Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,379, for Elisha Perkins, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Perkins, Elisha
L 29379
CONTENTS

21.072 Massachusetts
Elisha Perkins
of Springfield in the State of Mass. who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Wilimot of the Reg commanded by Col. Thompson in the Quinc line for 17 Mos. 20 days
At Cont. State & Prov.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass: at the rate of 58 Dollars 86 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug, 1832 and due to S. L. Lathrop W. Springfield
Arrears to the 4th of Dec. '31 $117 72 Semi-ant. allowance ending Aug. '32 29 43 $147 15
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by A. Keith Clerk, Book E, Vol. 2, Page 65
86 Hampden

8462
Elisha Perkins
Mar 17 Mr 20 days
5. 11. 12 06
P. 357.
\begin{array}{r} 1666 \\ 220 \\ \hline 1886 \end{array} \quad \begin{array}{r} 181.7 \\ 2 \\ \hline 89 \end{array}
Sam Lathrop West Springfield Mass.

BRIEF in the case of  Elisha Perkins  of West Springfield in the State of Mass;  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Eighty five years.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 July or Aug. 3 Gen. Capt. Bilmot, Col. Thompson   enrolled 1777 Spring about 2 Capt. Hitchcock,   Identified July 15 Capt. Stanley   volunteer Oct. 10 about 2 Capt. Hitchcock, Col. Eno. Gen. Parsons   discharged 1778 Aug. 1 2 Capt. Collins,   " 1779 Oct. 12 2 20 Capt. Hitchcock,   to 20 Dec. 6 Col. Huntington. Gen. Stark   volunteer 1780 July 1  
Subscribed for E. H. L. Kipps
 5. In what battles was he engaged? nine stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Manchester, Cheshire, Conn.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? two persons certify to traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
S. L. L. Examining Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } S.S County of Hampden
On this eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Probate for this county now sitting Elisha Perkins a resident of West Springfield in the county of Hampden aforesaid & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty five years last November who first being 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 stated - That in July or August 1776 he enlisted in the service of the United States in the batallion of New Haven where he then lived for the term of three months - That he was stationed at the cove so called in New Haven at the fort which was built there in 1775 - While he was there a British man of war entered the cove & we hailed her - She immediately retreated & rowed round the point on which the light house now stands & went towards Branford - that himself with eleven others under the command of a Sergeant pursued it by land & between East Haven & Branford we exchanged shots nine times I think when the boat steered for Long Island - That all the shots which were fired from the boat went over our heads & no one was injured - The party then returned to the cove - He states further that while they , a British ship came into the cove within about musket shot & was sounding the water - The Colonel ordered the men to "douse the colors" & immediately after it was done, the ship tacked & went out of the harbour - Thompson of New Haven was Colonel - The Lieut Colonel & Major he thinks were at Saybrook as half of Col Thompson's regiment were sent to that place - Samuel Wilmot of New Haven was Captain & was called "Captain Lieutenant" - While the Colonel was present, he performed the duties of Captain & at that time Wilmot acted as Lieutenant - He recollects no other officers - He did not leave the fort until the latter part of October or first of November & not until his three months had expired - That in the spring of 1777 he removed from New Haven to Cheshire in the county of New Haven & was enrolled in the company of militia commanded by Capt David Hitchcock of that town - That on the 1 st day of July 1777 he was drafted into the United States service to go to Brunspones in the state of New York & marched immediately from Cheshire - through Yarmouth, Danbury, Southbury & other places to that place Oliver Stanley of Wallingford was Captain of the company his other company officers he does recollect - He had no officer of a higher grade than Captain as he now recollects -

That he was stationed at that place to keep the Cow-boys from going to the British which were then encamped on White Plains - That he went from Cheshire We had no action at this place but were engaged in keeping guard & in hindering the British from plundering the country - That he was absent at this time two months when he was discharged - That while he was absent on this expedition one morning while on officer guard he heard the news of Colonel  Colonel  Boyd's capture at Bennington read in the Officers tent -
He further states that in October 1777 he thinks on the 10th that an express arrived at the town of Cheshire where he then resided for the militia to turn out & that he again volunteered into the service & was marched under Captain David Hitchcock of Cheshire through Danbury Watertbury &c to Fishkill in the state of New York - That the afternoon that he arrived at Fishkill he volunteered to go out on an expedition to Peekskill & was put under other officers & immediately marched to Peekskill  out & there a part of the company again volunteered of whom he was one & marched to the house of Robinson a refugee Colonel - That the Officers went to the door & enquired for Col Robinson - A woman whom I supposed to be his wife came to the door & said "Colonel Robinson is not at home - He has been gone on board his ship about an hour" (a part of the British fleet at this time was lying in the north river near this place) "I am very sorry that he is not at home as he would have given you a warm reception had he been here" - That he was stationed as sentinal at the front door of the house at that time - While the officers were searching the house a part of the company was sent out on to the farm & brought off all his stock consisting I should think of more than a hundred head of horned cattle & great numbers of horses, sheep, & hogs - That when the party were driving off his stock his wife complained bitterly - That our commander answered - "You refugees, commenced this plundering scrape & now you know how good it is to be plundered" - & immediately turned away & we drove the stock to the Red Mills as called where they were taken care of by somebody else & I saw no more of them - At this place I was again placed in my own company under Capt Hitchcock - which had then arrived there In this expedition to Robinson's house he cannot name any of the officers as we were absent but a few hours & they were all strangers to him he understood that his commander was a native of Rhode Island - & a continental officer At the Red Mills where he now was he understood the United States government had large quantities of flour deposited - The next morning after he returned from Robinsons farm the news came by by the Light Horse that Robinson was coming with his regiment to regain his cattle & the army was drawn up to give him a rolling fire - but he did not come - That he remained at Red Mills three or four days on guard & then went to the roads near Clumpond & remained there on guard until the British  he was discharged fleet went down the river & that soon

after he was discharged - General Parsons was our chief  commander at this time & Mr Eno col of the regiment - those are all his officers that he recollects - That he was discharged in the following manner - That the adjutant of the regiment spoke & said those that volunteered to take Col Robinson's cattle will receive arms & march to the front as their names were called - He then enquired in what town we lived, what were our officers names & wrote his answers - He then gave us Genl Washington thanks & promised to send to our captain for each of us our proportion of the value of the stock which we took at Robinson's & dismissed us - That he was absent about two months at this time
And he further states that in 1778 he thinks  the first of August he was drafted into the United States service under Captain Custis or Ambrose Collins of Guilford in the state of Connecticut & was again marched to Churn-ponds where he remained until sometime in September keeping guard in the streets & in camp duty at that time when the militia at that place  we found the continental army & marched cross Croton river bridge through White Plains to East Chester stone church - At that place there was a call for 100 volunteers to go on command - he was among the first fifty that volunteered - the remaining fifty partly volunteered & part were drafted - The company that he was in stopped in the northwest part of the town at the Hessian encampment so called - the other company marched to Volanties Hill - The two companies then formed a line of sentries from a place called  for a mile square - The remainder of the army that we left at East- Chester church soon after went down - he understood to near Kingsbridge The sentries were placed to keep the British from coming into the rear of our army - After the news came of the battle of our army with the British between East Chester & Kingsbridge & of General Burnside's defeated retreat we went in the night to the town of Rye where we again joined the army - after a few days we returned to Curn pond - at which place we were discharged he thinks about the first of October  September - He was absent on this expedition two months - He recollects no officers but Genl Parsons & Captain Collins -
And he further states that in the year 1779 about the first of October he was  again  drafted into the service for three months - & marched from Cheshire to Stratford in Connecticut where we remained engaged principally in camp duty until the 20th of December when we marched to New Haven where in two or three days one half of the company was arranged out of which he was one & permitted to go home - The French fleet at this time lay at Rhode Island - David Hitchcock was Captain of the company & he is the only officer he recollects

He further states that in the year 1780 about the first of July he volunteered as a substitute for Ephraim Hotchkiss of Cheshire for the term of six months & then was reviewed by General Mc Dougall - He asked me if I was ever in the army? I answered Yes. Where did you serve? At New Haven at Black Rock fort under Col Thompson - Did you serve any where else - Yes at Crum ponds, in 1777 Peekskill in 1777 & at East Chester in 1778 - From there we marched under Sergeant Bailey & joined the army at Verplank's point near Kings Ferry in the state of New York - here we then attached to the Ninth Connecticut Regiment under the command of Lt. Col Ebenezer Huntington & in the Brigade commanded by General Stark - Willis was Major of the Regiment. He cannot recollect the officers of the company except Nicholson the orderly sergeant - Meigs was adjutant of the Regiment - After remaining there a few days we crossed at Kings Ferry to Tappan - where we joined the grand army from thence we proceeded to the English Neighborhood in New Jersey where we remained a few days & then returned to Tappan - The army was reviewed at a place of which I cannot now recollect the name, somewhere between these two last mentioned places - at Tappan  the place our Brigade left the army & went to West Point on garrison duty & there relieved the Massachusetts militia at that post. When we left Tappan in crossing the river at Kings Ferry the boat sunk & seven or eight men were drowned & six or eight baggage wagons floated off - From West Point we went over on to the Highlands & was employed in building huts until his  my time expired about the first of January - That at no time did he have a written discharge until on this last time when he had a discharge signed by Ebenezer Huntington Col Commandant but that he took no pains to preserve it & cannot now find it - That he knows no one now living who was present with him any of  these officers -
He further states that he was born in the town of Hampden county of New Haven & in the state of Connecticut on the fifth day of November 1746 That afterwards he lived in New Haven five years & then removed to Cheshire where he lived about four years & then returned to Hampden in 1781 where he lived twelve years - in 1793 he removed to Springfield in the county of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts where he lived five years & then removed to this town where he has lived ever since - He knows of no record of his birth He states David Wood, Eliakim Stark, Abraham Tharp to whom he is known & who can testify as to his character for veracity & trustiness of his services

as a soldier of the Revolution -
He thereby relinquishes every 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. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Ebenezer Perkins
We Abraham Thorp & Gad Warriner Esq. both of West Springfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Perkins who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration - That we believe him to be eighty five years of age - that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Gad Warriner Abraham Thorp
And the said Court - Present the Hon. Oliver B. Morris Judge - after the investigation of the matter & after hearing the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department do hereby declare their opinion that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states & the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Gad Warriner and Abraham Thorp who have signed the preceding certificate are both residents in said town of West Springfield & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ebenezer Perkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two
Justin Willard Reg. H.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elisha Perkins of West Springfield in said County, who, being duly sworn deponeth & saith, that by reason of old age & 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 in all instances as a private - For 1776 at New Haven for three months - For 1777 at Charn Ponds for two months - For 1777 at Red Mills for two months - For 1778 at East Chester for two months - For 1779 at Stratford for two months & twenty days - For 1780 in New Jersey for six months & for such service I claim a pension - I further declare that there is no settled clergyman in the North Parish in said town of West Springfield, where I live - That I live about eight miles from the clergyman in the adjoining parish & he has been settled there between two & three years only -
Elisha Perkins
Hampden J. May 19 th 1833
Then the above named Elisha Perkins made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed before me Henry Ely Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden J. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being officer of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Henry Ely Esq. before whom the above deposition was verified is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden - That I believe his name thereunto subscribed to be his true & proper signature
Elisha Perkins
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this twenty ninth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred & thirty three
John Ingersoll Clerk

8462
Elisha Perkins
Samuel Lothrop West 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 Elisha Perkins 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? yes 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? _____ Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? _____ 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? _____ XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? answered
 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,

29379 Rev INVALID.
1928 Nov. 7 Photos to Mable L. Crosby A.N.Y.
File No. 29,379
Elisha Perkins
Rev Rev Mrs
Act: June 7 th 324
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 319
[Arrangement of 1870.]

All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 27177
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications, Room G 137.
October 31, 1928 192
Please furnish work specified below.
Bureau ordering Pensions Deliver to Room No. 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job photostatic copies of six pages from Rev. War pension claim, Elisha Perkins, S. 29379.
No. of copies 1 of each page Shall form be kept standing? days
For further information see M.M.H. Finch Room No. 5033 Phone No. 541
Approved: Ad. W. Wilson Chief Clerk of Bureau
Margaret M. H. Finch Chief of Branch or Division
NOTE: No order made "SPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering
CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph single or double space? Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph one side or both sides? Facsimile signature?
Folding once or twice?
Assembling Stapling Once? Twice? Side? End?
Electric typewriter Fill in addresses? Dated?
  Addressograph from lists Cards, size   Envelopes, size Pay rolls   Proof list Corrections   Labels (submit sample) Tabulation sheets   Fill in letters 
  Photostatx  Size actual  Official use?  Repay? yes  $ 1.15    Blue Print  Size  Official use?  Repay?  $  
Remarks
Rev 18/12

NOTE: Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chi bureaus.
..... (Date)
INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
Make new addressograph plate
Change present addressograph plate
Destroy present addressograph plate
} On list.....
as follows:
Now reads        1 ..... 2 ..... 3 ..... 4 ..... 5 .....
Should read    1 ..... 2 ..... 3 ..... 4 ..... 5 .....
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made ..... 192 .
Operator .....
MULTIGRAPH
Operator ..... Date ..... Type set by ..... Date .....
Remarks: .....
MIMEOGRAPH
Operator ..... Date ..... Cut by .....
Remarks: .....

October 31, 1928
BUREAU OF PENSIONS Finance Division
Nov. 1, 1928
Chief Rev. and 1812 Wars Section Division.
atic copies of six pages from Rev. 29379.
I have this day received from Miss Mable G. Crosby cash in the amount of $ 1.15 , requesting photostat copy as per letter herewith.
Gertrude Crosby Wald St. Ind.
O. J. RANDALL Chief, Finance Division. o.b.l.
To C.C. Nov. 1 To Law Nov 5 Photos mailed & Fin. div. mfd A.D.Y. Nov. 7, 1928
New Jersey
Cash - $1.15
FINANCE DIVISION BOOK-KEEPER'S DESK NOV 1 1928 BUREAU OF PENSIONS

October 31, 1928
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Please send me certified photostatic to copies of six pages from Rev. War pension claim, Elisha Perkins, S. 29379.
Miss Mable Gertrude Crosby 413 West De Wald St. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Received payment $1.15 October 31, 1928
Mr. C. Stokes
Rev. & 1812 War Section
Ordered thru Mr. Jenkins
Cash - $1.15