Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17495, for Roswell Prior, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Com
Prior, Roswell Phebe
W 17495-
CONTENTS

Let to J. H. Charlton Jan 10/82
3038
Repo
Connecticut
Phebe Prior.
widow of Roswell Prior, Dec'd Conn. who was a pensioner under the Act of Conn. and who died on the 15 October, 1821— of Tolland Co in the State of Conn. who was a private in the Company—commanded by Captain Wolcott of the Regt commanded by Col. Gay —in the Conn. State line for 7 months, & 15 days —
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 25 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of May 1839 and sent to Jesse Charlton, Esq. Windsor H. W. Ct.
Arrears to the 4th of May : 1839 $ 75.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept : 12.50
$87.50
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by M c Intire Clerk Book A Vol. 1 Page 204

Rev. Priors. Widow.

State of Connecticut } Tolland County, } ss
On this 12 th day of November 1838 personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of Hebron in said Tolland County, Phoebe Prior a resident of Coventry in said County, a credible person aged 71— years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 7 th A 1838, entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows.
That she is the Widow of Roswell Prior, formerly of East Windsor, in Hartford County, & last of Coventry in Tolland County, Connecticut; who was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution:
Who first enlisted in August 1776, into a Company of State Troops, commanded by Captain Simon Wolcott, which was attached to Col o Fisher Gays Regiment, & performed duty at New York, Long Island, & other places, until about the first of January 1777; for a period of more than four months.
and again, he went into the Service in the Summer of the year 1777, He went to Peekskill; in Col o Roger Newberrys Regiment, was drafted for two months & after the expiration of that tour, he engaged as a substitute for another man, as his Neighbor & Witness Thomas Bissell did, he staid in the two last tours, for a period, of not less, than three months & a half; making in all his periods of service, not less than seven months.

and a half; and she fully believes, for a longer term of time.
The places where they served, is more particularly set forth, by the witness to his services.
She furthermore declares, that she was married to the said Roswell prior, in Coventry, beforenamed, by Ephraim Kingsbury Esquire, on the 14 th day of May A 1793: and continued to live with her said husband, until the 15 th day of October A 1821; where he died; and she has remained a widow, ever since that period.
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place, previous to the first day of January, Seventeen hundred & ninety four; viz, at the time above stated.
Phoebe Prior
Sworn to and Subscribed, on the day and year above written,
State of Connecticut } Hartford Probate District } ss. p.
I Charles Post Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phoebe Prior for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this 12 th day of November One thousand eight hundred & thirty eight
Attest Charles Post Clerk

State of Connecticut } Tolland County }
Be it known that on this 12 th day of November A. D. 1838 personally appeared before the subscriber a Notary Public for the State aforesaid Harry Prior & Prosper Prior - who being first duly sworn, according to Law did depose & say that Russell Prior husband of Phoebe Prior who now makes application for a pension died at Coventry on the 15 th day of October A. D. 1821 and that said Phoebe has remained a widow ever since his death and is now single & unmarried & further say not
Harry Prior
Prosper Prior
Sworn & subscribed the day and year first above written and I certify the deponents are persons well known to me and persons of truth and their statements entitled to credit
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the day and year before named
Abner Hemen Notary Public

Ros Prior
Rev. Munsell
I Hezekiah Munsell, a resident of East Windsor in Hartford County & State of Connecticut do hereby depose and say, that In the Month of June 1776, I enlisted into a company of State troops raised in this town, the vicinity. That the company was commanded by Capt Simon Wolcott & attached attached to Col o Fisher Gay's Reg t we marched to New York, where Col o Gay died soon after our arrival there, Then our Reg t was commanded by Col o Hart, & he was taken a prisoner & we were then under the command of Major Scott after our company had been in service some time Lt Hezekiah Wells was sent up from the camp to East Windsor to enlist & bring down more men & he did enlist and bring down a number more and among this number was Roswell Prior a man with whom I was well acquainted he got done some time in August, & served to the end of the campaign we were discharged at North Castle, on the 25 th of December 1776 & arrived at home about the first of January A 1777.
Hezekiah Munsell
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss East Windsor On this 2nd day of November A 1838 Personally appeared before me Jesse Charlton a Notary Public for the State of Connecticut Hezekiah Munsell who signed the above Deposition

in my presence and then & there made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me & he is a credible person & this is not enough to say of him, he is a man who has not in his whole life, drunk probably a gallon of spirits or cider, & though now 85 years old, his memory is as sound as that of most men of forty years of age, and he is the last man living of those who were members of Capt Simon Wolcotts Company.
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto sub- scribe my name and affix my seal of office at said East Windsor on this 2 nd day of November A 1838
Attest Jesse Charlton Notary Public
Rev. Mr. Phelps
Rev. Mr. Phelps

State of Connecticut Hartford County } ss Basl Windsor
On this 31 st day of October, 1838. Personally appeared before me Jesse Cheerton a Notary Public of and for the State of Connecticut Thomas Bissell, a resident of the town of East Windsor in Hartford County & State aforesaid a credible person & well known to me who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath depose and say.
That in the Revolutionary War, he served in the American Army, for which service he now receives a pension under the act of June 7 th A 1832.
And he further deposes and says That he was well acquainted with Roswell prior in the time of the Revolutionary War that he lived near him and that he served with him in the Army in the Connecticut Militia
Viz that in the summer of that year, he volunteered under Capt. Bez chiah Bissell which company was attached to Col o Roger Newberry's Reg t . That we went out to Peekskill & from there to Fishkill & were employed much in guarding the well disposed inhab itants from being robbed by the Tories & Cow boys as they were called, & to prevent Tories & traitors from carrying supplies to the enemy. The said Roswell prior & myself engaged at first for two months & when my first tour was out I agreed to stay another tour as a substitute for Mr. Barber and I well remember that when the said Ros

well Prior's first tour of duty expired he also agreed to serve another tour as a substitute for a Mr Griswold & prior for the last two months was at West Point. The said Roswell Prior removed from this town to Coventry in Tolland County Connecticut many years since several years since I heard of his death.
Thomas Briggs
Attest Jesse Charlton Notary Public In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & do affix my seal of Office.
Attest Jesse Charlton Notary Public
Rev Prior The Original.

I John R. Howard do hereby certify, that I have carefully searched the Public Records of the Town of Coventry in Tolland County Connecticut to find an entry of the Marriage of Roswell Prior and Phoebe Ladd of the Town of Coventry, but I cannot find an entry of it in the Town Records, under any date - & I further Certify, That previous to the Year 1820, when a new Law went into operation requiring, under a penalty, that all marriages should be entered in the Town Records - the practice of recording marriages had in a great measure ceased for many years, & the number entered were but a small proportion of those which took place in said Town - And I further more depose & say that I hold the Office of Town clerk, & Register of the Town of Coventry, & that the above certificate is true.
Attest, John R. Howard Town clerk & Register.
State of Connecticut.
Tolland County. ss Coventry On this 20 th Day of November 1838 personally appeared before me Edward G. Huntington one of the Justices of the Peace for Tolland County & State aforesaid John R. Howard who has signed the above Certificate, & then & there made solemn Oath to the truth of the same - and he is a credible person, well known to me, & is at this time Town clerk & Register of the Town of Coventry aforesaid, and has the custody of its Public Records.
Attest, Edward G. Huntington Justice of Peace

I Jabez Kingsbury a resident of Coventry in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut do hereby certify That I am a Son of the late Ephraim Kingsbury Esq of Coventry in Tolland County Connecticut & I am well knowing to the fact that he was often called on to officiate in the solemn- ization of Marriages. but if he kept any records of the marriages thus solemnized by him, I believe they are now unrecoverably lost
I further certify that at the decease of the said Ephraim Kingsbury his effects his Books & papers came mostly into my hands & that I have not been able by diligent search to find any entry of the Marriage of Roswell Prior and Phoebe Ladd under any date. Jabez Kingsbury
State of Connecticut Tolland County ss Coventry On this 1 day of October 1838 person- ally appeared before me the subscribing authority Jabez Kingsbury who has sub- scribed the above certificate before me and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same & he is a credible person well known to me as the Son of the late Ephraim Kingsbury Esq
Alonzo W. Fayer Justice of Peace

Jabez Hinslow Ros. for Prior

I Mary Hunt a resident of Coventry in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut hereby depose and say, That I was well acquainted with Roswell Prior, formerly a resident of Coventry in Tolland County, & State aforesaid, and also, with Phoebe Ladd a resident of said Coventry and I am well knowing to the fact that the said Roswell Prior was married to the said Phoebe Ladd on the 14 th day of May 1793 or Forty five ago last May I was present at the marriage which was solemnized at the house of her Father Samuel Ladd, by Ephraim Kingsbury Esquire, then a Magistrate of said Coventry. I am also well knowing to the fact that the said Roswell Prior, died at said Coventry, about seventeen years ago last and his widow still lives in this town & she has never again married.
Coventry Oct. 3 rd 1838. Mary Hunt
State of Connecticut Tolland County } ss Coventry in this 3 rd day of October 1838 person- ally appeared; before me Eleazer Hunt one of the Justices of the Peace for said Tolland County, Mrs Mary Hunt who has subscribed the foregoing certificate and made solemn oath to the truth of the same and she is a credible person & well known

Mary Hunts Certificate Mrs. Prior

to me
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto set my hand & style of office at said Coventry in the day & year within named.
viz. the 3 rd day of October. — 1838
Dearest Friend Justice Pease
Henry Howells Clerk Mrs. Pease

Achsah Chambers certificate

I Achsah Chamberlain a resident of Coventry in Tolland County Connecticut hereby certify That I was well acquainted with the late Roswell Prior, of said Coven- try, and also, with Phoebe Ladd, of said town; And I am well knowing to the fact that the said Roswell Prior was married to the said Phoebe Ladd at the house of her father Samuel Ladd in said town of Coventry by the late Ephraim Kings- bury Esq., in the Month of May Seventeen hundred and ninety three; I was present & a witness of the solemnization of the Marriage I am also well knowing to the fact that the said Roswell Prior died in said Coventry, about 17 years ago & that the aforementioned Phoebe Prior still remains the widow of the said Roswell Prior and that she has never again intermarried Coventry Oct. 3 rd 1838                      I Achsah Chamberlain
State of Connecticut
Tolland County ss Coventry On this 3 rd day of October 1838 Personally appeared before me Eleazer Hunt one of the Justices of the Peace for said Tolland County Achsah Chamberlain who has subscribed the above certificate & made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me, and she is a credi- ble person well known to me Eleazer Hunt - Justice Peace

I Henry Kilborn Comptroller of Public accounts for the State of Connecticut do hereby certify That in the Books of the Pay Table relating to the Revolu- tionary War I find the following evidence of the service of Captain Simon Wolcotts Company attached to Col Gays Regiment in A D. 1776
  1776 June 21 To order on Treasurer  580  11  11  01    78 June 30 To Do Do.  13  11  3  6    1777 March 27 By his acct rendered  169       78 June 30 By Do  424  3  6   
And I find the following evidence of the service of Col Roger Newburys Regiment in the year
  1777 Oct 7 th To order on Treasurer  300  11  11  11    " 8 To Ditto  700  11  11  11  
1778
  Feb 2 By disct with Col Hecy Mylls  400  11  11     Apr 7 By disct with pay master Kellogg,  600     
Henry Kilborn Compt - 

I Royal N. Hinman Secretary of State for the State of Connecticut do hereby certify That Abner Hende, & Jesse Charlton, are Notaries Pub- lic of the State of Connecticut duly appointed and commissioned, and authorised by law to take depo- sitions and administer oaths; & that their signatures & seals to the annexed certificates, are genuine.
And I further certify That Edward G. Huntington, Horzoll Birge & Eleazer Hunt, before whom the annexed certificates were taken, are each of them at this time & have been for more than five months last past, lawful Justices of the peace, for Tolland County, Connecticut and that the signature of the said Edward G. Huntington, Horzoll W. Birge, & Eleazer Hunt, are their genuine signatures this day satisfactorily proved before me.
3487 Charles Brainerd
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto subscribe my name & affix the Seal of said State of Connecticut at the Office of State in Hartford in said State on this 30 th day of March 1838
Royal N. Hinman Secretary of State

State of Connecticut Tolland County, Is Coventry
On this 10 th day of February — 1852, personally appeared, before the Court of Probate for the District of Coventry, in the County State aforesaid, now sitting, Prosper Prior, a resident of said District aged forty four years who being duly sworn according to Law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay pensions to certain widows". That he is a son of Phoebe Prior, who was pensioned under said act of July 7 th 1838 for the services of her husband, Russell Prior formerly of East Windsor, in Hartford County Conn, & last of said Coventry. He further declares that by reason of misinformations she said Phoebe stated the first period of her said husband's services, in the company of Captain Simon Wolcott, in Col d Gays regiment at New York in 1776, to have commenced on the 21 st day of August 1776; while the fact was that he commenced his services on the 21 st day of Jan y 1776, and served until about the 1 st of January 1777. Whereupon the declarant further states, that as said Phoebe Prior never had said mistake rectified in her lifetime, that her children may lawfully claim the benefit of such addition. That the said Phoebe Prior died in said Coventry on the 18 th day of March 1840, and left four children, & no more, & who still survive her, viz: Henry Prior; Harriet Prior; Electa Prior & Prosper Prior, & the said Prosper Prior requests that on the facts stated being found true, that a certificate may be granted in favor of the four

children of said Phoebe Prior; viz to Henry, Harriet, Electa & Prosper Prior,
Sworn to and subscribed before said Probate Court on the 10th. day of February 1852
And I further certify, that it hath been satis- factorily shown to said Court, that Phoebe Prior a pensioner of the United States, died in said Country on the 18th day of March 1840, and that she left four children, who still survive her, viz, Henry Prior, Harriet Prior, Electa, Prior, & Prosper Prior & she left no more And the words declared said Phoebe were interlined before signing & oath.
Attest Edward G. Huntington Judge
I Samuel Huntington Clerk of the Probate Court for the District of Coventry in Tolland County State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the Honorable Edward G. Huntington who has signed the foregoing certificate is at this time sole Judge of said Court & that the signature to said certifi- cate is in the hand writing of the said Judge
In testimony whereof, I do hereunto subscribe my name, & affix the Seal of said Court at said Coventry on the 10th day of February 1852
Attest Samuel Huntington Clerk

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17495-
Phebe Prior
Widow of
Samuel Prior
Pri. Rev. War
Act: July 7th 88
Index:—Vol. VI, Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Appr. of Phebe Prior Reed
J. W. Charlton East Windsor Hill Conn.
Miss E. Smith Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
FREE

Phoebe Prior M. 1793. May. 14 Roswell " d. 1821
Aug 76 4. Wolcott Gay. (1) Meadbury (2) Sum 77 2\frac{1}{2} Sub
Hezekiah Mansell int. (1) Thomas P. P. (2) proof of m. not Salisf
23 33 1 67 25.00

State of Connecticut Hartford County ss. Is South Windsor On this 13 th day of February 1852 Before me Chester Belknap a Justice of the Peace for Hartford County
Personally appeared Jesse Charlton a resident of South Windsor, in said Hartford County, a credible person with whom I am well acquainted, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes & says.
That some time in the year 1838, he was applied to to prepare the papers for Mrs. Phoebe Prior of Coventry in Tolland County Conn; Widow of Roosevelt Prior a Soldier of the Revolution, to make application for a Pension under the Act of July 7 th 1838
And that in stating the first period of the said Roosevelt Prior's services, he committed an error; viz, that he stated that the first period of his services commenced in Capt. Simon Wolcotts Company,  services in Col o Gays Regiment, on the 21 st of August 1776; while he is now fully persuaded, that he commenced his services in said Company on the 21 st of June 1776. The witness who testified to this period of service was confident that said Prior entered the service as early as the 21 st of June 1776.
Hezekiah Munsell a highly respectable man who was a member of this company stated to me after the declaration was sent, that said Prior

went down to New York in company with him, of which I have not now the least doubt.
I was led into the mistake, at the time, by a too hasty examination of the Roll of said Simon Wolcotts Company, which I obtained from said Wolcotts family, which I shall send with my deposition.
From a hasty examination of that roll, at first I thought that Capt Wolcott had placed seniors name in the list of the recruits who went down in August & not with the company who went in June.
I think it will be perceived that every man who entered in August, joined either the 13 th , or 14 th day, and that the name of the month is written against the name of every man who joined in August.
And that the figures against the name of Roswell prior the 3 rd from the the bottom is a mere error in clerkship; the 21 is accidentally set over the line; there is no dash across the column as in the name of John Osborn above, & Jesse parson next below; & in the bottom name of John Pierce, one of the figures is over the column at the right.
Jesse Chearleton
Sworn to & subscribed Before me on the day & year first named
Chas. Putnam Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut, } County of Hartford. } S.S.
I, Chauncey Howard, Clerk of the Court of Record within and for said County (said Court being a Court of Record, having a Seal) do hereby certify, that Chester Belknap is, and was on the 13 th day of February A. D. 1852, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned, - that his official acts as such Justice, are entitled to full credit, - that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and believe the signature upon the cer- tificate on the opposite page hereof to be his genuine hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Hartford in said County, this 17 th day of February, A. D. 1852.
Chauncey Howard, Clerk.

Phoebe Prior
3487 Phoebe Prior wid of Roswell Conn.
Act July 7. 1838 Married 1793 died 1821
Allow 7\frac{1}{2} mo pri $25. per ann Conn Militia Capt Wolcott Col. Gay
Mrs. Chastleton Earl Minda Aik Co.

East Windsor Hill, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Nov-30 th 1838
Sir.
I herewith transmit the application of Mrs. Phoebe Prior, Widow of Roswell Prior of Coventry, in the County of Tolland Connecticut for a Pension, under the Act of July 7 th 1838 entitled "an Act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows".
And have the honor to be yours most respectfully.
Vose Charlton.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington Oct x 6 x