Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,276, for Levi Redfield, Connecticut

SERVICE
Redfield, Levi
NUMBER
Conn.
S. 14276
carded.
CONTENTS

8353 8353
1771 New York
Levi Redfield
of Oswego in the State of N. York who was a Green Mtn. in the Comp y commanded by Captain Hovey of the P. R. commanded by Col. Abbot in the Cont y . due for 2 Years " "
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 108 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of April 1837 and due No 100.00
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 $216. Semest. allowance ending 11 th Sep '33 54 $270
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. B. Stiles Clerk, Book C , Vol. 4 , Page 30
Certificate sent to J O Morse Owego, N.Y. and returned a dead letter. Sent to J A Morse Cheny Valley N.Y. 2 Nov. 1833.
Letter to N. H. Austin Jr. Nov 1838.
Dead let to Wm Pratt Sept 15. 1845

State of New York Otsego County } ss
I James O. Moore First Judge of Otsego County Do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Lem Redfield who has made the annexed declaration for a pension & with his witnesses Henry F. Parnelle & Joseph Lambham of Springfield who have subscribed and sworn to the annexed affidavits and that the said Redfield Parnelle & Lambham are men of undoubted veracity & so returned in the neighborhood where they reside. I further certify that I am acquainted by reputation with David Blaksly & Julia Blaksly who have made the several affidavits subscribed with their names hereto annexed & that their characters for veracity are good. Given this 15 day of January 1833
James O. Moore
State of New York Otsego County } ss
Chas. O. Moore } ss I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said County do certify that James O. Moore before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date thereof a First Judge of Otsego County Courts that I am acquainted with his hand writing sincerely believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his own proper hand writing & signature Witness my hand & seal of office this 17 th day of January 1833 Horace Lathrop Clerk By Wm. H. C. Cory Deputy

State of New York County of Otsego } Henry F. Parmelee of
the town of Springfield in said county of Otsego being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with Joseph Lambham of Springfield & who subscribed the annexed affidavit & that said Lambham is a man of unblemished character for veracity & so esteemed in the neighborhood where he lives. This deponent further saith that he is also acquainted by reputation with the within named Levi Risfield, David Blakesly & Julia Blakesly of Otsego in said county of Otsego - (although he is not personally acquainted with either of the three last named persons) and that their character for truth & veracity is good. And further saith not.
Sworn & subscribed
Henry F. Parmelee
This 31 st day of December
1832 before me
Wm. Thompson J st Peace in the County of Otsego & Town of Cherry Valley
State of New York } Otsego County } ss
I Horace Lathrop Clerk of said County do certify that Wm. H. Thompson before whom the preceding affidavit of Henry F. Parmelee purports to have been sworn was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing & signature. Witness my hand & seal of Office this 4 th day of January 1833 Horace Lathrop By Tho. K. Cory Deputy

Questions proposed to Levi Redfield on his Examination before James O'Morse on his application for a pension on the 28 th day of November 1832 & the answers of the said Levi Redfield thereto on oath.
Ques - When & in what year were you born?
Ans - At Killingsworth in the now county of Litchfield, formerly New London County, in the state of Connecticut in the year 1745.
Ques - Have you any record of your age & if so where is it?
Ans - I have it known in my bible.
Ques - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, & where do you now live.
Ans - When called into service I lived in Killingsworth in Connecticut. After the war I removed to Brattleborough in Vermont where I resided upwards of 30 years when I moved back to Killingsworth where I remained until about one year since when I moved to Otego in Otsego County where I now live.
Ques - How were you called into service, were you drafted? Did you volunteer or were you a substitute?
Ans - I voluntarily enlisted. I never was drafted nor did I ever serve as a substitute for any person.
Ques - State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the Troops when you served such Continental & militia Regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your service.
Ans - When I served at Roxbury Samuel Holden Parsons was my Colonel, afterwards Genl Parsons of the Continental Army. My major's name was Pratts. At Ticonderoga in 1776 my Col was Samuel Mott. General Gates was the commanding officer, & Mr. Waterbury was my brigadier General. In 1777 when I served at Providence John Ely was my Colonel, & Genl Spencer of the Connecticut Militia was the commanding officer. When I served at White Plains in 1781 I was in Major

Shipman's battalion. Capt. Dana was also at White Plains who commanded the 2 d regiment as the oldest captain on account of the major's absence. The circumstances of my services I have stated to the best of my recollection in my affidavit hereto appended.
Ques. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Ans. I do not remember that I ever received a written discharge - but was at the end of each term of my service verbally discharged with honor.
Ques. State the names of persons to whom you are known & who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans. Major Joseph Samson & Hill Parmachoo of Springs. India Blakesly of Otego will testify as to their belief & knowledge of my services & James O'Moore of Cherry Valley in Otsego County will and David Blakesly of Otego will certify as to my character for veracity.
Sworn & subscribed
this 28 th day of November
Levi Rootfield
James O. Moore First Judge of Otsego County.

State of New York
Otsego County ss } On this 28 day of November 1832 personally appeared before me James A. Morse First Judge of Otsego County Levi Redfield who being first duly sworn according to Law doth depose & declare for the purpose of amending (according to the in- structions of the War Department) his declaration heretofore made by him on the 27 th day of June last past in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of Otsego County in support of his claim to a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832 an exem- plification of which said declaration is hereto annexed, as follows.
That in the year 1775 he this deponent lived in the town of Killingsworth in the then County of New London (now Middlesex County) in the State of Con- -necticut & that in the month of May of that year he enlisted voluntarily into a company of Militia commanded by Captain Samuel Gale of Killingsworth as a drummer & marched to Roxbury near Boston where he remained in said Service for  for  seven  seven months & was discharged & returned home. Again in the month of May 1776 this deponent says he enlisted as a volunteer into a company commanded by Capt. Aaron Stevens of Killingsworth in Col. Samuel Mott's regiment & marched to Ticonderoga & served there seven  seven months. He went out on this service in the capacity of Sergeant but after he got to Ticonderoga he gave up that station and received a warrant from Col. Mott as a drum major. Col. Waterbury was his brigadier General. At the expiration of said seven months this deponent was discharged verbally & returned to Killingsworth in the month of December 1776 & remained at home about two weeks and then again about the 1 st January 1777 he enlisted as a drum major into Col. John

Eliz moment & marched to Providence Rhode Island and - served there four months . He was discharged verbally from this last mentioned service about the last of April or 1 st of May of that same year & returned home. Sometime in the summer of that year 1777 he again volunteered volunteered at the request of Capt. Job Wright into a company commanded by said Wright & went to guard New Haven & served there one month & again returned home. In the month of March 1781 he volunteered as a drum major under Capt. Nathaniel Edwards of Watertown Connecticut. in Major Edward Shipmans Battalion & marched to White Plains in the State of New York & remained there in service one year & in the year 1782 was verbally discharged and returned home.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the legency of any State -
Levi Rootfield
Sworn & subscribed
this 28 day of November
1852 before me
I am a Notary Public of Otago county
State of New York
Otago County ss 3 Joseph Samham of Springfield in Otago County being duly sworn deposes - says that in the war of the Revolution this deponent lived in Killingsworth in Connecticut and was well acquainted with the above named Levi Rootfield who also lived there. And this deponent recollects distinctly that in the

month of May 1775 the said Levi Redfield enlisted into a company of Militia under Capt Samuel Gale & went away from Killingsworth & understood at the time that he had gone with said company to Roxbury near Boston, and this deponent says that he frequently during that time heard read letters from said Redfield to his friends in Killingsworth. And this deponent also recollects seeing said Redfield immediately on his return home from this service and verily believes he was gone from home on said service as much as 7 months. This deponent further says that he also well recollects that said Levi Redfield early the next Spring 1776 again enlisted into Capt Stevens company in Col. Motts regiment & marched away from home & did not return until sometime in the next winter. This deponent further says that he understood at the time and verily believes that said Redfield had been to Liconderaga and he has no hesitation in saying that said Redfield was gone on this service full seven months . He further says that he was knowing to the fact that in the winter of 1777 (he thinks about the month of January) said Redfield went from home to Providence R.I. in Col. John Ely's regiment & was gone some time but exactly how long this deponent cannot positively say but thinks it was as much as 4 months. A brother of this deponent was with said Redfield on the same service. This deponent further says that he well recollects that said Redfield sometime about the month of March 1781 enlisted went out from home and in Capt Nathaniel Edwards company to White Plains & did not return home under the full term of

one year from the time he left as aforesaid. This deponent further says that the said Levi Redfield was actually engaged in the service of the United States during the greater part of the war of the Revolution with but very short interruptions between his services, and that Mr. Redfield was always considered in the neighbourhood where he lived as a very active & faithful son servitor of his country. This deponent further says that said Redfield in most of his said services acted in the capacity of Drum major. He further says that the character of the said Levi Redfield for veracity was always unimpeachable. Joseph Farnham Sworn & subscribed this 27 th day of November 1832 before me Isaac Davis Justice of the Peace
State of New York Otsago County } David Blaksley of Otsago in said county being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with Levi Redfield who has made the preceding affidavit and that he believes him to have been a soldier of the Revolution & to have served as he states and that said Redfield sustains a good character for truth and veracity in the neighbourhood where he lives David Blaksley Sworn & subscribed this 28 th day of November 1832 before me James C. Noss Post Judge of Otsago County

State of New York
Otsego County } ss }
Julia Blakesly being duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say that she is 64 years old that in the war of the Revolution she resided in the town of Killingsworth in the State of Connecticut and was acquainted with Levi Redfield who has made the preceding affidavit who also resided there at that time. She further says that she well recollects during all that time she lived in said Redfield's house with his wife. and distinctly recollects that he was absent from his home during the greater part of the war. she cannot remember the precise times of said Redfield's service but can positively say that she remembers seeing him frequently depart from his home carrying with him his drum & seeing him return home again. She further says that said Redfield was called by his neighbours a Dunn Major and was always reported by his neighbours at Killingsworth to have served a long time in said war. and she verily believes that said Redfield at the several times he left home as aforesaid did actually perform service for his country as he has before stated.
This deponent says that she now resides in the town of Otsego in the County of Otsego where the said Levi Redfield now lives. and that the said Redfield sustains at this day a good character for integrity & veracity Julia Blakesly Sworn & subscribed
This 28 th day of November
1832 before me
James A. Morse First Judge of Otsego County.

County of Otsego } Clerks Office
I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the County of Otsego Do certify that James O'Horde, before whom the foregoing Affidavits of Levi Redfield, and affidavits of David & Julia Blakelee, purports to have been severally sworn was at the date of the same First Judge of the County of Otsego; And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said several Affidavits to be his proper hand writing & signature.
I further certify, that Salah Stevens, before whom the foregoing Affidavits of Joseph Barnham purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace, in & for the said County of Otsego: That I am also acquainted with his hand writing, & verily believe his name subscribed to such Affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of Office the 28 th day of November 1822
Horace Lathrop Clerk.
Levi Redfield Affidavits

The people of the state of New York by the grace of god free & independent To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern Greeting Know ye that we having inspected the records & proceedings remaining in the Clerks office of our Court of Common Pleas for our County of Otsego do find therein the records of certain evidence & proceedings in the words & figures following to wit
Be it remembered that on the 27 th day of June 1832 Levi Redfield came into the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Otsego being a Court of Record with a Common seal showing the form of his indictment in order to obtain a pension under the late act being now in open Court doth depose that he is 86 years of age that in May 1775 he enlisted in Captain Fates company as a drummer & marched to Roxbury near Boston & served nine months or thereabouts, that in the year 1776 he enlisted in Capt. Stevens Company in Col. Motts Regt. & marched to Tienderoga & served seven months that in the year 1777 he enlisted as Col. Ays drum Major & marched to Providence R. I. & served about four months that the same year he served as a drummer one month in Capt. Wrights Company at New Haven that in the year 1781 he enlisted in Captain Edwards company in Major Shipmans Battalion as a drum Major & served one year at White Plains in New York that at other times of the war he served for various periods & once he served under General Sullivan at Rhode Island for about one month that the above services were in the Connecticut Militia known to & subscribed in open Court Levi Redfield this 27 th day of June 1832
Horace Salthrop Clerk
State of New York } Otsego County ss } Joseph Farnham & Hiel Parmelee both of the town of Springfield in said County of Otsego being duly sworn depose & say that they were acquainted with the said Levi Redfield in the year 1775 & have known ever since & recollect that the said Levi Redfield was engaged in service in the war of the revolution & these deponents further say that they have heard read the preceding declaration of the said Levi Redfield & do hereby believe that the matters therein contained are true & further say not
Joseph Farnham Hiel Parmelee

Swans subscribed this 27 th day of June 1832 before me J O Moore one of the Judges of Otsego Co. Courts County of Otsego ss. I James O. Moore a Judge of the County of Otsego do certify that I know the aforesaid Levi Redfield to be herein a credible witness, J. O. Moore
State of New York Otsego County ss. We the Judges of Otsego County do certify that Levi Redfield appeared before us in open Court this June Term of said Court & made his declaration & oath in manner aforesaid as above specified for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 7 1832 at the same time produced the depositions of Joseph Farnham & Huld Parmelee duly made according to law & which are preceding which is to us satisfactory evidence of the truth of the said declaration of the aforesaid Levi Redfield In witness whereof we have hereto subscribed our names in open Court this 27 th day of June 1832 Elisha Root J. O. Moore
Filed June 27 th 1832
J. C. Walworth
All which we have caused by these presents to be exemplified with the seal of our said Court of Common Pleas to be hereunto affixed Witness George Morell Esquire said Judge of our said Court at Cooperstown in the County aforesaid the 27 th day of June AD 1832
Horace Lathrop Clerk

In the matter of Levi Bedfield re Revolutionary soldier
Exemplification etc.
N o 1174
Aug 21 1852
Amended
Darius O Morse Attorney
advised 2 years Drum Major

Nov 5 Even
Ino
Hon: J. L. Edwards Summit of Pinnacle Washington D.C. Oregon Oct 31

Otego Osego C.N.Y. Oct 29 1838 Hon J. L. Edwards. Sir,
I beg leave to trouble you with a case of a pensioner, viz Levi Redfield late of this place, who died on the 15 th of Sept last past aged 94 years. which fact I mentioned to the agent at Albany - the pensioner executed his power and the same was fully acknowledged and certified on the 6 th September last, for the purpose of drawing the pension at the City of Albany to the 4 th of September - the power was sent in subsequent to his death to receive the money from 4 th March 1838 to 4 th Sept 1838. The agent there refused to pay in consequence of his having died 9 days after the execution of the power, sends back word that the Hirs must go before a court of Record & prove his death, and prove their kinship, and then make new power to draw the money.
I have stated to the agent that I could not discover any thing in the law or the necessity of putting the Hirs (viz his aged daughter with whom he lived) to all the expense (being 30 miles from any court of record) - as the pensioner made his power and fully -

executed it as his act, deed, & Will — 9 days previous to his death — his reply was that so he construed the law, but at the same time, said that if I would state the case to your Honor, and you will instruct him to pay it, he would do so without giving Mrs. Blakely his daughter the expense and delay, in getting the money to pay off the Doctor's Bills and funeral charges of the old man, which she is wholly unable to do without drawing the semi-annual pay, of $54
If she does miss a month of the payment of this pension without further expense to the poor woman, it will be an act of charity to order it —
by giving me early information, if the pension can be paid without further delay or expense it will confer a particular favor
I am Sir very respectfully
John B. Lord J. B. Austin

Rev. War
14276 INVALID.
File No.
14276
Levi Rootfield Drum Mq: Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 313
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Levi Redfield, Drum Major, at $108 pr Annum New York etc rec June 7. 32 Be pleased to give the same information
Pension Office } 7 th to 4 th March 1838 Sept 15 1838 } JH

J. L. Edwards Comm. of Finance
1000 P.M.
1000 ad
J. D. Morse Esq. Avego N.Y.

Sept 15 45
Levi Rootfs Wyndale
5
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Junghanncke Pac. Sept. 4 th 1845,
Dr Sir,
I wish was certain to ascertain in regards to a claim that is due to Levi Redfield, who was a drummer in the Revolutionary War. You will find by referring to your pension list that he drew a pension for about 5 or 6 years during the time that he resided in Otsego N. Y. -
It appears that some portion of the Pension of Mr Redfield for the year in which he died is yet due.
The heirs of Mr Redfield are anxious to learn if they are not entitled to back pay under the acts of Congress passed for the remuneration of soldiers.
The facts I imagine will all appear in regard to services rendered by Mr Redfield in his application upon which his pension was obtained - that would fully show whether his heirs were entitled to back pay.
Now will you be good enough to furnish me with your opinion and the method of proceeding.
I understand that John F. Brown of your City attends to such matters in connection with John F. Curtis, of Harris Wayne Co. N. Y. if you will hand this to him perhaps he will furnish me the necessary information.
Yours &c J. M. Piatt