Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14216, for David Porter, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Porter, David
S. 14216
CONTENTS
Carded.

6823 New York David Porter, Cont. Weston in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the commanded by Captain of the commanded by in the line for Connecticut troops 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of March 1833 and sent Hon. T. Tomlinson Senate US
  Arrears to the 1 th of  Mar. 33  66.66    Semi-ant. allowance ending  4 Sept " "  16.66      $ 83,32  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Cla Clerks Book D Vol. 3 Page 61
Transf. from the Cont to New York from 4 Sept. 1833 - certif sent to Hon. S. G. - Hathaway H. R. 14 Dec '33 Com d let to Pln. Ag. June 23. 1834 Paid at Treasury, under act 6 April 1833, from 4 Sept. '34 to 24 Apr. '35. Agent not. 23 Mar. '46.

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss Weston Probate District
On this 6 th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Weston now sitting David Porter a resident of Weston in the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut aged eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated
I David Porter of Weston aforesaid declare & say that in the Year 1776 about the first of March I enlisted as a private soldier into the Militia of Connecticut into the company commanded by Capt. David Hawley of Stratford in Fairfield County for three months to go on guard at Wells: Tongue in said Stratford, now Bridgeport, I served the time in full & was discharged
In the month of August following I was drafted in the Militia of Connecticut under the command of Capt. John Sherwood of said Fairfield together with most of his company to go to New York. I with the rest of the company embarked on board of a sloop at Black-rock & sailed for New York after we had been there two or three days whilst building a breastwork on the wharf. I with six others rowed Gen. Putnam across to Long Island & rowed him back at night. Two or three days after this David Gilbert, Josiah Leavitt & myself were taken out of Capt. Sherwoods Comp y . by order of Gen. Wadsworth to take the a sloop and convey soldiers across from the Island to New York in case it should be necessary for Gen. Putnam's Army to retreat from the British Army. When they retreated we took into our Sloop as many as we could get on board & crossed to the City. We then took the Sloop to Harlem Creek and anchored it & left it. Then returned to the City & joined our company under Capt. Sherwood. after a few days the Enemy took the City & the American Army retreated to Harlem where Capt. Sherwoods Comp y . were dismissed & we returned home after being absent on duty for  one Month

I then enlisted as a private into the State troops of Connecticut in the Company commanded by Capt. Isaac Burr of said Fairfield for Six months to go to the Fort at Black rock on guard. went & performed my enlistment in full & was discharged & had a written discharge which was burnt when my house was burnt in the year of 1796.
In the spring of 1777 Lieut. Samuel Suly of Fairfield had orders from the State to raise a company of horse which were called minute men to act on expenses and perform any duties that exigencies required. The dispatches of Josiah Peavet, David Gilbert, David Bille, myself & many others enlisted & performed duties therein. The company was soon formed & we went with Lieut. Suly to Newtown in said Fairfield County a Tory-hunting & all that would not sign an article that they would not take up arms against the Country, were taken to Fairfield Gaol, we took four to said Gaol - After this we went to Patterson corner in the State of New York from thence we crossed the Fishkill Mountain so called, after this we were called out whenever there was an alarm on our Sea-board and when the services of horsemen or Cavalry were required. I continued to perform the duties allotted me until in February 1781 when owing to extreme exposure in the service & being harassed by night & by day. I was taken sick & my health so far impaired that I was unable to perform any further service during the War or labour any for two years after the War. From the time I enlisted until the time I became sick my time was spent in my country's service - making full three years service. I have no documentary evidence of either of the foregoing terms of service nor any living testimony except what is here announced. I had a written discharge as stated at Black-rock from Capt. Isaac Burr but is was lost burnt as stated above.
I was born in the Town of Stratford in Fairfield County Connecticut February 2 nd 1748 I have no record of my age as it was burnt with my house I have a Brother that has a record of my age in an old book that belongs to my Father. I lived in said

Town of Stratford where called into service & continued to live in said Town until the year 1796 when I removed to Solon. Corthland County, State of New York & continued there until 1829 when I returned to my native State Conn- ecticut in the Eastern part of Weston in Fairfield County where I now live & was called into service as stated above Annexed is the best proof in my power to obtain in cons- equence of old age & infirmities it is extremely difficult to procure any better or other evidence than what I have produced The Officers under whom I served are all dead & most of the Soldiers are dead likewise
I am personally known to Harry Habbell & Lloyd Suley & many others, who can testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a Soldier of the Revolution
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Bradford Winton David Porter
Judge of said Court
We Harry Habbell and Lloyd Suley both of Weston in Fairfield County Connecticut hereby certify that we are acquainted with David Porter of said Weston who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty four years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Harry Habbell
Sworn to & subscribed on the Lloyd Suley
day & year aforesaid before Bradford Winton Judge of said Court
do hereby declare their
And the said Court, is of 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 them that Honory Hubbell Esqr & Lloyd Tuley, who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons residing in said Town of Weston & that their statement is entitled to credit
Bradford Winton Judge of said Court
I Oliver C. Sanford Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Porter of Weston for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 6 th day of Novr 1832
M Oliver C. Sanford Clerk

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } Weston Probate Office November 6 th 1832 I Samuel Gregory of Trumbull in Fairfield county of seventy years of age testify & say that I have long been acquainted with David Porter of Weston in said county that when young we were near neighbours to each other & that we were soldiers of the Revolutionary War together & I was knowing to his serving in the State Troops of Connecticut for Six months under Capt. Isaac Burr of Fairfield in said county stationed at the Fort at Black Rock served out his time in full but whether he had a written discharge or not I am not able to say I think that he enlisted about the 20 th of Sept. 1776 I was at the fort a part of the time with him I further certify that I should think that the said David Porter was about eighty five years of age & sustains a good moral character Samuel Gregory Sworn to and Subscribed on the day & year aforesaid in open court before me Bradford Winton Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid
State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } Weston Probate Office Nov. 6 th 1832 I Joseph Porter of Weston Fairfield County Connecticut of seventy years of age testify and say that I was knowing to David Porter enlisting in the fall of 1776 into the State Troops of Connecticut for Six months under the command of Capt. Isaac Burr of Fairfield Town a company stationed at the Fort at Black Rock in said Fairfield. I was frequently at the Fort to see him while he was there on duty being a Brother of mine & am knowing to his serving out his term of enlistment. I further certify that I was knowing to the said David Porter being drafted in the Militia of Connecticut under the command

of Capt. John Sherwood of said Fairfield on a tour of duty at New York in the summer of 1776 that he went & performed said duty but how long he staid I am unable to say but should think about one Month
Sworn to & subscribed on the
day and year aforesaid.
before me
Bradford Winton Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid
Joseph Porter

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss. Weston Nov. 7 th 1832 I Cyrus Brinsmade being sixty nine years of age of the Town of Trumbull & County aforesaid do testify, that I am acquainted with David Porter of Weston in said Fairfield County, & that said Porter did enlist as a minute man in the Revolutionary war, about the year 1777 under the command of Lieut. Sam l Seely, & I think in the year 1778 Lieut Sam l Seely was killed. & about that time I enlisted, & we were under the command of Capt. Benajah Bunnit, of the Connecticut Militia but generally headed by Serg t Josiah Leavitt. Said Porter continued in service as a minute man untill through fatigue, & hardship he was taken sick, which was about the year 1781. Said Porter was considered one of the best soldiers we had among us, ever ready at call whether by night or day, — & furthermore I consider said Porter's moral character good, & his word entitled to full credit, & should think him to be over eighty years of age —
Sworn & subscribed
Cyrus Brinsmade
this 7 th day of November
1832 at Weston aforesaid before me Harvey Hubbard Jus ce Peace

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss Winton Probate District November 8 th 1832 I Bradford Winton Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid do certify that I am acquainted with Samuel Gregory Joseph Porter & Cyrus Brinsmade who have signed the three preceding Depositions that they are credible persons & that their Depositions are entitled to full credit Bradford Winton Judge
I Oliver C Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid hereby certify that Bradford Winton is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid and that the several foregoing signatures of his name are his genuine signatures I further certify that Harvey Houbell Esq. who has taken the acknowledgement of the deposition of Cyrus Brinsmade hereto annexed is a Justice of the Peace for said Fairfield County. that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Houbell & that his signature to said deposition is his genuine Signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court on this 8 th day of November 1832
M Oliver C Sanford Clerk
Tomlinson
Samuel Gregory Joseph Porter Cyrus Brinsmade

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Cortland
ss.
On this twenty fifth day of October - - 1833, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cortland personally appeared David Porter
who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain David Hawley John Sherman Isaac Brewster Benjamin Benedict in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Melton Gaud Whiting in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Connecticut from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The follow- ing are his reasons for removing from Connecticut to New York vis that he has two sons living in Salem County of Connecticut and State of New York that he wishes to live with and that he has not any children living in Connecticut and does not possess any property and has not any home except with his sons
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, } the day and year aforesaid. }
David Porter
Samuel G. Hathaway J.P.
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrates, whose official character and signature must be certified by a proper officer, under his seal of office. The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.

State of New York Cortland County
David Porter junior of the town of Salon county & State aforesaid Depose and saith that he is well acquainted with David Porter described in and who made the within affidavit was present when he made the same and knows him to be the person described in the said within affidavit
Sworn and subscribed to before me the 21 st day
David Porter junior
of Oct. 1833 Samuel G. Hathaway J.P.
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with David Porter junior who made the above affidavit and that he is a person of veracity Dated at Salon this 21 st day of October 1833
Samuel G. Hathaway justice peace
State of New York Cortland County
Clerks Office SS.
I Samuel Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk of Cortland County do certify that Samuel G. Hathaway Esq. before whom the above affidavit of David Porter junior purports to have been taken was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in said County duly qualified and sworn. Also that I am acquainted with his handwriting of the said Justice and truly believe his name above subscribed to be his genuine signature
Witness my hand and Seal of Office Nov 16. 1833
Saml Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk

226 Dms Sur file 14216 Rev. Mar.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history + of David Porter , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feb. 1. 1776 3 mos. Pri. David Hawley Conn.   Aug. 1776 1 mo - John Sherwood   1776 6 " Isaac Burr   Sp. 1777 to July 1781 3 yrs - minute man Gt. David Beeley alarm capt Benorajah Bennet Served under Cols. Shelton, Gould + Whiting.  
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stratford, Fairfield Co., Conn.
Date of application for pension, Nov. 6. 1832: allowed.
Residence at date of application, Weston, Fairfield Co., Conn.
Age at date of application, B. Stratford, Conn. Feby 2. 1748
Remarks: In 1833 soldier removed to Solon, Cortland Co. N.Y. where two of his sons resided, David Jr. and the other's name not mentioned.
No claim for John Wallis
1832 bro. Joseph ac 76 testified Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Revhan
14.216 INVALID.
1906 Aug. 6. History to Rev. M. R. Webster O.D.
File No. 14.216
David Peter
Pr. New Mar.
Act: June 1882
Index: Vol. 1 , Page 250
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rochester, N. Y., July 20, 1906.
Commissioner of Old War and Navy Records,
Wash n , D. C., Dear Sir: \ Referring to yours of June 16, '06, would say, that the John Wallis of East Hartford, Ct., who served under Capt. J. Wells & Col. Wolcott, (Revolutionary War.) married Emma Keeney, and either he, or his children, settled in the town of Farners, Onondaga Co., N.Y. The David Porter in question settled in Farners, N.Y., or Farners, Cortland Co., N.Y.
Just that with this new data we can get their family and military history.
Res. Yours,
M. R. Webster,

O. W. & N. DIVISION RECEIVED JUL 25 1906
O. W. & N. DIV. JUL 24 1906 FILES
O. W. & N. DIV. JUL 25 1906 FILES

David Porter
10 th by order The 19 th of March before - more can not be allowed on this order
4.5. 11. 12
P-228.
Hon. G. Tomlinson Senate W.S.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David Porter which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? His time of entering the service in Capt. Isaac Burn's Co. not mentioned.
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? His services are so indefinately stated it is impossible to state his rate of Pension to which he may be entitled.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No clergyman XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which 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 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 shewn 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.
† QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
† QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Return this with papers

War Department
Pension office Decmber 14 1833,
Sir In conformity with the regulations of this Department you have this day been transferred from the Roll of Connecticut to that of New York to take effect from and after the 4 th September 1833.
I am Sir Respectfully
Your obedient Servant
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
M c David Porter
US Pension
Care of the Honorable S. G. Hathaway
House of Representatives
State of Connecticut
Hampden County } ss Pidgeport June 13 1834
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the original certificate transferring David Porter from the Connecticut Agency to the New York agency -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year last above mentioned I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said David Porter -
Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace
33 33 3 99.99

David Porter, from Conn. to New York from 4th Sept. 1833 —
James
James
Mr. Porter the enclosed

1834
Mr David Root
Solon
Courtland County
N. York
Weston Oct Sept 20
Gen. S.G. Hathaway House of Reps
Report to,
Gen Hathaway
Printed Oct 1
H.R. (N. York)
110
Mr. Root is now to get your transfer the enclosed memorandum & send the
Mr. Root of New York. You must add here to history of Mr. - Henry Russell

Rev. G. Fowler
Free Hon. Gideon Tomlinson
U.S. Senator
Washington
33. 33 New private

Weston Feb. 18. 1833—
Dear Sir,
The Pension papers of Mr. Porter I herewith return without any alteration, the reason I will briefly state; Mr. Porter being quite poor, and unable to support himself, soon after he made his declaration went to his sons in the State of N.Y. for to spend the winter, & left his papers in my care, & gave me power of attorney to get his Pension, (if he should obtain a certificate) & send the same to him; If he were here it would be difficult for him to state with any more certainty as to the length of his service, his time of entering Capt. Isaac Burr Co. was immediately after he returned from N.Y. as he told me at the time he made out his declaration, but it was not particularly stated; but you will see it confirmed by the dispositions to this time of service, from two respectable men, as you probably know; his services as a minute man he stated, commenced in the spring of 1777 & his time wholly spent in the service until he was taken sick which was in Feb. 81. He was called from one place to another, & did not state any exact periods of service, as he considered himself in the service all the time, he said "sometimes he was at home a few days but was not able to make any calculation about work for sometimes he was called in the night season; & sometimes by day. & had no certainty when he returned from that he could stay one hour he was a private soldier, & you will perceive by one of the dispositions that he was considered a good one, — he enlisted during the war & would have continued had he not been taken sick — The reason why he did not get a clergyman to his certificate is, he was not acquainted with the clergyman in this town, as you will perceive by his declaration he has been absent from the State for a great number of years —

And since he has returned, living remote from the Chazyman that resided in this town & he being old, has not become acquainted with them — As to the honesty of Mr. Porter, I presume all who are acquainted with him will say that he stands fair — as to his need none who know his circumstances can doubt — & if he is honest he has done the service as he has stated — & of course entitled to a pension, I wish you to exert your influence in behalf of Mr. Porter, he needs it much, but will not need it long —
I am with great respect Hon. Gideon Tomlinson Your humble servant Harry Hubbell