Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,598, for Stephen Morehouse, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Morehouse, Stephen
S. 17,598
carded
CONTENTS

17540 Connecticut
Stephen Morehouse Norwalk in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Marvin of the Regt. commanded by Col. Trumbull in the Connec- line for 18 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 60 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Augt. 1833 and deliv d B. Isaac, of Norwalk Conn Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 $190.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 1.30
$150.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by No Cromwell Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 28

No 3163
Recd 24 Jan'y '33
Amt
18 mo - peri
60 $
Certificate to Ellen Moore house widow to be computed from 4 march '31 to 24 Jan'y. '33

State of Connecticut, } ss. County of Fairfield, }
On this 2 day of Aug t 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk in said County
now sitting, Stephen Morehouse a resident of Norwalk - in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged seventy one years, who being first 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.
That in Aug t 1777 I enlisted in Capt. Oziel Mearns of State Troops, and served there six months on the first of March 1778 I enlisted in said Norwalk in said Capt. Oziel Mearns Company, for one year, and served my time out. on the first of March 1779 I enlisted into said Company and served one year and was engaged during said term of time in guarding and protecting the dis- trict of Norwalk and on the lines - was in the battle when Fairfield and Norwalk was burnt. In the year 1782 I enlisted under Capt. Ebenezer Fitch and served in a six Company which went to Long Island Sound and served there six months. was born in Norwalk Jan y 12. 1761 since resided in said County and have always lived in said Norwalk - have no written discharge and no documentary evidence of my service.

The said Stephen Murchison 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. Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Stephen Murchison
We, Edwin Hall a clergyman, residing in the town of Swanville and Samuel Beers residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Stephen Murchison who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Edwin Hall Samuel Beers
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Edwin Hall who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Swanville and that Samuel Beers who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Swanville and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benj. Isaac Judge
I, Charles Isaac Clerk of the Leica Probate Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Murchison for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Leica Probate Office, this 2 day of Aug t 1832.
Chas. Isaac Clerk

17598 INVALID.
File No. 17598
Stephen Morehouse
Pr. Re. War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. / , Page 266
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } Probate Court being a Court of Record within and for the District of Norwalk in said County and State
This may Certify that Satisfactory Proof was adduced before said Court by the the testimony of Charles Monhoun and Polly Monhoun both of said Norwalk and credible and reputable Persons that Stephen Monhoun late of said Norwalk died in said Norwalk on the 24 day of January 1833 at about Eight o'Clock afternoon and said Monhoun has left a Widow Elm Monhoun residing in said Norwalk. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal of said Court this 29 day July 1833
Benj. Saeer Judge

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County. } The Probate Court District of Norwalk Personally appeared before said Court David Mearns of said Norwalk aged 73 years and being duly sworn According to Law in open Court depose and say that he is well acquainted with Stephen Mearns of said Norwalk that on the first of April 1782 said Stephen Mearns and myself enlisted under Capt Ebenezer Fitch in a Lix Baid Whole boat and we served together under said Capt Fitch in crossing in Long Island Sound by Norwalk and was discharged in said Norwalk
David Mearns
Sworn and subscribed in open Court Augt. 2 nd 1832
Brigs. Isaac Judson
State of Connecticut - County of Fairfield ss. This may Certify that I am well acquainted with Isaac Fellow Samuel Dunn and David Mearns all of Norwalk in said County and State who have sworn and subscribed the foregoing deposition and that they are all credible and respectable Persons and Witnesses Norwalk July 29. 1833
Brigs. Isaac Judson

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } ss. Probate Court. District of Norwalk Augt. 2 d 1832 Personally appeared before said Court. Isaac Fellow aged 71 and being duly sworn according to Law in open Court depose and say That he is well acquainted with Stephen Morehouse of said Norwalk. That on the first of March 1778 said Morehouse and myself enlisted into Capt. Elias Mearns Company of State troops and we served together therein for one year That that on the first of March 1779 said Morehouse enlisted in said Norwalk in the Open said Company and served therein one year . I belonged to the same Company. we were employed and engaged during said time in guarding and protecting the sea coast Isaac Dillon
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court Benj o Isaac Judge
At the same Court Personally appeared Samuel Brien aged 72 years being duly sworn according to Law in open Court depose and say That he is well acquainted with Stephen Morehouse of said Norwalk. That in August 1777 said Morehouse and myself enlisted in said Norwalk in Capt. Elias Mearns Company of State troops and we served together therein for six months That on the first of March 1778 said Morehouse enlisted into the same Company at said Norwalk for one year and we served our time out together in said Company in guarding and protecting the sea coast Samuel Brien
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court Benj o Isaac Judge

Shorehouse
dec 2
adm.
5 6. 14. 18
B Haas
- P 141.

3103
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Morehouse — which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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? — grade, not stated — nor actual service set forth
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?

XV. 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? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? — no — 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? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? list subsequent
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.