Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14027, for Silvanus Nichols, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
bonn
Nichols, Silvanus
S14027
CONTENTS
larded,

Connecticut 9613.
Silvannus Nichols
Middlesex in the State of Conn. who was a private in the Comp: commanded by Captain Ely of the Ref: commanded by Col. Jud. Ely in the Conn: Militia for
2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn: the rate of 80. Dollars 00 Cents per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of June 1833. and sent to John Lick, Middleton, Conn.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833- 160. 00 Semestral allowance ending 4 Sept: 1, — 40 00
200. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. Francis Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 a Page 31.

Ref: of Mrs. Sarah Griswold
There are many persons who are not aware of the fact that the estate of the late Mrs. Sarah Griswold is now in the hands of her heirs. It is a well-known fact that she was a very pious and charitable woman. She was a member of the First Church in this city. Her family was very large, and she was a very loving mother and grandmother. Her death was very sudden, and she was taken away from us all. We are all very sorry for her loss. Her estate is now in the hands of her heirs, who are all very well and happy. They are all very much interested in the estate, and they are all very much interested in the welfare of the poor and distressed. They are all very much interested in the welfare of the First Church in this city. They are all very much interested in the welfare of the poor and distressed. They are all very much interested in the welfare of the First Church in this city.
Res: of Mrs. Sarah Griswold 1895 - First Church in this city

State of Connecticut Saybrook August 7 th Middlesex county ss. Oct. 1832 -
Isaac Griswold of Saybrook in the county of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut having been duly cautioned to declare the truth as soon as said says. That he is seventy eight years of age the twenty third day of last March - That the forepart of the year 1777 he enlisted for three months in to a company commanded by Justin Buck, went to New London. and thence to Providence - That when we arrived there Sylvanus Nichols then of said Saybrook, went as the Deponent under- stands now of Middlesex. Joined the same company as a soldier. That the Deponent has been acquainted with said Nichols before. That he remained with said company until it returned to New London which was in the month of March - when and where it was discharged. The Depon- ent thinks said Nichols served as much as two months and a half, in said company. The said Nichols being now present, the Deponent says he is the same man whom he knows of and further the Deponent saith not - The Deponent saith that the Regiment was commanded by John Ely Col. and Asa Ledy Adjutant.
Isaac Griswold
State of Connecticut Middlesex county ss. Saybrook Aug 7 th 1832
Personally appeared Isaac Griswold of said Saybrook, and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth - and I certify that said Griswold is well known to me, and that he is an credible witness -
Sylvanus Nichols Justin of Revere

State of Connecticut } Saybrook August 9 th Middlesex County ss - Dec 1832 -
Joseph Plumb of Saybrook. County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, aged Seventy four years, the S es day of February next. having been duly cautioned to answer the truth, deposes and says: That he served in a company commanded at first by Capt. John Day, who was in a short time promoted, when said company was commanded by Martin Brithwell. That said service was performed in Fort Trumbull in New London in Dec 1776. That the Deponent then knew Sylvanus Nichols, and that he served in the same company as long as the Deponent did, which was but a few days; the Deponent having been transferred to another company, - the said Nichols then belonged to said Saybrook, but now, as the Deponent understood, is in Middletown. The Deponent and Nichols being now present, the Deponent knows him to be the same man that served as aforesaid. and the Deponent has no reason to believe that said Nichols did not serve out his whole term of enlistment. The Deponent says that he understood at the time that said Nichols went away, with his company, to the White Plains near New York - and further the Deponent saith not.
Joseph Plumb
State of Connecticut Middlesex County ss. Saybrook Aug st 9 th 1832
Personally appeared Joseph Plumb of said Saybrook, and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the truth, and nothing but the truth - and I certify that said Plumb is well known to me and that he is a credible witness.
_____ B. General Higham Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut } Saybrook } August County of Middlesex } 7 th Oct. 1832
John Platt of Saybrook aforesaid hereby hearily swears, and attested to declare the truth as follows: That he is eighty six years of age in November next. That his Brother Dan Platt was a Lieutenant in company commanded by John Ely in the State troops in the Army of the Revolution. That the said Dan Platt is now deceased. That Sylvanus Nichols, now of Middletown, in said County, formerly of said Saybrook, in the year A.D. 1776. and while a Boy living with his Mother, was at school near where I resided; that say, the said Dan Platt was at that time enlisting men at said Saybrook, for the above named company; that the Deponent then understood that said Nichols intended to enlist in said company without the knowledge of his Mother (his Father being dead) who was said to be oppo- sed to it; that the said Dan Platt, afterwards told the Deponent that said Nichols had enlisted, and showed the Deponent the enlist- ing order, containing the names of many that had enlisted, including the name of the said Nichols. That said Nichols then stopped going to school, and much was said in the neighbourhood about "Sylvanus having risen". That the Deponent has no doubt that he did enlist; the enlistment was for eight or nine months, the Deponent thinks; that the Deponent, he thinks, in long not following, saw the said Nichols going duty as a Soldier in the same company at Fort,

Trumbull in New London; there to wear the rest of the year. then  then  goes  goes  to  to  St. Lawrence  St. Lawrence near or White Plains, near New York so the different under  under  to  to  each  each ; and then  then  the  the Depo- ment under  under  to  to  each  each and always believed and still doth believe that said Michael served out the whole period of his enlistment ; and further the deponent saith not.
John H. H.
State of Connecticut Middletown County ss. Saybrook Aug. 7 - 1832 Personally appeared John H. H. of Saybrook, and made solemn oath that the above  foregoing Deposition by him deponent contains the truth and nothing but the truth. And certify that said Deponent is now known to me, and that he is a credible witness.
Simeon H. H.  Justice of Peace State of Connecticut Middletown County ss.
I, John H. H. Clerk of this County Court for the County of Middletown do certify that Sam. Ingham Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middletown & that his name subscribed to the preceding Certificate mark H. H. is his proper hand writing & signature.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 10 th day of Aug. A.D. 1832
H. H. Clerk

State of Connecticut } County of Middlesex } St. Middletown August 3. 1832.
Simeon Strickland of said Middletown having been duly cautioned to declare the truth as poses and says that he is seventy eight years old nearly, that he serv- ed as a private in the Army of the Revolution, and in particular, he states that while he served at Horse Neck, which he did during the last year of the war by enlistment, in the com- pany of Captain Charles Miles in the Regiment, commanded by Col. ____ Sanfield, he knew Silvanus Nichols, who was a private in the same company during the said year, that he has been acquainted with said Nichols (who now re- sides in said Middletown) for many years, and knows that he is the same person who served in the said company with him, and farther he says not, except that said Nichols although enlisted as a private, acted as a corporal most of the year.
Simeon Strickland
Subscribed and sworn to by said

Simeon Strickland in due form of law this 3 rd day of August, A. D. 1832, before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace duly appointed and sworn dwelling in said Middletown. The said Simeon being paralytic re- quested me to guide the pen in some measure for him while he signed, which I did. Witness my official signature.
Jonathan Barnes Justice of the Peace.
I farther certify that the said Simeon Strickland is a credible witness.
Jon a Barnes Justice of the Peace.
State of Connecticut } ss. Middletown. County of Middlesex }
I John Trusk Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Jona- than Barnes, whose signature is above written is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that I believe his said signature to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 10 th day of August A.D. 1832.
John Trusk Clerk

State of Connecticut } ss. Middletown. County of Middlesex }
On this Tenth  fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate in and for the District of Middletown in the said County of Middlesex now sitting, Silvanus Nichols a resident of Middletown aforesaid in the said District and County and State aforesaid, aged seventy three 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, to wit: That, in the month of March in the year, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six being then a resident of Saybrook in the said County of Middlesex where his Mother resided (his father being dead) and being placed at a school in said Saybrook, he enlisted under Dan Platts a Lieutenant recruiting at said Saybrook into the company of Captain John Ely, which company was raised

as he then understood for the purpose of con- structing a fort at New London, that he enlisted for the term of nine months, and marched to New London, and there continued under the command of said Captain and assisted in con- structing a fort until the latter part of July or beginning of August, when the said Company was divided a part remaining at New London and the said Captain who was by profession a physician and surgeon was sent somewhere to the North in that capacity, that the remainder of said Com- pany including the deponent were ordered to West Chester, in the State of New York and marched thither under the com- mand of a Lieutenant by the name of At- lin as the deponent thinks, and there joined the brigade under the command of General Sullivan, but the deponent can not remember the name of the Colonel of the Regiment to which he was attached at this distance of time his memory being impaired, the deponent does not recollect how long he remained at West Chester, but he remembers being on guard when the enemy passed in their boats to land at Frog's Point in order to go to White Plains.

that the guards were immediately called in, the tents were struck and the troops marched as soon as possible through the woods towards White Plains; the deponent remembers that it was late in the af- ternoon when they began to march, and that on account of the badness of the roads and the incumbrance of baggage, they did not arrive at White Plains until about day-break; that in the morning the enemy having marched from Frog's Point on the main road, appeared in sight on an open field a little West of the Court House; the deponent was then engaged with some of the troops in cutting down an orchard and draw- ing the trees into a line west of an intrench- ment which had been dug; the deponent remained in the intrenchment the greater part of the day, remembers standing sentry the following night, and that shortly after the troops lighted their fires along the intrenchment at night as usual, and retreated about two miles back where the deponent continued until the time of his enlistment expired, and he was dis- charged, but received no written dis-

charge, the deponent returned to Say- brook, and soon after enlisted as a private into the company of Captain Buck to go to Providence for the term of three months, and went there accordingly in the said Company. the deponent re- members that the regiment to which his company belonged was command- ed by Colonel John Ely, the same man, who had been his captain, during a part of the term of his former en- listment; the deponent continued to serve in said Company of Captain Buck at said Providence during the full term of said three months and was dis- charged at said Providence; the depo- nent returned to said Saybrook in the spring of the year, cultivated a small piece of land belonging to his mother. during the following summer, the next winter removed to said Middletown and continued there until about the commence- ment of the last year of the war, when he enlisted for the term of one year into the company of Captain Charles Miles in the Connecticut Regiment, commanded

by Colonel —  Canfield, went to Horse Neck and there continued to serve in the said company during the said Comd- term of one year, and was discharged at Horse Neck a short time previous to the arrival of the news of peace; the name of the Major of the said Regiment was Dean, that of the Adjutant was Bull, that of the Sergeant-Major was Benedict; but at this distance of time the deponent can not distinctly remember the names of other officers; the deponent recollects that Col: Sheldon's regiment was stationed  four or five miles west of Horse Neck and that the Infantry company attached to Sheldon's Regiment was commanded by Captain Edgar. The deponent can not furnish any record of his age, but thinks he can not be mistaken in saying that his age is at least seventy three; he has no documentary evidence of his services; he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure in addition to the depositions herewith transmitted except perhaps the testimony of John Roberts of Berlin in Connecticut and James Ward of Dur-

ham in said State, which he will endeavor to procure if he can conveniently, they being aged and infirm men. Of two months service by draft in the militia at Guilford and Branford he makes no account.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sylvanus Nichols Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
I Prosper Augur residing in the Society of Middlefield in the Town of Middletown in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, do hereby certify that I am seventy seven years years old, that I have resided more than fifty years in said Middletown and am well acquainted with Sylvanus Nichols, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be about seventy two or seventy three years old, that he is respected and believed by the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and I fully concur in that opinion having known him nearly forty years. Prosper Augur
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

N o 6363,
Admitted
2 years Private
Coast Militia

I James Noyes a clergyman residing in the said Society of Middlefield in the Town of Middlestown aforesaid, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Silvanus Nichols who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be about seventy two or seventy three years old; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion.
James Noyes.
Sworn to and subscribed the 10 th day of August, A.D. 1832 in open Court.
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 a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Noyes who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman residing in the Town of Middlestown & that Prosper Anger who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Middlestown & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to Credit. Stillman Wightman, Judge of Probate for the District of Middlestown.

I John Trull Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Middletown do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the origin- al proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silvanus Nichols for a Pension - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 10. day of Aug t A.D. 1832 Jno Trull Clk

6363 Sylvanus Nichols
Adm. Sta.
Geo. Fisk Middleton Count.

6363  County  BRIEF in the case of  Silvanus Nichols  of Middlesex  in the State of Connecticut  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? ~  3. How old is he? 73  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.     March In 1776 enlisted — 9 — As a Private Gen. Sullivan   not mentioned — 3 — " Capt. S. Ely, Lt. Col. S. Ely   1 — — " Capt. Buck Col. S. Ely   Capt. C. Miles, Col. Canfield  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middlesex Co  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & witnesses.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. Hough Examining Clerk.  Jan 24 th 1833

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
June 21, 1934.
Frank F. Starr, Middletown, Conn.
Sir;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 14037, it appears that Silvanus Nichols, while residing at Saybrook, Middlesex County, Connecticut, with his mother, his father being dead (their names are not stated), enlisted in March 1776 and served nine months in Captains John Ely and Martin Kirtland's Connecticut Company.
He enlisted in 1777 and served three months in Captain Buck's Company, Colonel John Ely's Connecticut Regiment.
He again enlisted and served one year in Captain Charles Miles' Company, Colonel Canfield's Connecticut

Regiment and was discharged a short time before the news of Peace.
He was also out two months in the Connecticut Militia at Guilford and Branford, officers not stated.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 10, 1832, while a resident of Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut, aged seventy three years.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Revised
✓ 14.027 INVALID.
1924-June 21- Hist. to Frank J. Starr see letter in aws J. Addams Nichols s. 18529
File No. 14.027
Silvanus Nichols Rev: Beer War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 275
[Arrangement of 1870.]