Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13969, for Judah Moffitt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Moffitt, Judah
S. 13969 ✓
CONTENTS
carded

18.764 Vermont Judah Moffitt of Rutland in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Mayes - of the Regt. commanded by Col. Leonard - in the 1st 2nd line for Ticonderoga.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of October 1833 and sent to J. Moffitt. Pawlet.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833. $200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Feb. 28th 34 - 40.00 $240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim } { Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book B Vol. 3. Page 78

45 55
Endah M. H. S.
Pawle P
✓

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
1 May 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Judah Moffitt of Pawlet
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     May to July 1777 - 2 - Private Col. Leonard. 72 years Brimfield David Wood aft. David Wallis aft.   July to Jan. 1777 - 6 - do. Col. Peyes, Lt. Jacobs do. Caleb Allen & Jacob Allen aft.   Jan. to July 1778 - 6 - do. none. do. Simeon Ely aft.   Aug. to Feb. 1779. - 6 - do. Wade & Jacobs. do. None   June 1779. - 1 - do. Col. Porter do. David Wallis aft   Sept to June 1780. - 9 - do. Col. Rose, Thompson Smith, Maj. Banister do. None   Oct. to Jan. 1781. - 3 - do. Col. Brooks do. None   Aug. to Nov. 1781. - 3 - do. None do. David Wood aft   3 - -  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr Judah Moffitt

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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 and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
□ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Judah Moffitt.
Declaration
Geo. W. Harman, Agent Parolet Vermont

State of Vermont County of Rutland Probate District of Fairhaven
} p.
Declaration
On this 10 th day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the Probate Court for the District of Fairhaven aforesaid, now sitting, Judah Moffitt, a resident of Pawlet in the County & District 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
1. 2 mo.
That on or about the first of May 1777, residing at that time at Brimfield, in the County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts, he voluntarily enlisted at said Brimfield, in the service of the United States, in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. May or Mays (the other officers whom he remembers, were Lieut. Jonathan Brown, & Orderly Sergeant Thomas Nighells). This company was called out by the State of Massachusetts, & belonged to that portion of the American Forces, called Massachusetts State Troops. The declarant enlisted as a private soldier, for the term of two months. The company was marched under the officers above named from Brimfield thro' Bennington, Manchester, Pawlet, & Granville, to Skene'sboro' (now Whitehall) where they took batteaux & were carried down Lake Champlain, to Mount Independence; at this place, the company landed, & having pitched their tents, remained there, until the Regiment commanded by Col. Leonard arrived from Massachusetts, in which Regiment the company aforesaid belonged. The Regiment continued to perform service at Mt Independence, until the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga by St. Clair - when this declarant was discharged, but without waiting, having served the full term of two months aforesaid. The service of the applicant, as above detailed, is proven by the affidavits of David Wood & David Wallis.
2. 6 mo.
That in the month of July or August 1777, he again voluntarily enlisted, as a private soldier, in the Massachusetts State Troops, at Brimfield aforesaid, for the term of six months, in the company commanded

Capt. Sibley, Lieut. Carpenter & 2 d Lt. Cheung; from thence he marched with the company to Leicester, where they were furnished with arms, thence thro' Worcester to Providence R. I. at which place they joined the Regiment of Mass. State Troops commanded by Major Col. Keyes, & he thinks Lt. Col. Jacobs was also in command. From Providence the Regiment marched to North Kingston & Boston Neck on the Naragansett Shore - & afterwards joined Spencer's expedition at Pointtown, near Falkland Point, on the east side of Saunton river. returned again to North Kingston, & some time in December, as he thinks, marched to Providence again, where he served, until the term of his enlistment was completed, & was then discharged, but without writing, in Jan. 1778. His term of service is fully proved by the affidavits of Caleb Allen & Jacob Allen.
3. bmo. That sometime in January 1778. he again voluntarily enlisted at said Burnfield, for six months, in the Mass. State Troops, & went from Burnfield to Springfield & served in the company commanded by Capt. Morgan - Lt. Highells - & Ensign Brewer. The company was here employed in guarding the military stores, & this declarant served the full term of six months aforesaid, as a private soldier, when he was discharged, but without writing. There was no other body of troops at Springfield during this term of his service, than the company to which this declarant belonged, who bore arms, though there were men engaged in making cartridges &c. His term of service is fully proven by the affidavit of Simeon Ely.
4. bmo. That on the 10 th or 12 th of August 1778. he again voluntarily enlisted, as a private soldier, at Burnfield went to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was embodied in Capt. Rowley's company, (the first Lt. does not remember) 2 d Lt. Leonard. At Providence the company went on board a sloop, & sailed to the north east part of Rhode Island, where they joined a Regiment of Mass. State Troops - commanded by Wade or Jacobs, one of whom was the Colonel & the other Lt. Col. but he is not able to state, with precision, the rank of either. In August or September the regiment marched alone

to the South end of the Island, near Newport & there joined Gen. Sullivan's Army. A part of the Regiment to which the declarant belonged, was engaged in the operations at Newport, but the particular company of the declarant, was not employed in actual fight, except that some of the men, occasionally, in the capacity of pickets, had skirmishes, in one of which a man was wounded. The declarant recollects that the British threw bombs from Newport. At length, the American Army returned to the north end of the Island, pursued by the British. & crossed Taunton river at Hove- lands Ferry - the British supper hill one day then marched to then marched to Butts hill fort. The declarant remained at Scituate & Scituate until February, when he was discharged but without writing. The declarant recollects Gen. Sullivan, Gen. Cornell, Gen. Glover, & cols. Shepherd, Bigelow & Vose. He has made diligent inquiry, but can obtain information of no person, who will testify to his personal knowledge of the declarant's service as above.
5. 1 mo. That in June 1779 he was drafted for one month at Brimfield aforesaid to serve in the militia of the State of Massachusetts. He entered, at Brimfield, as a private, the company commanded by Capt. Shaw, which marched thro' Norwich, & there went on board a Sloop, & sailed down the Brimfield river to New-London, & there joined Col. Porter's regiment. He continued with the regiment at New-London, building a fort & guarding the shores, until his term of enlistment was fully complete, when he was discharged, but without writing. He recollects none of the field or staff officers, except the colonel, & says there was no other regiment than Porter's at New-London. This service is proven by the affidavit of David Wallis.
b. 9 mo. That about the 10 th of September 1779 he went from Brimfield to Springfield Mass. where he voluntarily enlisted in the Army of the United States; & at this time his name, age, height, &c were taken down, in writing, & he enlisted for nine months, as a private soldier. From Springfield, he marched under the command of Lt. Grace, to West Point N.Y. & from thence to Quaker

Ridge. At the latter place, the party under Lt. Grace was broken up, & the Continental Regiments recruited from it: & the declarant was embodied in a company commanded by Lt. Col. Pelon or Pild- ing, in the ninth regiment, (as he was then informed) in Glover's Brigade; he is unable to give the name of the Colonel, & indeed, thinks there was none. The declarant remained at Quaker Ridge about a fortnight, & then marched with the whole Brigade to Croton river, where he remained about a month: a detachment was then made from the whole Brigade, of a few men from each company (the declarant being one of the number) which marched under the command of Col. Vose to North Castle, where they continued six weeks. In December the detachment returned to the highlands & went into winter quarters: & after one week had elapsed, another detachment was made, in the same manner as before, & (the declarant being one) marched under Col. Thompson to Youngs house on White Plains. The party were stationed at Youngs house about six weeks, until the same was burned by the refugees, & the detachment attacked, & about twenty men killed; they then returned to winter quarters in the highlands, & remained there a week or ten days. He afterwards, went in a detachment, made in the same manner as before, under Maj. Bannister to Kings Ferry, & was engaged about a month in building a bomb proof. Thence he returned to the highlands, & obtained his discharge about the tenth day of June 1780. If he recollects correctly, his discharge was given by Lt. Pelon, & signed by Col. Smith, who was in command of the 9 th at that time. This discharge was left in his mother's trunk at Brimfield, when he removed to Vermont in 1785. or b — his mother has long been dead, & the discharge is probably lost, as he has made search for it, but it cannot be found. The declarant (tho' he has made great exertions) has been unable to procure any one, who can testify to his personal knowledge of the declarant's service at this period.
* He thinks Col. Wiggleworth or Middleworth, had commanded the ninth regiment.
He saith he was engaged in no civil pursuit, during the time embodied in this declaration, and has no documentary evidence of his service.
23mo. That about the middle of October 1780. he went

from Brimfield, to Pottawa on the west side of the Hudson river, whether in New York or New Jersey, he does not know. At that time his brother, Joel Moffitt, who had enlisted for the six months, & had served three, requested the declarant to take his place, & to serve the remaining half, in pursuance of an agreement made between them, at the time when Joel enlisted. The declarant, accordingly, took the place of his brother, at Pottawa, in the Army of the United States, in October, not long after the execution of Maj. Andre, & served as a private soldier the remaining three months in Col. Brooks' regiment, (as he thinks,) & he does not remember the other officers. During time of this service, he, with a party of about thirty others, were sent up the river, to cut wood. Whenever the roll was called, he answered to his brother's name, & when the six months, for which his brother had enlisted, were expired, he, the declarant, went to West Point, where he procured a discharge in his brother's name; he does not recollect, by whom the discharge was given. With regard to this discharge, the declarant makes the same statement, that he did, as to the one named in No. b. And is equally unable to procure witnesses, who can swear to his service.
8-3mo.
That on the last day of August 1881. he voluntarily, at Brimfield, enlisted as a private soldier for three months in the Mass. State Troops in Capt. King's company, & marched with the said officer & company through Albany to Saratoga N.Y. where he continued (in its vicinity) until he had served the full term of three months a/d. There was but one regiment, at Saratoga, at this time, & of that one, he recollects none of the officers. He was dismissed at the end of the three months. The affidavit of David Wood, will throw a glimmering light on this time of  statement of service.
term of six months, in the company

And being interrogated, the declarant saith, that he was born at Brimfield in the county of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts on the 16 th day of April 1781. He has no record of his age. At the time when called into service he lived at Brimfield aforesaid, whence he removed in 1785 or 1786 to Warrenton Vt where he lived until January 1793, when he removed to Pawlet Vt & has resided there ever since. He enlisted voluntarily six times, was drafted once, for one month, & was a substitute once, for his brother Joel, three months.
He has stated the names of the officers whom he recollects. He received two discharges, which he has accounted for. He has no documentary evidence of his services aforesaid. He can name John  Grinnell , Phinehas Strong, James Pratt, Josiah Monroe, Nathaniel Harmon & many others who can testify as to his character for veracity, & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.* But Rev. E. W. Plumb having recently come to Pawlet is not acquainted with declarant. 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 any agency of any State.
Attest & subscribed } Judah Moffitt the day & year aforesaid }
We Josiah Munroe a clergyman , residing in the town of Pawlet, & James Pratt - residing in the same Pawlet, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Judah Moffitt, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion, & such belief is general. Sworn & subscribed } Josiah Munroe the day & year aforesaid } James Pratt
And the said Court do hereby declare their
* It will be seen that the declarant in his first declaration procured the then Chaplain to attest to his character

opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to it that Jonah Munroe who has signed the preceding certificate is a credible person  clergyman resident in the town of Pawlet, & that James Pratt who has signed the same is a resident in the town of Pawlet & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Selah H. Merrill Register of the Probate Court for the District of Bennington do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Judah Moffitt for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this 10 th day of August A. 1833.
S. H. Merrill

MSY
September 19, 1925.
Mrs J.H. Clark, West Pawlet, Vermont,
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S-13969, it appears that Judah Moffitt was born April 16, 1761 at Brimfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts and while living there enlisted and served as a private in the Massachusetts Troops as follows:
From May 1777 for two months in Captain Nehemiah May's Company, Colonel Leonard's Regiment;
From July or August 1777 for six months in Captain Joseph Sibley's Company, Colonel Danforth Keyes' Regiment;
From January 1778 for six months in Captain John Morgan's Company, under Colonel Smith;
From August 10-or 12, 1778 for six months in Captain Rowley's Company, Colonel Jacob's Regiment and was in General Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island;
From June 1779 for one month in Captain Joshua Shaw's Company, Colonel Porter's Regiment;

From September 10, 1779 for nine months in Lieutenant Felon or Fielding's Company of the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment;
From October 1780 for three months as a substitute for his brother Joel, in Colonel Brook's Regiment;
From August 31, 1781 for three months in Captain Kings King's Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 14, 1832 while residing in Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont.
There is no further data no file as to family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

Judah Moffitt
Jacob Allen } Caleb Allen - }
affidavits.

I Caleb Allen of Sturbridge in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts do testify and say that about the first of July A.D. 1777 I volunteered to go as a soldier on a tour of duty for six months to the State of Rhode island & that I went there and served the said six months & was then discharged at Providence. The officers of the Company were Joseph Gibley of Sutton Capt. John Carpenter of Brimfield first Lieut. Joseph Cheney of Sturbridge Second Lieut. & Stephen Southworth of Douglas Ensign in a Regiment Commanded by Col. Danforth Keyes of Western. I was then well acquainted with Mr. Jude Moffitt who lived in Brimfield & know that he was a private soldier in the same Company with me at Rhode island & served out the time of six months & was discharged with me & the rest of said Company about of January 1778 No written discharge was given to the soldiers
Caleb Allen
Hampden Jo June 4 1833. Then Caleb Allen of Sturbridge who is known to me as a credible person made oath to the truth of the affidavit  affidavit by him subscribed before me
Francis B Stobins Justice of the peace

I Jacob Allen of Sturbridge in the county of Worcester & commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say that about the first of July 1777 I enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Sibley of Sutton to go as a private soldier for six months to the State of Rhode-island. John Carpenter of Brimfield was first Lieut of the company. I belonged to a Regiment commanded by Col. Danforth Keyes of Western. I served out my time of six months & was dismissed about the first of January 1778 No written discharge was given. I was at that time well acquainted with Mr Jude Moffitt who went as a soldier in the company from same Brimfield a town adjoining Sturbridge, in Massachusetts I know that that he served as a soldier with me in the same company at that time.
Jacob Allen
Hampden ss. June 4. 1833 Then Jacob Allen of Sturbridge who is known to me as a credible person made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me
Francis A. Stebbins Justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Francis B. Stebbins Esq. before whom the within and annexed depositions were verified is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that his name thereunto subscribed is his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this Sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three
John Ingersoll Clerk

BRIEF in the case of  Isaac Moffitt of Pawlet County of Rutland in the State of Vermont (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71.  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 In 1777 2 Private Gen. Capt Mays Col Leonard   July " " 6 as " Sibley Col Keyes   Jan'y 1778 6 as " Morgan   Augt " " 6 " " Rowley Col Forster Gen Sullivan   June 1779 1 " " Shaw Col Porter   Sept " " 9 " " Lord Vose & Thompson Gen. Glover   Oct 1780 Substituted 3 " " Col Brooks   1781 3 "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Brimfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts,  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jas Miller Examining Clerk.

No 4555
Vermont
Admit- 2 yrs
Given at [illegible] on the [illegible] BENNETT THE CURATOR Jan 18 [illegible] (Not for your use)

Judah Moffitt.
David Wood. Affidavit

State of Vermont Rutland county ss } I David Wood of Pawlet in P county, aged 84 years, being duly sworn, do depose & say, That in the year 1777 I lived in Wilbraham, Mass. & during that year I was informed that Judah Moffitt, then of Brim- field, had served in the army of the United States, at Sissoneroza & at Saratoga: and I fully believe that the information so given was correct. And further saith not. Sworn & Subscribed } May 22. 1883 - before } David Wood N. Harmon Just. Peace. } mark.
I certify that David Wood is a person of truth & veracity N. Harmon Just. Peace
It will be seen, that Mr Moffitt states in his declaration, that the service at Saratoga, was per- formed in 1781. Consequently Mr Wood is mis- taken in saying it was in 1777. But Mr Wood is a very old & infirm man, & tho' he remembers the fact of Mr Moffitt's service distinctly, yet the precise time has faded from his memory.
Mr Moffitt thinks, he has given a full statement of his three years service, & that, as he has fully proved fifteen months of it, & partially, three months more, & has given a very lucid account of those parts, which he is unable to prove, he ought to be allowed a full pension. To Comr of Pensions Washington
G. W. Harmon, Agent Pawlet Vt

West Pawlet, Vermont
July 12, 1920-
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir, Please will you send me the military history of Judah Moffitt who rec. a pension for service in the Revolutionary War.
Judah Moffitt was born about 1760 died Oct. 23, 1852 was from Brimfield, Mass. Settled in Rupert + Pawlet Vermont His wife's name was Nancy Hancock. Children, - Jotham, Lucinda, Luther Alvin, Hiram + Nancy. Was in battle of Ticonderoga, Saratoga and Yorktown. (Over)

Thanking you for this I am Yours truly Mrs. J. H. Clark.

State of New York County of Otsego } ss.
Simeon Ely of Warren in the county of Herkimer and State aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth -
And saith that he is acquainted with Judah Moffitt of Pollet in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont. That he knew the said Moffitt in the revolutionary War. That this deponent and the said Moffitt served together for the term of six months under Capt. John Morgan at East Springfield Massachusetts, in the year 1778 or 1779, and this deponent cannot distinctly remember which of those years. That Solomon Brewer was the first Lieutenant of the company and that Col. Smith had command at the Garrison, at the time. That this deponent and the said Moffitt each enlisted for the term of six months and both served out their said term and both were discharged at the same time. That their term of service commenced some time in the month of January or in the latter part of December according to this deponent's recollection, and he believes, it ended in the month of June following. And further this deponent saith not.
Sworn this 28th day of June A.D. 1833 - and I do further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Simeon Ely and know him to be a credible person.
Simeon Ely
Isaac Havens Justice of the Peace

State of New York } Otsego County } ss
I, Horace Lathrop, Clerk of the said court, do certify that Selah Havens Esq. before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said county; and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting. Signature. Witness my hand & Seal of Office this 28 th day of June 1833
Horace Lathrop By A. P. L. Duce Dep y

State of Vermont 3/4 County of Rutland 3/4 in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress District of Fairhaven 3/4 passed June 7. 1832.
Declaration.
On this fourteenth day of August 1832, personally appeared me open court before the Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Fairhaven now sitting, Judah Moffitt a resident of Pawlet in said County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged Seventy one 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, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States about 1 st May 1777 & marched under Capt. May or Mays and Lieut. Jonathan Brown to Ticonderoga at B. at Brimfield, in the County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts. That at the period he enlisted for 2 months, and served in Col. Leonard's Regiment principally at Mount Independence until the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga and was dismissed. This service was in Massachusetts State Troops. That in July or August in the same year (1777) he enlisted, at Brimfield, Hampshire County aforesaid where he then, as before, resided, in the State Troops of Massachusetts for 6 months, with Capt. Sibley and Lieut. Carpenter, and marched through Worcester to Providence R.I., and joined Col. Keys, Regiment - went thence to North Kingston and Boston Neck on the Narragansett Shore and afterwards joined Spencer's Expedition at Scituate near Falkland Point on the East side of Scituate River. Returned again to North Kingston, and some time in December as he thinks, marched to Providence again, served out the term of his enlistment and was dismissed. That some time in January 1778, he enlisted, at Brimfield aforesaid, for 6 months in the State Troops of Massachusetts and went to Springfield and served his time with Capt. Morgan in guarding Military Stores at Springfield, and was dismissed.
Judah Moffitt
164.555

That On the 10 th or 12 th of August Sam year (1778) he Enlisted for 6 months in State Troops at Brimfield aforesaid went to Providence and joined Capt. Abenethy's Company - went on board a Sloop to the North end of Rhode Island & served in Col. Madi's or Col. Has- tis Regiment (cannot recollect which - but has served with both) and in August or September marched to the South end of the Island near Newport and joined Sullivan's Army. That the British then bombarded from Newport when an Army retreated to the North end of the Island pursued by the British - and crossed Pawtuxet River at Howland's Ferry - the British halting at Butts Hill fort - that he remained at Providence and Pawtuxet until discharged. -
That in June 1779. he was drafted for 1 month at Brimfield aforesaid to serve in the Militia and served under Capt. Shaw & joined Col. Porter's Regiment at New London and then assisted in building a fort - and at the expiration of the month was discharged.
That he Enlisted in September 1779 for 9 Months in the Army of the United States at Brimfield aforesaid when he resided, went to Springfield and marched under Lieut. Grace to West Point N.Y. and from there to Quaker Ridge and served under Lieut. (Comt.) Pelton or Fielding. in the 9 th Regiment (as he thinks) in Glover or in Glencoe's Brigade - then to Croton River - then in a detachment to North Castle and served about 6 weeks under Col. Vose and in December he thinks returned to the Highlands and went into Winter quarters - remained about a week, and then went in a detachment under Col. Thompson to Young's House on White Plains - remained about 6 weeks when Young's house was burnt by refugees and the detachment was attacked and about 20 men killed, and afterwards retired to Winter quarters in the Highlands - afterwards went in a detachment under Maj. Baarmister to Kings Ferry and was engaged about a month in building a Block-proof, and then returned to the Highlands and obtained his discharge, he thinks, in June - That his discharge

was given, as near as he can recollect, by Lieut. (Genl.) Felon and Col. Smith - that his discharge was left in his mother's trunk at Brimfield when ap- plicants removed to Vermont - that his mother is dead and the discharge is lost as he supposes.
That about the middle of October 1780, he went as a substitute for his brother Joel Moffitt and joined the Army of the United States at Pottawa on the West-Side of Hudson River, whether in the State of New York or New Jersey he does not know - that his brother had enlisted for 6 months and had served 3 months - that the agreement at the time of the enlistment was that he (Judd) should serve half the time - and that he accordingly re- lieved his brother in October not long after the execution of Major Andre) and served the remaining 3 months in, he thinks, Col. Brock's Ryeburn (he does not recollect other officers) and took a discharge in his brother's name - but does not recollect by whom it was given. That the discharge was left in his mother's trunk at Brim- field with the one aforesaid and is lost.
That he enlisted on the last day of August 1781 at Brimfield for 3 months in the State Troops of Massachusetts, and marched under Capt. King of Milbram, through Albany to Saratoga N.Y. and served the 3 months there and in that vicinity - that there was but one Regiment there and that he does not recollect the Colonel's name - and that he was dismissed without discharge.
That the Applicant removed to Wardsboro Vt. in 1785 or '86 - and in January 1793 removed to Pawlet Vt. where he has ever since resided.
And further that he has no documentary evidence of his service, and that he knows of no surviving comrades who have any personal knowledge of his service. He was born at Brimfield, Hampshire County and State of Massachusetts in the year 1760 on the 16 th of April. Has no record of his age - and knows John Griswold, Plume Strong and James Pratt who can testify as to his coming. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present, and de- clares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Judd Moffitt
He and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. The Wood & Miller "written on an exam before me" (unintelligible)

We John Griswold a Clergyman and Residing in the Town of Pawlet, County of Rutland and State of Vermont, and Phineas Strong — Residing in the Town of Pawlet and County and State aforesaid do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Ephraim Moffitt who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration; that we believe him to be a man of unquestionable veracity, and that he is Seventy one years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that o- pinion.
Sworn to and subscribed John Griswold Phineas Strong this fourteenth day of August 1832.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, that having propounded to him the several interrogatories requiring the Department of War, his answers were entirely satisfactory, and all his statements are true in the opinion of said Court. — And the said Court certify that John Griswold — who has subscribed and sworn to the above certificate is a Clergyman and that Phineas Strong — who has subscribed and sworn to the same is a man of good character and respectable standing in community and their testimony is that the belief of said applicant having been a Soldier of the Revolution is general.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this fourteenth day of August in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two.
S. H. Merrill

Rev has
13969 INVALID.
1925: Sept 19. Hist & Mus of Clack m 29
File No. 13. 969
Judah Moffitt Phil. Rev. war
Act: June 9th 1852.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 263-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Judah Moffitt
David Wallis Affiant

I David Wallis of Holland in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say that in the year 1777 I served as a soldier in the Army of the United States in the Company commanded by Capt Nehemiah May of Col. Leonard's Regiment: Massachusetts Troops at Ticonderoga and that Judge Moffitt was a soldier in the same Company and served to my knowledge two months I further testify and say that I served one month at New London Connecticut in Capt Joshua Shaw's Company and that said Judge Moffitt also served in the same Company and the same time. I think Capt Shaw's Company belonged to Col. Porter's Regiment of the Massachusetts Troops
David Wallis
Hampden June 5th 1833
Then David Wallis Esq. of Holland who is known to me as a credible person, personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed before me Asa Lincoln Justice of the Peace