreeable to your directions, he has applied to the Secy. of this Comtee & to the Comptroller of the State of Connecticut, but neither of them can find his name in their office. Their certificates are enclosed.
Mr. Norman has taken a good deal of pains to find some persons, who were in the service with him. But he can hear of no one living who was in the naval service. I am the only one additional witness to his service in Rhode Island. You must dispose of his case upon the evidence now furnished - I can truly state, that he sustains an unimpeachable character for truth & veracity.
I am, very respectfully your most obed Servt. Sam Lathrop

W by H
Hon. Samuel Lathrop. West Springfield
E. B. Bangs

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug t . 13. 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that there were, at different periods of the War two Vessels named the "Defence" in the Service of the Public. I find a Roll of the "Brigantine Defence", John Edmunds, Commander, which Roll or List however bears no date, and states no term of service; but is merely a List of the Crew, with a description of their stature, complexion and residence. The name of John Norman is not thereon — but it contains the name of "John Borman ", 5 feet 10 inches high — of light complexion, and resident in "Epswige" — probably meaning Ipswich. The list is sworn to by John Edmunds Commander, "August twentieth" — but no year given. — There is also a List of Vessels employed on the expedition against Penobscot in 1778, in which is contained the name of the "Brig t Defence", of 16 guns.

John Edmunds Commander, but there is no roll or List of the Men. —
There is also a "Payroll of the Seamen Officers, Seamen & Marines belong d to the Sloop Defence in the Service of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, James Niven. Esq r Com d " which Roll bears date Sept 26. 1781, and contains a description of service from June 18 to Sept 26. 1781 — There are 59 names borne borne on the Roll, but no such name as John Norman or any resembling it is thereon.
I find no other Rolls or Records relating to any vessel by the name of "Defence", in the Revolutionary War. —
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

I Samuel Robbins of the town of Canterbury, in the county of Windham & State of Connecticut, aged 74 years, testify and say, that I am well acquainted with John Norman formerly of Preston, in said State of Connecticut, but now of West Springfield in the State of Massachusetts, and I further say, in the year 1778, and as I verily believe on or about the 10 th day of June 1778, I enlisted into the army of the the revolution, and served from that day, the period of nine months, and was discharged the 1 st of March 1779, which service was performed in Capt. John Carr's Company, in Col. Archibald Crary's Regiment, in Genl. Cornell's Brigade, of the Rhode Island State Troops, and all the time that I served in said company, the aforesaid John Norman served with me in the same Company. The said Norman, as I then understood, came from the State of Connecticut, and joined this Regiment in Rhode Island which was my native State. Our Company was stationed at Livenston in said Rhode Island. During our service we were once on the Island of Rhode Island and remember also that during this service, a British guard Ship was taken by part of our Company, Canterbury Feby 10. 1834
Samuel Robbins
State of Connecticut, Windham County, ss. Canterbury Feb 7. 10 th . 1834. Personally appeared Samuel Robbins, signer of the foregoing deposition, a person well known to me, as a credible witness, and before me made solemn oath, to the truth of the facts stated in said Affidavit.
Attest Andrew T. Judson Justice of the Peace

I Elenore Young, a member of Congress from the State of Connecticut, certify, that Andrew J. Pearson, whose signature is affixed to the within certificate, is a justice of the Peace for Windham County Conn. and that said signature is genuine. Washington March 10 1834
Elenore Young
Daniel Root

I Andrew Huntington of Ashford in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut certify and say that John Norman of West Springfield Hamden County Massachusetts at the age of about 14 years came to live with my Father in Preston New London County Connecticut the time he began to live with my Father was about the commencement of the revolutionary war and continued to reside with him until he was 28 years old excepting when he was out in the Revolutionary service
His first service in the Army was at Newport Rhode Island the time he was out do not recollect
His second was at London while at Lond he enlisted or volunteered on board an armed vessel and was taken prisoner and confined on board a Prison ship at New York. do not recollect how long he was absent at this time
Times being troublesome and young men frequently forced into the army Norman by the consent of my Father enlisted for the term (I think) of one year received a bounty ($40.00 in silver) & marched to join the Army — when on his way at Hartford had the misfortune to have his knee seriously broken which confined him three several months when he recovered so as to be able to be removed he returned to my Father and was no more in the Army that I recollect of
The time his knee was broken should think was about the year 1780
Ashford Octob r 24 1831
Andrew Huntington
Personally appeared the Andrew Huntington and made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate as him subscribed before me Ashford October 29 th 1831
Elmerus Chaffee Justice of the peace

Windham County ss. Ashford March 4 th 1833 This certifies that Doctor Andrew Huntington the signor of the within certificate is a person of undoubted truth and veracity
Ebenezer Chaffee Justice of the Peace Windham County ss. District of Ashford March 4 th 1833 This certifies that Ebenezer Chaffee of said Ashford is on the list of Justices of the Peace for the town of Ashford in the county of Windham - Attest. Benj. C. Simmons Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Ashford
Ebenezer Chaffee ss
Mr. John Norman
Agassiz
West Springfield May 5