Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23846, for Thaddeus Potter, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Comm Potter, Thaddeus  S. 23846
CONTENTS

New York 30.811
Thaddeus Potter
of Queen's Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Converse of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Swift in the Conn't. time for 6 months
Ltt to Penag. City N.Y. Aug 26. 1836. Same Aug 31. 1836
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of Augt. 1836 and sent to Pierpoint Potter, Jamaica. N.Y.
Arrears to the 14th of March '36. 100.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 6. Sep. " 10.00 $ 110.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. 28, 1836 }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk book E. 2. Vol. 4 Page 54

County of Queens } State of New York } ss
I Pierpont Potter of the village of Jamaica County of Queens & State of New York aged thirty eight years depose and say that I am a teacher in Union Hall Academy, that I have been employed as such during the last seven years, that I have been acquainted with Thaddeus Potter from my childhood that I have always understood that he was a soldier of the Revolution, that his character for truth and veracity was never doubted by those who knew him, that he is now totally blind & entirely dependant upon his children for support, and further this deponent saith not.
Given & subscribed the 30 th October 1832
Pierpont Potter
Samuel Sherman Clerk of } Queens County Common Pleas
Deponent is to such a degree that he is as a matter of fact giving a correct detail of his services in the Revolution as in our opinion may with safety be taken.
Dated at Hamden this 18 th Day of August 1832 Stephen Gilbert Joel Ford
New Haven County ss Hamden August 18 th 1832 Personally appeared the above named Joel Ford Esq r and Stephen Gilbert and Made Oath that the above statement or certificate is the truth according to the best of their knowledge before me
Myles Pierpont Justice of Peace
Being myself personally acquainted with Joel Ford Esq r & Stephen Gilbert as before I would unhesitatingly represent them each to be men of strict integrity & veracity Myles Pierpont Justice of Peace

We the Subscribers having been acquainted with Thaddeus Potter formerly of the Town of Hamden, County of New Haven, State of Connecticut & now residing at Jamaica, Queens County, S.D. State of New York do hereby certify that in our Opinions of Potter may be relied upon by any Court of Justice for Truth & veracity that any statement made or declaration given respecting Potter's claim as a Soldier of the Revolution - may without doubt be relied upon as being correctly made that the Subscribers have lived in the immediate neighbourhood for the term of Ten years (or more) & have been conversably acquainted with him for more than thirty years I have seen & conversed with him recently I do consider that he retains his memory & faculties to such a degree that he is as capable of giving a correct detail of his services in the Revolution as in our Opinions may with safety be taken.
Dated at Hamden this 18 th Day of August 1832 Stephen Gilfert Joel Ford
New Haven County ss Hamden August 18 th 1832 Personally appeared the above named Joel Ford Esq r and Stephen Gilfert and Made Oath that the above statement or certificate is the truth according to the best of their knowledge before me
Myles Pierpont Justice of Peace
being personally acquainted with Joel Ford Esq r & Stephen Gilfert as persons I would unhesitatingly represent them each to be men of strict integrity & veracity
Myles Pierpont Justice of Peace

95065 3
22416.70 199.50
22616.20
225195
22616.20
State of Connecticut, County of New Haven ss. New Haven September 7 th 1832 I M c Beck Clerk of the County Court within & for s d New Haven County, certify that the Subpoena  Return when same is above copying written & subscribed to the within affidavit, is true on the 18 th of August 1832 as Justice of the peace in & for s d New Haven County, & duly qualified to administer Oaths, & that the within signature which purports to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County Court this day & date above written M c Beck Clerk
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named deponents Stephen Gilbert & Joel Stone respectively & that they are entitled to full credit for truth & veracity M c Beck Clerk

I Julius Beach of Yorktown South Society in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut aged sixty-seven years and six months having been duly sworn depon't say That I was well acquainted with Thadeus Potter who came into the South part of the Town about the close of the war of the revolution. and a number of years after purchased a Farm in the South part of the town. near where I live and lived within one mile of me twenty years or more and then sold out, and moved into the State of Massachusetts where my acquaintance with him ceased From the knowledge I have of P. Potter I consider him a Man of truth and veracity, and further the deponent of says not.
Julius Beach
Litchfield County State of Conn. Aug t 7. 1832. Then Personally appeared Julius Beach to me known as a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed
Origen S. Seymour Justice of the Peace
I Frederick Wolcott Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, certify that Origen S. Seymour Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County, legally commissioned & qualified, & as such hath a right by law to administer Oaths, & that the above signature which purports to be his is genuine. —
Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this 7 th day of August A. 1832
Frederick Wolcott Judge of Probate

In the matter of the application of Thomas Patten , a revolutionary soldier — for a pension under the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832 —
Hon. M c Key B d C H R
Mr. Lent

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
State of New York } County of Queens }
H. On this thirtieth day of October 1832, personally appeared (in open court, before the Judge of the court of common pleas in and for the said county of Queens, being a court of record, so constituted by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York) Thaddeus Potter , now a resident of the Town of Jamaica in the said county of Queens and State of New York, aged sixty nine years and nine months, 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 according to the best of his knowledge, information and belief he was born in the Town of Hamden, county of New Haven and State of Connecticut the 4 th Jany 1763. That early in the spring of the year 1780 while living with the Rev d Stephen Heston, of Goshen, Litchfield County, State of Connecticut, he was drafted as a common soldier and entered the service of the U States about the first of May of that year, in a company commanded by a Captain - Converse, whom he never saw before, nor since he left the service - that the regiment marched by the way of Danbury to Fishkill in Dutchess County State of New York, crossed the North River and marched into the State of New Jersey, and was at various places in that State, the names of which this deponent does not now recollect - That the Regiment in which he served was commanded by Colonel Swift - This deponent recollects one John Forster a soldier from the said Town of Goshen, and also Picket, Steward and Chapin, who belonged to the same company & he thinks to the same tent - And

This deponent recollects, while in the Army of being exercised frequently by the celebrated Baron Stuben; and of having seen General Washington several times - That he saw the unfortunate Major Andre the day before his execution, and the in- famous traitor Benedict Arnold previous to his escape to the British. That he this deponent was with the Army in the neighborhood of Bel- mont point when Arnold left the Americans - and well remembers of two deserters from the Army being shot in the vicinity of West point, but whether previous or subsequent to the execution of Major Andre this deponent is not certain. And this de- ponent says that toward the close of the year 1700 he was become so lame, in consequence of a severe cold in consequence of exposure while on guard, that a discharge was procured for him from General Washington, and he left the service - but was totally unfit on account of the lameness in one of his legs to follow any business until some time in the subsequent year - And this deponent further says he has lost the discharge which was given him by General Washington; nor has he any documentary evidence to establish the facts above stated, nor does he now know of any person living who testimony he can procure to prove other than the  the certificate of affidavits hereto annexed - his services in the Revolution - That he knows of no clergyman now living, who can testify to his character - That for the last seven years he this deponent has been totally blind and dependent for support upon his children. That he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present,

and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn and subscribed } his Thacker the day and year aforesaid } Potter in open court } matter. Samuel Sherman Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, and after putting the interroga- -toris prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolu- -tionary soldier, and served as in states.
I Samuel Sherman Clerk of the court of common Pleas of the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, do here- -by certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- -ings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thad- -deus Potter for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30 th day of October 1832.
Samuel Sherman

Thad. Potter, dec d Sp. act.
Geo Wm Crump Esquire War Department Pension office Washington D.C.
78

Jamaica August 9. 1836
Sir
In answer to your kind note of the 4 th Instant I take this opportunity to say - that the affidavits of my father are on file in your office - I made an application at his request 2 or 3 years since for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832 - Mr Edwards ascertained from the records in your office that my father was in the service from 26 June 1780 to the 9 th of Dec following consequently that he fell short of the minimum provision of the act of '32 by about 15 or 16 days - I then applied to Congress during the last session for such relief as they in their wisdom might think proper to grant - I learn from Dr Abel Huntington the member from my district that a bill has been passed for the relief of my father - I learn from the 3 d Vol of the Congressional Globe N o 28 that the said bill was passed on the 13 th of June 1836 - My father died on the 4 th day of March last - aged 73 years and 2 months. He had been blind and totally incapable of business during the last 10 or 11 years - I supported him to the day of his death and consequently my legal demands would 8 or 10 times exceed any amount that I have reason to believe that Congress either have or will award on his account - If you cannot forward his certificate without the formality of letters of administration to me from the Surrogate of my County I must procure them - - - (over)

I hope and presume that the death of my father will make no difference either in the course of your office or that of Congress inasmuch as he had expended all his property many years before he died (and he never was rich) and the pittance which he had so faithfully earned in his younger days has so long been withheld
I am very respectfully your obedient servant
Pierpont Potter Jamaica Clerk of Queens County

Thaddeus Potter
M.C.E.
on Roles Swifts Regt.
26 June to 9 Nov. 80
5.13. days
Reg d
Mr. Lent

BRIEF in the case of  Thaddeus Potter  of  Queens Cy  in the State of  N. York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no  3. How old is he? 69 3/4  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.     May 1780 - to the 17th close of '80 * As a drafted man Capt. Connery - Col. Swift  
* Don't say how many months he served
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Goshen Ct.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Tradition in abundance  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The declaration is on two pieces of paper not properly connected - but in all other respects unobjectionable 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. C. Easton Examining Clerk.  17 Jan'y 1833

Resolution
23846 INVALID.
Am
File No. 23,846
Thaddeus Potter
Re: Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 325-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

32384
New York
Shaddeo Potter
Rejected
Let to Mr Gann 35 to Howd Huntington let to Sam - Feb. 18. 1835
allw'd by special act.

In-66 Aug 31. Thos. Potter
James L. Edwards Esq. 6 Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Mechanics' Bank.
New York Aug 29 1836
Sir.
I am favored with your Letter of 26 th Inst in relation to Thaddeus Patten. be pleased to inform me upon which of the Rolls of this Agency the name of this Pensioner is to be inscribed and from what period his Pension commences.
I am very respectfully Your Obed t Serv t J. Fleming Presd. Officiating
James L. Edwards Esq r

Aug 3
Thos. B. B. B. sh act
1894
Hon James L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington
D C

Jamaica Queens County (Long Island) August 1. 1836.
Hon J. L. Edwards
Dear Sir
I am informed by Dr Huntington the member of Congress for my district that a bill was passed during the last Session for the relief of my father Thaddeus Potter - I find his statement verified by the paper called the Congressional Globe - I wish Sir that if it is in your power that you would procure for me the necessary document that I may obtain the portion due to my father up to the 4 th day of March last on which day he died.
I am Sir with very great respect your most obedient servant
Deipont Potter

To
Hon J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Pension office Washington

To
The Hon ble Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir
Please to permit me to suggest an idea relative to the application of Thaddeus Potter for a pension — Is it not highly probable that being so very young to wit 17 years that after he had entered the service he was flattered by some one to enlist and something drawn from him which induced the person to make the return which appears upon the roll? If so then is he not to be allowed for at least a few days?
Yours with very great
respect
Hon J L Edwards
Pierpont Potter atty for Applicant

THADDEUS POTTER.
[To accompany bill H. R. No. 337.]
FEBRUARY 13, 1836.
Mr. BOND, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to which was referred the petition of Thaddeus Potter, have considered the same and now report:
That the petitioner, in his declaration, filed in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions, states that early in the year 1780, whilst residing in the county of Litchfield, and State of Connecticut, he was drafted as a private soldier, and about the 1st of May, in that year, was enrolled in a company commanded by Captain Converse, and attached to a regiment in the service of the United States, commanded by Colonel Swift; that he continued to do military duty in said company and regiment, in the service of the United States, until near the close of that year, when, having contracted a violent disease by his fatigue and exposure, he became so lame and generally infirm that he was wholly unfit for military duty, and was discharged.
On reference to the office of Commissioner of Pensions, the committee find the rolls of Colonel Swift's regiment, by which it appears, that the petitioner was a soldier in the same on the 26th June, 1780, and that he was duly discharged on the 9th December, in the same year. It appears then that the material facts set forth by the petitioner are well sustained, and the only objection to his being placed on the pension roll, under the act of 1832, arises from his discharge about twelve or fifteen days before he had completed a term of six months' service. But as the petitioner seems to have been finally discharged, by reason of infirmities; and because, also, it would seem that he entered the service some short time before the first date, of which his name appears on the roll of Colonel Swift's regiment, the committee think he is equitably and fairly entitled to be treated as having performed a tour of six months' duty in the service of the United States, and now report a bill for his relief accordingly.
Blair & Rives, printers.

HR. 337
Thaddeus Potter
Act June 28, 1836. New York City Roll. $20 per Ann. from the 4 Mar. 1831.
Send Cert to Pierpoint Pot- ter, Jamaica, NY.
Respectfully W. Brown Aug 4 1836
Exec.
Comm: on Pensions
W Brown will hand me a b M

Thaddeus Potter
Spencer Cutler as tho' he were alive - wants to say that Thad. P. Peirpoint Potter is represented to be the only child - no children

Priv 140
24th CONGRESS, 1st Session.
H. R. 337.
FEBRUARY 13, 1836.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
Mr. BOND, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following bill:
An Act
A BILL
For the relief of Thaddeus Potter, of the State of New York.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 3 the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, directed to place 4 the name of Thaddeus Potter, on the revolutionary pension 5 roll, and to allow him a pension at the rate of twenty dollars 6 per year, to commence on the fourth day of March, in the 7 year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, and to con- 8 tinue during his life.
Approved June 28 th 1836
A true copy compared with the Roll in this Office
Dept of State June 30 th 1836.
Asbury Dickinson Chief Clerk

32384 Jan 13. In the matter of Thaddeus Potter an applicant for a pension
T Potter
Atty
Smiths- Converse 26 June 80. 6 mo March 5 th 9 Nov. 80
At Huntington

State of New York
County of Queens ss
On this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared before me David Samberson one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Queens and State of New York Thaddeus Potter a resident of said County of Queens and State aforesaid aged seventy two 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 th 1832. — That he the said Thaddeus Potter entered the service of the United States of America in the Spring of the year 1780 — that he was drafted as a militia man about the last of April or beginning of May of said year — that at that time he was living with Rev d Stephen Henton in the township of Goshen County of Dutchfield and State of Connecticut — that he was then about seventeen years of age — that he left said Goshen in company with one John Norton and Elisha Mahew and Jesse Hale that he passed through Danbury in Connecticut thence into the State of New York — that he crossed the Hudson and joined the Army but at what place he does not now recollect but either within the limits of the State of New York or New Jersey — that it was not more than one week from the time that he was drafted before he joined the Army — that his Captain's name was Converse his Colonel's Swift — that his tentmates were Norton aforesaid one Picket, Sloddard, Chapin and one other whose name he cannot recollect — that during the summer of said year 1780 he was in many places in the States of New York and New Jersey — that he remembers of being at Tappan Nelson's point Morristown Elizabethtown and other places

the names of which he cannot now recollect - that he saw two men shot not far from West point - that he understood they were shot for desertion - that he thinks their execution was either a little before or a little after the execution of the unfortunate Maj Andre but he cannot say which - that he well remembers they were shot on the Sabbath and in the afternoon - that he frequently was paraded and exercised by the noted Steuben - that he frequently saw the treacherous Arnold - that he was at Nelsons point when Arnold left the American Army - that he saw the unfortunate Andre but once and that was the day before he was executed that at the time of Andre's execution he was on picket guard - that he continued in said service as a private soldier from the time of his joining the army until he was discharged by Gen Washington late in the month of November or beginning of December of said year 1780 - - that at the time of his discharge he was unable to walk in consequence of a severe swelling on one of his legs rendered more severe by reason of having taken cold by long exposure in the rain while on guard - that he cannot recollect at what place he was discharged - that the same day that he left the army he was carried to a house where he was confined twelve or fourteen days when he was able to walk - that he returned to Goshen (Conn) aforesaid some time in the winter of 1780 and 1781 - that he considers that he lost one year's time in consequence of said draft though he was not more than seven or eight months nor less than six months in actual service - that after the war he settled in said Goshen where he lived until the year 1810 when he removed to Granville Hampden County and

State of Massachusetts - that he has always lived by his industry as a farmer - that during the last nine years from the date hereof he has been totally blind and consequently incapable of business - that all his property has been expended for his maintenance and support - that for the last four or five years he has been and that he still is wholly dependent on his son for his necessary support -
Deponent further saith that he is a native of Hamden County of New Haven and State of Connecticut and that he went thence to said Goshen when he was about fourteen or fifteen years of age - that as he has always been informed and believes to be true he was born Jan 4 th 1763 - that when he left the army he had a written discharge from Gen Washington - that it has been lost a number of years - that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.
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
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Thaddeus his X Potter mark
David Lamberson Judge of Court of Common Pleas for Lucas County
State of New York County of Queens ss We Elias W Crane a clergyman residing in the village & town of Jamaica County and State aforesaid and

Thomas Bradlee residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thaddens Potter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he re- sides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the 3 day and year aforesaid before me
Elias W. Crane
Thomas Bradlee
David Lamberson Judge of Court of Common Pleas for Queens County
State of New York County of Queens ss:
And the said David Lamberson one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Queens does hereby de- clare his opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after having visited the said ap- plicant at the residence of his son and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And he further certifies that he is well acquainted with Elias W Crane who has sign- ed the preceding certificate, that he is a clergy- man resident in the town & village of Jamaica and that Thomas Bradlee who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And he further certifies that the said applicant is blind weak & infirm & in his opinion unable to attend in open court
David Lamberson

State of New York
County of Queens ss I Samuel Sherman clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the County of Queens and State aforesaid do hereby certify that David Lamberson is one of the Judges of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Queens - that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Judge in the matter of the application of Thaddaeus Potter for a pen- sion. And I do hereby further certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and that I do believe that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine. and I do hereby further certify that in the year 1832 at the October term of the said court of common pleas the said Thaddaeus Potter was sworn in open court as an applicant for a pension pursuant to the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832 and that the usual interrogatories were put to him and that they were answered by him in a manner satisfactory to said Court and that I trans- mitted the papers of said Potter duly authentica- ted with my name and seal of office to the pension office at Washington and further that I have reason to believe that said papers have either been mislaid or destroyed by accident.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and thir- ty five
Samuel Sherman Clk

State of New York
County of Queens ss Pierpont Potter of the town and village of Jamaica County and State aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith - that to the best of his knowledge & belief he is forty years of age - that he is a practising attorney of the Supreme Court of the State of New York - that during the last nine years preceding the date hereof he has resided in said place aforesaid that since July 6 th 1832 his aged father Thaddus Potter being destitute of property and totally blind has resided in his family - that in the autumn of said year 1832 he procured affidavits from sundry persons in the state of Connecticut for the purpose of enabling his said father to obtain a pension from the United States viz one from Julius Beach Esquire of the town of Goshen in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut one from Stephen Gilbert & Joel Ford of the town of Hamden County of New Haven & State aforesaid - that all of said affidavits were duly authenticated with the certificates and seals of the Clerks of said Counties respectively - that said affidavits were attached to the affidavit of said Thaddus Potter an applicant for a pension as aforesaid - that as deponent is informed and believes to be true the said affidavits so attached as aforesaid were forwarded to the pension office at Washington by Samuel Sherman Esquire Clerk of said County of Queens - that said papers have either been lost or mislaid & that they have not been examined by the proper officer. deponent further saith that he has drawn the affidavit of his aged father aforesaid and which is hereunto annexed - that it is the same in substance that he has always from his childhood heard his said father relate

that he believes his father to be a man of truth and veracity and would not hesitate to believe any statement that he might make. Deponent further saith that the affidavits of Beach, Gilbert and Ford were of the same import so far as regards the character of said Thaddaeus Potter for truth & veracity as the affidavit now made by deponent.
Thaddaeus Potter
Sworn and subscribed the } day and year aforesaid } before me David Lamberson Judge of Court of Common Pleas for Lucas County

State of New York
County of Queens ss Thaddeus Potter aged seventy two years being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he has heard the decision of the Commissioner of pensions read in his hearing which said decision bears date 27 th Jan y 1835 and in which said commissioner states that as it appears on the rolls that he enlisted 26 th June 1780 - that he never enlisted but was compelled to enter the service - that he has no recollection of ever being requested to enlist - that if any thing ever occurred which induced his officers to return him as an enlisted man such occurrence took place subsequently to his departure from Goshen and also subsequently to his joining the army - that he is very much surprised to hear that he has been so returned - that it is a very great mistake - deponent further saith that although he is totally blind that his mind and memory are sound and not in the least impaired - that he left Goshen as a militia man and was drafted - that he is positive that such drafting took place either in the latter part of April or former part of May 1780 - deponent further saith that he went into the service very much against his will as he was of tender age and did not consider himself at said time competent to said

service - that if any thing ever escaped from his lips which any officer construed into a consent to enlist it was contrary to his understanding and remote from his intention and subsequent to his departure from home and joining the army - deponent further saith that the reason of his being so unwilling to enter said service was that two or three years previously he had had a leg broken from the lameness of which he had but just recovered so as to be able to earn a pittance by his labour on a farm - that he was a poor boy and though he had parents living at that time they were not in a capacity to aid or assist him - that he was pleased with his home with Rev d Stephen Heaton and Dr Elisha Sill the son in law of said Heaton and had no disposition to leave them - deponent further saith that as he was informed at the time of said draft and which he still believes to be true his name was on the list or roll from which a number of men were to be drafted to go to New Haven in Connecticut - that Captain Wright who commanded the militia company within the bounds of which deponent then lived made a wrong return through enmity to Mr Heaton and Dr Sill in whose service deponent then was - deponent further saith that it was announced to him that he was not to go to New Haven but that he was to go elsewhere

that Mr Heaton and Dr Sill were offended with the said return and were confident that deponent should have gone to New Haven in stead of the state of New York or New Jersey and that said Wright being at enmity with them had taken this opportunity to deprive them of deponent's service inasmuch as the New Haven Campaign was to be of but short continuance perhaps two or three months - deponent further saith that being obliged to go from home immediately after said draft and being too young to contend the matter in dispute between said Heaton and Sill on the one part and said Wright on the other he submitted to his draft as he then supposed and which he still believes - that said Wright never said anything to deponent about going into the Army in any capacity - that he was acquainted with said Wright both before and after said service and that they were always on good terms - deponent further saith that he does not believe that said Wright ever returned his name except as drafted - deponent further saith that though he has always been confident that said Wright was wilfully wrong in his return as to the place of service yet that he did it not out of any ill will to deponent but to Mr Heaton

and Dr Sill and that consequently he never had any conversation with said Wright about the affair - deponent further saith that he is positive and certain that no person ever said anything to him about enlisting - that warmly as he had the cause of his country at heart and ardently as he wished and looked for a happy result of the revolutionary war it is impossible that he could ever have thought  think of Enlisting in the service for reasons hereinbefore mentioned and also a very great aversion to any thing like war or military tactics - that to the best of his recollection he has never discharged or fired but one gun in his whole life - that he has never even trained except when compelled, that he has never been even the owner of a gun - that he mentions these things though of minor importance but to show his pacific disposition and the strong improbability that any inducement ever could have persuaded him to enlist into a service entirely of a war like nature - deponent further saith that inasmuch as the rolls according to the Hon Commissioner's decision correspond in part as to the identification of his service at some time or other, that as he is old blind and poor and wholly dependant even for necessaries and inasmuch as he is confident that in truth and justice according to the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832

he is entitled to a quarter pension at least, that the pittance will not be denied particularly when it is considered that the paper with which he was pretended to be paid for said revolutionary service so depreciated in value that deponent realized but a very trifling sum for said service.
Sworn this 11 th day of February 1835 before me David Lamberson one of the Judges of Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Queens
his Thaddeus K Potter mark
State of New York County of Queens ss - I Samuel Sherman Clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the County of Queens do hereby certify that David Lamberson the officer who has taken the preceding affidavit is one of the Judges of the court of common pleas in and for the County of Queens and that said court is a court of Record. and I do hereby further certify that I am well acquainted with the said David Lamberson that I have seen him write and that I know his hand writing and also that I do believe

his signature to the preceding affidavit is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five
Samuel Sherman M c

Thaddeus Potter
Feb y 3 rd 1836
Ref d to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Feb y 13. 1836 - Bill N o 337
Petition of Thaddeus Potter praying to be placed on the Pension Roll Refer to Com ee of Revolutionary Pensions - Presented by Mr. Hembrough 24 Feb y 13.
Thaddeus Potter NY
Huntington

To the Honourable the Congress of the United States of America The Petition of Thaddeus Potter of Jamaica County of Queens and State of New York Respectfully shews
That your Petitioner was a soldier of the Revolution that he has made an application for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832 - that his claim has been rejected on the ground of his having left the service though in conse- quence of sickness and lameness sixteen days too soon to bring his case within the minimum provision of said act as appears by the decision of the Commissioner of Pensions in his commu- nication bearing date 27 th January 1835 and which is hereto annexed.
Now your Petitioner humbly prays that the papers relative to his claim on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions may be examined that the sufferings he endured in consequence of his said service and also in consequence of his youth and inexperience (being then but seventeen years of age) may be duly considered and that as he is now entirely destitute of property and dependant upon his friends for necessaries having been totally blind during the last ten years, that his name may be placed upon the pension roll from such date as Congress may deem proper - And your petitioner will ever pray Dated Jamaica Long Island January 16 th 1835
his Thaddeus Potter mark

War Department Pension Office 27th June 1835
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the claim of Thaddeus Potter has been examined and disallowed. It is established by the Roll of Coopers company, Swifts Regt., that he enlisted 26 June 1780 and was discharged on the 9th December 1780, making five months and 14 days service only; which is below the minimum provision of the Act of 7th June 1832. His papers are placed on file.
I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your obed Servt J. G. Edwards
Wm A Huntington House of Representatives

Aug 22
Thos. Batten Shad.
for [unclear]
James L Edwards Esquire War Department Pension office Washington D.C.

Queens County Clerk's office Jamaica Aug. 18 th 1830
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 15 th Inst I can only say that my father has left no widow that I know of - my mother died in the year 1825 - my father soon after became blind - and was sent (as I have been informed by himself) to the poor house in Granville (Mass) from whence he found his way to me on Long Island at my expense and where I sustained him till his death on the 4 th of March last - I am the only child living - my parents never had but two -
If I can succeed in obtaining the sum which would have belonged to my father I shall be pleased to receive it - You may rest assured that no one but myself is entitled to it.
I am very respectfully your obedient servant
Pierpont Potter