Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8089, for Abel Penfield, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn.
Tenfield, Abel.
PL 8089
CONTENTS

37313
Abel Prufield Con
act 7 June 1832
Rejected, did not issue 6 mo.

State of Connecticut Middlesex County S.S.
On this 3 rd day of July 1846 personally appeared in open court. Before the Court of Probate within & for the District of Chatham, now sitting, Abel Penfield a resident of Portland in said District County & State, aged eighty eight years & upwards, 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 stated.
That in the year 1777 he belonged to the "alarm list," and on the "Danbury Alarm" was called into service & marched on the way towards Danbury, under the command of Capt John Cooper of Chatham, — That on or before their arrival at New Haven, it was understood that Danbury was burnt & that the enemy had retreated, — That he remained at New Haven a few days, when he was discharged and returned home. — That he cannot now recollect how many days he was out on this call, but his impression is that he was one week away from home.
Sometimes in the month of Sept of the same year, & according to his best recollection, in the forepart of that month, at the time when the Country was apprehensive that the enemy's forces under Burgoyne & those at New York might effect a junction, and cut off the communication between the

East & South, he turned out as a volunteer, & marched with a few others under the command of Lieut Saml Aikin of Chatham, by the way of Pitsfield Connecticut to Fishkill on the North River, where they reported themselves to an officer in Command, & drew provisions from the public store, having hitherto, almost entirely subsisted on the stock carried from home in their own knapsacks. — After remaining a few days at Fishkill, & when other volunteers had collected there in considerable numbers, they marched up the River as far as Redhook, where they remained until the surrender of Burgoyne, when they were discharged, & returned home. — According to his best recollection, he was absent from home on this tour between six 40 & seven weeks. — he does not recollect the name of any field Officer whom he saw on this tour excepting Lieut Col Blake of Chatham who was also a volunteer.
In the spring of the year 1778, & according to his best recollection, in the latter part of the month of March, he offered himself and 2 men was accepted to serve as a substitute for his father, Jonathan Penfield, who had been drafted for a two months tour of service at New Haven.
The draft for this service consisted of one company only & was made up from the Towns of Middletown, Chatham & Durham, — the commissioned officers were Capt John Cooper of Chatham, Lieut George Hubbard of Middletown & Ensign Jesse Smith of Durham, — The company was first mustered and the roll called, on the "Green" in front of the College at New Haven, — a guard was then detached and marched to the wharf, & centinels posted, — and the duty during the whole period of service consisted of serving on guard & relieving centinels. — There appeared

to be no Field Officer in Command, but he thinks he saw Col d afterwards Genl James Wadsworth of Durham, several times in consultation with Capt Leaphy & his subalterns, during the continuance of the service. The company was not relieved until some ten days after the expiration of the two months, & he is confident that he was absent from home full ten weeks on this service.
In the fall of the year 1779 he enlisted into the service of the United States to serve for the term of six months as a teamster in a company commanded by Capt John Johnson conductor of teams. — according to his best recollection he entered upon this service in the forepart of October. — his father Jonathan Rufus and his uncle Col d John Rufus, fitted him out with a team — the former furnishing two yoke of oxen & the latter one yoke of oxen & a cart. — The whole company was raised in Chatham, & when mustered into service by Nehemiah Hubbard D.D.M Q at Hartford, consisted of one conductor, nine teamsters with each a six cattle team, & one Cook. viz John Johnson conductor, Recompense Bailey, Jesse Saxton, Reuben Scofield, Ichabod Bailey, Isaac Johnson, James Bailey, Jabez Hall Jonathan Pelton, & the declarant Abel Rufus teamsters & Reuben Scofield jun r Cook. — After having their oxen shod at the public expense by the Blacksmith in the public service at Hartford, the teams were loaded with Salt at the public stores, & proceeded by the way of Danbury Connecticut, to

Down in the State of New York, where the Salt was discharged & the teams loaded with Cannon balls & Shells, then proceeded to Fishkill, where the loading was discharged and the teams quartered quartered in the public barracks. Capt Johnson had been instructed by D r M c G. Hubbard, on arriving at Fishkill, to report to Col l Udney May, & serve under his orders during the remainder of the term. — After recruiting their teams, the Company was employed with their teams in collecting wood and forage for the barracks, and were occasionally sent from Fishkill to Peekskill with forage. There was at this time, by declarants estimation, a brigade of soldiers at Fishkill and another at Peekskill, besides a large number of artificers of all sorts. Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Shoemakers, Tailors &c, — and the teams for the most part were employed in drawing wood to the barracks. — The wood was drawn from a forest some two or three miles distant from the barracks, where it was cut by the soldiers. — Sometime in the month of Dec r the snow fell so deep that the carts were laid aside, and sleds were made by the public carpenters, & used for drawing wood & forage. — The hard winter of 1780 succeeded, & in the month of February the snow was estimated to be four feet deep on the level, & continued late in the spring following, and the declarant with the rest of the company, on

their return to Connecticut were under the necessity of leaving their carts in Danbury, & returning there for them, some time after their term of service had expired.
Before & after his service as a teamster, he was called out several times on alarms, amounting in the whole as he only believes to fifteen days service.
After the pension act of 1832 was published he called on Franklin G. Comstock Esq, now deceased who was then engaged in drawing up the papers for applicants for pensions in his neighborhood, and stated the whole of his service to said Comstock, who advised him that his service as a teamster could not be counted, & as his other service did not altogether amount to six months, he could not come in for the benefits of the pension act. He then felt and still feels that great injustice was done him in rejecting this service, but was induced by what was said to him by said Comstock to forbear sending forward his application.
He was born and has all his life resided on the spot where now lives, which at the date of his birth was a part of Middletown but which sometime before

The revolution was incorporated into a new town and called Chatham, in honor of that illustrious British statesman and fast friend of America William Pitt Earl of Chatham. — and within the last few years a new Town has been created including that part of Chatham where declarant resides, and called Portland — so that he has resided in three different Towns without ever having changed the place of his residence.
He was born as he has always understood February 11 th 1758, and he has reason to believe that there is a record of his birth, on the Town records of Chatham. He does not recollect that he ever received a written discharge from the service.
He hereby 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.
The Rev d Harvey Folsom and the Hon ble John Stewart late members of Congress are persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid Alist r Penfield

We Harvey Talcott a clergyman residing in the town of Portland aforesaid, and John Stewart late member of Congress residing in the  Chatham hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abel Benfield, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be eighty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Harvey Talcott John Stewart
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 and served as he states. — And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the Rev d Harvey Talcott who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in said Town of Portland and that the Hon ble John Stewart who has signed the same is a resident of the Chatham , and that their statement is entitled to credit
Bracewell Strong Judge

I Braddock Strong Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Chatham, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abel Penfield for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 3 rd day of July 1846 Test Braddock Strong Judge
State of Connecticut, ss Office of Secretary of State, I hereby certify, that Braddock Strong, Esq., is, and since the 20 th day of June last past hath been Judge of Probate, in and for the District of Chatham and State aforesaid, duly appointed and commissioned, as appears of record in this Office. I further certify, that I believe the foregoing signature of the said Braddock Strong to be genuine. And also I do further certify, that Courts of Probate in said State are courts of record, having each a seal and clerk.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said State, at Hartford, this 6 th day of July, A. D. 1846, Charles Wm. Bradley, Secretary of State.

I Lebulon Penfield of Portland in the County of Middlesex, State of Connecticut, aged Eighty two years & upwards, being first duly sworn according to law depose & say, that Abel Penfield of said Portland whose declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Pension act of June 7 th 1832 has been read in my hearing, is my brother. — I was thirteen years of age in the year 1777 when he first went into the service. — And I have a perfect recollection of his departure from home & his return from each of the tours of service mentioned in his declaration. — My impression is, and without having heard his declaration I should have been very confident, that he was gone longer than he states in his declaration, when he went as a volunteer at the time of the surrender of Burgoyne and when he went to New Haven as a substitute for my father — but it is impossible for me to recollect the precise time of his absence from home on either tour — His service as a teamster under John Johnson I recollect was the last and the longest, and that it was during the hard winter of 1779-80. — I have a distinct recollection that he left home with his team to engage in this service in the fall preceding the hard winter, and

my impression is that it was before the middle of October. — I know that my said brother Abel Penfield, after the passage of the Pension act of 1832 applied to Franklin G. Boardman now deceased, to assist him in making out his papers to obtain a pension, and was told that his service as a constable would not be allowed, and as his other service did not amount to six months, he could not succeed, and that he did not therefore send forward his application, and further the deponent saith not.
State of Connecticut County of Middlesex
Sworn to & subscribed this 1 st day of July 1846 Before me, — and I further certify that Lebalon Kenfula who hath subscribed & sworn to the foregoing deposition is well known to me and that he is a credible person whose statements are entitled to full credit
Hiram A Penfield Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Shepard of Portland in the County of Middlesex of State of Connecticut, a revolutionary pensioner aged Ninety one years and upwards, being first duly sworn according to law depose & say, that I am well acquainted with Abel Penfield of said Portland. — That we were born and have always lived in the same neighborhood. — I recollect that he was on the "alarm list" in the early part of the revolutionary war, and that he was called out occasionally on alarms. I recollect that of seeing him in snow on the North River a few weeks before the surrender of Burgoyne, we were not in the same company. I was in a Company of Drafted Militia & he was a volunteer. I cannot testify as to the precise time, but I then understood and now believe that he was out six weeks in the snow.
I recollect that he served at New Haven under Capt John Cooper as a substitute for his father Jonathan Penfield, and that he afterwards went into the snow as a teamster under Capt John Johnson but there is no circumstance that I can now call to mind, to enable to recollect how long he was out in either case, but I know Abel Penfield to be an honest man who will not misrepresent or overstate his services.

he is younger than myself by about three years. And further the Deponent said not State of Connecticut } County of Middlesex } Daniel Shepard
Sworn to & subscribed this 1 st day of July 1846
Before me - And I further certify that Daniel Shepard who hath subscribed & sworn to the foregoing Deposition is well known to me. And that he is a credible person whose statements are entitled to full Credit
Hiram A. Penfield Justice of the Peace.
State of Connecticut Middlesex County ss } Town Clerk's Office Chatham July 3 rd A.D. 1846.
I hereby certify that as there appears on the Records of the Town of Chatham the following Records. Abel. Son to Jonathan and Elizabeth Penfield was Born February 11 th A.D. 1758.
Nathaniel Smith Town Clerk

State of Connecticut.
I, CHARLES WM. BRADLEY,  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 Hiram A. Penfield _____ is, and since the 20th day of June last past, hath been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Middlesex , 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 signatures of the said Hiram A. Penfield _____ to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at Hartford , this sixth day of July , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty= Six .
Charles W m Bradley, Secretary of State

Conductor John Johnson 6 th of Six ms Deans
   Time when Entered the Service Names No Deans     Oct 18 th 1779 John Johnson 1   Recompence Bailey 1   Schabod Bailey 1   Isaac Johnson 1   Reuben Scifield 1   Abel Penfield 1   Jonathan Patten 1   Jesse Jackson 1 Transcribed from Hubbard Deans Book  
   John Johnson of Chatham Dr   1779 Oct 22 Dr Cash to acct for pr Rapt £300   1780 Sept 6 th Dr Cash he vi of D r some AD 2 mg £ 45.0   1781 Feb 28 Dr D r in full to ballance £ 1684.2.6   £ 1725.2.6  
Hartford Connecticut) I certify that I have carefully July 16 th 1846 } compared the foregoing with the Original Deans Book - Ledger, & Day Book. from which the Roll and accounts purport to be taken and find them to be truly & accurately transcribed The figures at the foot of the opposite altera in my presence H. Goodwin 2 nd Pension & Agent

P Contra  6    1780 Jan 10  By Dan Jones acct to Ballams  £ 300. 0. 0    1781 Feb 28  By his Will 2 Mlg  £ 1725. 2. 6  
Transcribed from Hubbard Ledger
Transcribed from Hubbard Day Book 9/1780
Hartford Connecticut August 10 th 1780 John Johnson Cond r By your Bill rendered in this day £ 30. 0 By Dan Jones Certificate taken up 3966-12 £ 3996. 12. 0 John Johnson Condutor To Cash in full to Ballams £ 3996. 12. 0 

October 20, 1937.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Ida G. Smith Box 8 South Schodack, New York
BA-J/ady Abel Penfield R.8089
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Abel Penfield and Daniel Penfield, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining soldiers of that war.
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R.8089, based upon the military service of Abel Penfield in that war.
Abel, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Penfield, was born February 11, 1758, in Middletown, (that part which some time before the Revolutionary War was called Chatham) Connecticut.
Abel Penfield applied for pension July 3, 1846, at which time he was living in Portland, (that part which was formerly called Chatham) Middlesex County, Connecticut, where he had always lived. He stated that while a resident of Chatham, Connecticut, he enlisted in 1777 and served one week as private in Captain John Cooper's Connecticut Company and from early part of September 1777 he served between six and seven weeks in Lieutenant Samuel Akins' Connecticut Company; that from the last of March 1778 he served ten weeks as a substitute for his father, Jonathan Penfield, in Captain John Cooper's Connecticut Company; that from October 18, 1779, he served six months as a teamster under Captain John Johnson, and Colonel Udney Hay; that he was also called out on several alarms, amounting to fifteen days in all.
Conductor of Teams, next time.

His claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service in a military capacity as required by the pension laws, his service as teamster not being provided for in the pension law under which he applied.
In 1846 soldier's brother, Zebulon Penfield, aged eighty-two years "and upwards" was residing in Portland, Connecticut.
Soldier had an uncle, Colonel John Penfield, his age or residence not shown.
In 1846 Hiram A. Penfield was a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex County, Connecticut, his age or relationship to soldier not stated. There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Note: if this soldier really served under Kidney Hays, his Ret. was Anti- neutral & he should have had his pen. but as rejection states "did not express" it was MHS

Home of Representatives
June 21. 1850.
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Sir
May I ask inform whether Abel Penfield, mentioned in the enclosed letter of Abel P. Bulhley Esq, has received a Pension Certificate. Please return the enclosed letter to me. with much respect
your obedient servant
Julius Rockwell

Washington July 14. '46
Dear Sir,
I send you the Papers in the case of Abel Peasefield and request that you will examine it as soon as you conveniently can.
I am truly yours
Abner M. Stokes
Ed Edwards Esq James Ferry

Washington March 11. 1854
Sir
I beg pardon for troubling you with the enclosed, but as you are familiar with the matters about which Judge Penfield makes inquiry, I beg to trouble you to answer his inquiries. Judge Penfield is a gentleman of entire respectability.
Please return me the letter enclosed herewith, accompanied by your answer.
I am Very Resp d Yours Ob d Serv t S. G. Haven
Hon. L. P. Waldo Comm. of Pensions &c

House of Reps Washington
March 31. 1854
For Lt Waldo
~ ~ ~
Dear Sir:
Will you be good enough to in- form me if in your power whether there any papers on file in your office relating to the application of Abel  Abraham Penfield late of Chatham Conn. for Pension - & if so please inform me what papers.
I am very truly
Yours affec Ser
C. M. Ingalls.

Rev C. M. Burroughs M. L.
Pembroke
Hon L. P. Waldo
Coll. Com'y of Inspectors
Washington
Hon
L. M. Ferguson W.R.

37313
Abel Penfield Con
Ref'd on Order Aug 24/46
Hon. Julius Packard 1 st July 1850
Hon. S. G. Hemen - 16 Mar. 1852
H. C. M c Ingeroll Apr 6/54
8089
- act 7 June 1832

D
6887
38

W. M. Miller
Aug 24/46

5155 Pension Office July 24, 1846
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you that the papers in the Case of Abel Penfield have been examined and filed under the act of 7 June 1832.
There were no valid contracts for for a term less than twelve months Claimants alleged service in that Capacity for 6 months under lease Johnson could have been  only  only an A employment only under a contract, which affords no grounds for a pension. The balance of the service set forth in his declaration does not amount to 6 months, his claim has therefore been rejected.
Hon J. M. Niles Senate N States

Hon C. M. Ingersoll
apl 6/57

Pension Office April 6 1854
Sir
Abel Penfield of Middlesex County, Ct. made an application for a pension under the Act of June 7 1832. His papers are now on file in this Office. I enclose a copy of a letter of the 26 th of July 1846, to Hon. J. M. Niles, which will disclose the nature & condition of the case,
Wm C. M. Ingersoll H. J. R.

Hon. Julius Rockwell
1 July 1850

2 Pension Office July 1 st 1850
Sir
I have the honor to return herewith Mr Buckley's letter, and in reply to his enquiries in relation to the case of Abel Penfield to state that he was not allowed a pension for the reasons stated in my report to Hon J. M. Niles of 24 July 1846, a copy of which is herewith enclosed
Hon Julius Rockwell House of Reps

1937 Oct. 20. Dist. to Mrs. Ida H. Smith. a. Dis.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1879.
REJECTED
80 89
P. O.
Abel Penfield
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: 1852 Rejected & suspended Pensions Book gives Reasons for rejection Alleges: "He did not serve six months".
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Box 8, South Schodack, N. Y. October 5, 1937.
Veteran's Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Re Revolutionary War Records.
I have been informed that each inquirer is entitled to two inquiries regarding the service of their ancestors in the Revolutionary War.
Will you kindly send me all information you have regarding Abel Penfield , a Revolutionary soldier from Chatham, Conn., pension index letter R 8089. If you would look up his dossier I think the information it contains regarding heirs etc would be interesting to myself as well as to other descendants.
Also I would like the same information about his brother, Daniel Penfield, pension index letter R 8090, also probably from Chatham, Conn. If possible please give me a list of the children that might be mentioned.
Any information you can send me will be greatly appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Ida G. Smith
Mrs Ida Gore Smith.
[Great-great grand-daughter of Abel Penfield.]