Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,303, for Robert Sheffield, [Blank]

SERVICE
Sheffield, Robert
NUMBER
S. 36.303
CONTENTS

20351
Connecticut
Robert Sheffield
Dec'd Feb 20, 1838
of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut who was a sergeant in the Regiment commanded by Captain Davis of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Livingston in the New York line, for the term of one year from April 1776 to March 1777.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 20 day of August 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 of August 1831 and sent to B. Isaacs Esq. Norwalk Connecticut
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1831 $1.15 Semi-annual allowance ending
$1.15
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March, 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }

A. John Dyer.
State of Connecticut } Fairfield County } ss. I Thomas Bloorne Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in said State of Connecticut do hereby certify, that Benjamin Isaacs Esq of Norwalk in said County is a justice of the Peace for sd County duly commissioned & duly authorized to administer oaths and that the signature to the preceding Certificate purporting to be his is genuine. I further certify that Jeremiah Sturges Esquire of Fairfield in said County is a justice of the Peace for sd County duly commissioned & duly authorized to administer oaths and that the signature to the preceding Certificate purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 16 th day of August A.D. 1831
Thomas Bloorne Clerk of said County Court

I, Joshua Davis, of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut, of lawful age being, duly sworn do testify and say, that in March, 1776, I enlisted in the Army of the United States on the Continental Establishment in the New York line under Capt. Daniel Griffin, under Col. James Clinton for one year afterwards enlisted under Capt. Samuel Sackett for and during the War under Col. Livingston, and since, during the War and the Disposition, further says, that Robert Sheffield, now of Norwalk in said County, enlisted in the Continental Army as a Drummer, and was afterwards promoted to Drum Major on or about the first of April, 1776, for one year in a Company commanded by Capt. John Dyer, Regiment commanded by Col. Livingston & Clinton in the line of the State of New York is not certain whether it is the 2 d or 8 th Regt. and that said Sheffield served out the term of his enlistment and was discharged at said Sag Harbor in the Spring of 1777, and further the Deponent saith not.
Joshua Davis
State of Connecticut, Fairfield County ss Fairfield August 16. A.D. 1831. Personally appeared Joshua Davis, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing Deposition, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
Before me (Signed) Isaac Judson

I Paul K. Sheffield of Lawfull Age of the County of Suffolk State of New York do hereby certify that my Mother Robert Sheffield was of the County of Suffolk in the County of State after said did Enter in the Continental Service in Army a Drummer at Sag Harbor in the County of Suffolk State of New York on or about the first of April 1776 in the Company commanded by Capt John Davis in Second New York Regiment commanded by Genl Col. John M c Donough & Livingston under Col t James Clinton in the Service of the State of New York and further the the Deponent further says that P t Robert lived from P t Sag Harbor with P t Company & Regiment to the Northward where he lived with him some time in the Spring of 1777 and further that on his return to Sag Harbor after P t , he had a wound in his left leg occasioned by a Bayonet, and further at the time of P t Robert Enlisting and during the term of his Service and on his return home at Sag Harbor in the Spring of the year 1777. the Deponent lived and traded with my and his Father at said Sag Harbor and further the Deponent saith not -
Paul K. Sheffield
State of Connecticut ss. Fairfield August 16 th 1831
Personally appeared Paul K. Sheffield Signer of the foregoing Deposition, who is by me known to be a credible witness and a man of Truth and Veracity and made before me this 16 th day of the June before me
Frederick Sturges, Jr. P t

State of Connecticut ss At an adjourned County Court holden at Fairfield within and for the County of Fairfield on the 9 th day of June A.D. 1831
Be it remembered that on this 10 th day of June in the year aforesaid then personally appeared in open Court, the said Court being a Court of Record in and for said County of Fairfield according to the laws of the State of Connecticut, Robert Sheffield age seventy seven years and residing in Norwalk in said Fairfield County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on oath make the following Decla- ration in order to obtain the provisions made by the act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818 and of the 1 st of May 1820, that he the said Robert Sheffield enlisted as a drummer on or about the first of April 1776 at Say Harbour in the County of Suffolk in the State of New York in a Company commanded by John Davis in the Seventh or Second New York Regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. Henry B. Livingston and Col. James Clinton afterwards promoted to be a General in the line of the State of New York, went from said Say Harbour to the northward to Lake George and received a warrant as Drum Major. The deponent was in no regular battle but in several skirmishes with the British especially in the fall of 1776 near Lake George and was wounded by a bayonet in the left leg that he continued in the service until the middle or last of March 1777 and

was discharged at said Sag Harbour and that he has lost his discharge and Warrant - that he continued to serve in the Army on the continental establishment for the whole term of time above stated - that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present - that his name is not on the roll of any State except the State of New York as above mentioned and that to the best of his recollection, he believes it was in the year 1818 he made Application to Joseph Wood then Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Stamford in the said Fairfield County to be placed on the Pension List and he was lately informed that there was nothing done with his application and there is no Record made in said Probate Court of the Proceedings - that Application cost him three Dollars and fifty Cents for Court fees besides other expences and his friends now pay for this application. And he was also informed that Col James Clinton's Regiment was not on the continental establishment and was not until about one month since informed to the contrary - and these are the reasons for his not making an earlier application for a Pension.
Taken declared to subscribed
Robert Sheffield
Sworn in open Court the day and year aforesaid
Test Thomas Bloorne Clerk

And in pursuance of the Act of the first of May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due me nor have I any income otherwise what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed viz, (necessary wearing apparel & bedding excepted)
   1 old Chest drawers 3.00   2 Trunks 1.75   12 Chairs 3.00   2 Tables 1.00   1 Stand .50   1 Tea Chest 1.00   1 Looking Glass .50   2 Pails .25   1 Cooking pot .50   1 wash kettle .50   1 Doz. Knives & forks .25   2 Candle sticks .50   Shovel & Tongs .50  

  1 pr of fire dogs .. 25   1 pr Bellows .. 12   1/2 Doz. Cups & Saucers .. 25   1 Doz. Plates .. 25   1 old Boat 3.. 00   1 pr Pans .. 25   $17. 37 
That no changes have been made in the property of the Deponent since the 18. of March 1818.
Taken declared to, subscribed Robert Sheffield and sworn in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
Test Thomas Blaborn Clerk
The Deponent has followed the seas for a living until within a few years, since which time has resided on Nantucket Long Island and has supported himself and family by fishing and clamming, has lost his left eye entirely and can see but little out of the other. That he is so enfeebled by age and loss of sight as to be incapable of performing any kind of business. The Deponent has three children living. Dorrage aged 32, lives in said Nantucket a labouring man, has a wife and three children and has no ability to aid Deponent being himself very poor, Temperance aged 40 has ten children, is married to a man who is pretty able has a large family and can render him

but small assistance, June aged 30 a Widow with six children has nothing to support herself or them with but her daily labour. His wife Temperance aged 70 years, very infirm confined to her bed almost all the time and from her receives but very little assistance. The Declarant saith that he is in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself, without the assistance of his Country, that is to say without the aid of Government, except by private or public Charity.
Sworn subscribed declared Robert Sheffield taken in open Court this 10 th day of June 1831
Test Thomas Blborne Clerk
At a County Court held, by adjournment, at Fairfield within and for the County of Fairfield on the 9 th day of June A D 1831.
The foregoing Declaration was submitted sworn to and declared in open Court on the 10 th day of June A D 1831 it being the 2 d day of the sitting of said Court, and it appears to the satisfaction of this Court that the said Robert Sheffield did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceding Declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months under one

engagement on the continental establishment, and it is the opinion of this Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule signed by the said Robert Sheffield is seventeen dollars and thirty seven cents. Test Thomas B. Brome (Clerk)

August 9, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXX
HA-J/EEH
Robert Sheffield-S.36303
Mrs. William H. Hathorn 654 E. State Street Mason City, Iowa
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Robert Sheffield, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who, you state, was also a mariner and fought on the "Bon Homme Richard".
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon service in that war.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made in your behalf and the record of only one soldier named Robert Sheffield has been found. His history is given below as found in the papers on file in pension claim S.36303, based upon his military service in that war.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Robert Sheffield are not shown in the papers in the pension claim. His father was residing in Sag Harbor, New York, during the Revolution.
While residing at Sag Harbor, New York, Robert Sheffield enlisted April 1, 1776, served in Colonel James Clinton's New York Regiment and in Captain John Davis' Company. Colonel Henry B. Livingston's New York Regiment, was in several skirmishes, in one of which, in the fall of 1776, near Lake George, he received a wound in the left leg, and was discharged in March, 1777. He enlisted as a drummer and later, date not given, received a warrant as drum major. It is not shown that he ever served on the "Bon Homme Richard".
After the Revolution, he "followed the sea for a living".
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 10, 1831.
No 1818 ap in the claim
Sal stated that he applied in 1818 (he thought) but did not give the date & the court had no record of his ap

at which time he was aged seventy-seven years and resided at "Norwalk Island", Fairfield County, Connecticut, where he had then resided for a few years.
UB. — Robert Sheffield died February 20, 1833, place not stated.
In 1831, the soldier referred to his wife, Temperance, aged seventy-one years but did not give her maiden name or the date of their marriage; and to three children: daughter Temperance, aged forty years who was married and had ten children; son Dadrage, aged thirty-two years, had a wife and three children and resided in Norwalk, Connecticut; and daughter Jane, aged thirty years, a widow with six children. He did not give the name of his son's wife or the man to whom his daughters were married nor the names of any of the grandchildren.
In 1831, soldier's brother, Paul K. Sheffield, lived in Fairfield County, Connecticut; his age is not shown and there are no further data as to family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILL Assistant to Administrator.

36 303
Rev INVALID.
1933-Aug 9-List. to Mrs. J. M. (N. Hathorn-Est)
File No. 36 303
Robert Sheffield Drummer Rev. Ind
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 872
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Newcastle Aug t . 17. 1831
Hon ble Secretary of War
enclosed are papers of Robert Sheffield of this Town which was returned to me for further evidence of his services during the Revolutionary War. I sincerely hope there now furnished the Department will be satisfactory and that he may be placed on the Pension list You will perceive the Clerk of the Court certified to the justice in his first Certificate. In requesting the answer returned to me it is only to assist Mr. Sheffield he can not read, on account of his eye sight being almost gone and lives on Newcastle Island five Miles from the Port office. I do not expect any fee or reward for whatever answer I may render him.
Yours with great respect
Benj t Dews

pen: to com; Aug. 20. 1831
Send cat: to B. Isaac
(agt. rec'd by Gov. Tomlinson)
by War Dept (August 20 1831)
Pension Office
Washington City
To Hon. Andrew J. War

21.830
Robert Sheffield's
Application for a Pension

State of Connecticut } I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the Fairfield County } County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true copy of the original Declaration & Schedule of Robert Sheffield and of the Record of said County Court in said Case. I further certify that D Baldwin whose own proper signature is annexed to the Certificate on the foregoing Deposition was at the date of said Certificate a Justice of the Peace for said Fairfield County duly commissioned & duly empowered to administer oaths. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County Court in Fairfield this tenth day of June A D 1830
Thomas B Osborne Clerk of County Court
I John D. Wilson Chief Judge of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify, that Thomas B Osborne is the Clerk of said County Court duly appointed and sworn, and I further certify, that the foregoing attestation under his hand and the seal of said County Court is genuine and in due form. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in Fairfield this 10 th day of June A D 1830 John D. Wilson Chief Judge

I Joshua Davis of the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, do hereby certify & swear that in the year 1776 when I belonged to the Army of the United States of America or Continental Army it was then called and was on duty at the  on Long Island I do also hereby certify & swear that during the time years above named, I was personally acquainted with Reuben Huggins and knew him to belong to the 4th Regt. of Infantry then under the command of Colonel Henry B. Livingston, said Reuben Huggins was a drummer in said 4th Regt. of Infantry of the Continental Army.
State of Connecticut                                     Joshua Davis
Fairfield County ss. Fairfield May 31 st 1831
Personally appeared Joshua Davis signed of the above affidavit and said to me that it is the truth of the same, before me.
J. Baldwin Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County

Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT MRS. H. C. HOUGHTON, JR. RED OAK
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MRS. CARL REED CRESCO
RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. FRANK DAVIS 2119 SO. ST. AUBIN ST SIOUX CITY
PRESIDENT MRS. EUGENE HENELY GRINNELL
AUDITOR MRS W. H. HATHORN MASON CITY
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MRS. DAVID LENNOX, JR. 1205 WEST MAIN ST. MARSHALLTOWN
TREASURER MRS. EUGENE CUTLER 937 THIRTY-EIGHTH ST DES MOINES
GENERAL FEDERATION DIRECTOR 1932-1934 MRS. GALEN TILDEN AMES
1934-1936 MRS. WILLIAM LARRABEE, JR. CLERMONT
Marshalltown Iowa
Aug. 2-33
General Dept Washington D.C. Dear Madam:-
I am attempting to discover something of an ancestor of mine whose name was Robert Sheffield. I have his broder horn which has engraved upon it "Robert Sheffield Farm Made ye 14th day Nov. 1787". Also have a plate which says he was a "mariner" during the Revolutionary war and also fought in the Rev War. Richard Ste. L. self addressed envelope. Es.

Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT MRS. H. C. HOUGHTON, JR. RED OAK
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MRS. CARL REED CRESCO
RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. FRANK DAVIS 2119 SO. ST. AUBIN ST SIOUX CITY
PRESIDENT MRS. EUGENE HENELY GRINNELL
AUDITOR MRS W. H. HATHORN MASON CITY
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MRS. DAVID LENNOX, JR. 1205 WEST MAIN ST. MARSHALLTOWN
TREASURER MRS. EUGENE CUTLER 937 THIRTY-EIGHTH ST DES MOINES
GENERAL FEDERATION DIRECTOR 1932-1934 MRS. GALEN TILDEN AMES
1934-1936 MRS. WILLIAM LARRABEE, JR. CLERMONT
My great great grandmother's name was Bathsheba or Bathsheba Sheffield she married an Elijah Brown, they had seventeen children (no wonder there are so many Browns) and lived on Fisher's Island off coast of Conn. During the Rev. war they were raided by a British man o' war and everything was taken. I know the rest of their history but do not know the connection between Babbs & the grand- mother. Have the picture of their ancestor Baths to Norman conquest. They were lords & Dukes of Buckingham & Mulgrave & Normandy

Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT MRS. H. C. HOUGHTON, JR. RED OAK
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MRS. CARL REED CRESCO
RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. FRANK DAVIS 2119 SO. ST. AUBIN ST. SIOUX CITY
PRESIDENT MRS. EUGENE HENELY GRINNELL
AUDITOR MRS. W. H. HATHORN MASON CITY
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MRS. DAVID LENNOX, JR. 1205 WEST MAIN ST. MARSHALLTOWN
TREASURER MRS. EUGENE CUTLER 937 THIRTY-EIGHTH ST. DES MOINES
GENERAL FEDERATION DIRECTOR 1932-1934 MRS. GALEN TILDEN AMES
1934-1936 MRS. WILLIAM LARRABEE, JR. CLERMONT
Whether that information helps in the search or not I do not know. Perhaps all you are able to do is to tell whether or not Bob's love applied for or received a pension. Thanking you so much. Yours sincerely, Mrs. W. H. Hathorn