Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35,575, for Ezra Potter, Connecticut

SERVICE
Potter, Ezra
NUMBER
Continental (Conn.)
8.35.575
CONTENTS

12,033
R Connecticut
Ezra Potter
of Chatham in the state of Cont. who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Willis of the Cont line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 82 Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 st of April, 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th of June 1819 and sent to S t . Hoesner, Esq. Middletown, Cont.
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1819. $41.06 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4
$41.06
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
Not entitled
Verification sent to John H. B. Esq. 5 July 1820 Middletown Cont. (see endorsement on Ezra Potter's Papers)
Returned 20 th June 1827 from 19 th March 1827 and application sent to John H. B. Middletown Connecticut

State of Connecticut, ss. Middletown.
ON this first day of April 1819, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, personally appears Ezra Potter aged 65 years, resident in Gratton in the said State, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he the said Ezra Potter on the 13 day of January 1776, enlisted in New Haven in the state of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Hezekiah R. Wolcott , of and in the regiment commanded by Samuel Wright and in the brigade commanded by Genl. Joseph Spencer .
that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the 11 day of January 1777, when he was discharged from service in Peckskill state of New York ; that he was in the battle of
and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. That he has lost
his discharge
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
S. Fitz Williams
I, Stephen Fitz Williams a Judge of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Ezra Potter did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support: and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Connecticut, ss. Middletown, April 26. 1819.
S. Fitz Williams

State of Connecticut, ss. Middletown,
ON this 2nd day of April 1819, before me the Subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, personally appears Robert Warner (Esq.) of Middletown in the said State, a person known to me, to be of good character and worthy of belief, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare and say, that he is well acquainted with Ezra Potter of Chatham the person who made the preceding declaration on oath, and that he , the said Robert Warner , in 1776 during the year 1776 was a Lieutenant in the Company commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Ebenezer Sumner , in the Regiment commanded by General Wyllis & in the Brigade commanded by Genl. Joseph Spencer , & afterwards by General H. Parsons Esq. That the said Ezra Potter was an enlisted soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Hezekiah Holdridge , in the Regiment aforesaid, and served from the 1 st of January 1776 to the 1 st of January 1777, when he was duly discharged at Peck's Kill in the State of New York.
and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
J. Hildes Warner

State of Connecticut, ss. Middletown.
ON this 26 th day of April 1819, before me the Subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, personally appears Amasa Brown of Meriden in the said State, a person known . . . to me, to be of good character and worthy of belief, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare and say, that he is well acquainted with Ezra Foster of Southam, the person who made the preceding declaration on oath, and that during the year 1776, he the said Amasa Brown was a Soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Levi Wells in the Regiment commanded by Samuel Wells Esq.; That the said Ezra was a Soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Hoseiah Holdridge in the Regiment aforesaid; and that he served in said Company during the year 1776, from the commencement of it to the first day of January 1777, when he was duly discharged from service. - - -
and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
J. Hites Hymen

I
John Tipton
Clerk of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, That the Honorable
Stephen Titus Warner
of Middletown in said State, is one of the Judges of the said Court, and that his name subscribed to the preceding Declarations and Certificates, marked A. B. C. D. & the
Succeeding Declaration marked is his proper hand writing and signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, at Middletown on this 27 th day of April 1819.
J. Tipton

Ezra Patten
Private
Col com d Mills reg t
Jan 1776 to Jan 1. 1777
1 Year.

State of Connecticut. ss. Annotated. On this 2 d day of April 1819, before me the Subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, per- -sonally appear Simon Griswold and Samuel Pelton both of Litchfield in the said State, persons known to me to be of good character and worthy of belief, who being by me first duly sworn according to Law, do, on their Oaths, de- -clare & say, that they are well acquainted with Ezra Potter of said Litchfield, the person who made the preceding de- -claration on Oath, & are his near neighbors; That he is a poor man, possessed of a poor house & garden spot, worth about two hundred dollars, & that is the whole of his property; That he is in way reduced circumstances, and stands in

need of the assistance of his country for support.
Sworn to & declared before me the day & year aforesaid.
John H. Wromer.

No 78 Ezra Potter
Wap not labelled 12,033
Jan 20/9

State and District of Connecticut, ss.
ON this 20 day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before the adj County Court holden at Middletown within and for the County of Middletown in said State, on the 20 day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Ezra Potter aged 67 years, resident in the town of Chatham in said State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war, as follows: That he the said Ezra Potter enlisted for the term of one year on the first day of Jan'y in the year 1776 in New Haven in the State of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Hezekiah Hoadley in the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Mather in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said corps until some time in Jan'y 1777 when he was discharged from the said service in Peeks kill in the State of New York . That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, as nearly as he can recollect, having no minutes, on the first day of April 1818 ; and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War, No. 12,033
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War;" and that I have not, nor has any person, in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
I do further solemnly swear, that I was in the battles of
That I am by occupation a
Day Labourer

That the number of my family residing with me is
Two
, and their names
my wife Lydia aged - - 67 yrs
my daughter Abby aged - - 33 yrs
That I am unable to pursue my former occupation from Lameness - old age and bodily debility that my wife is very infirm and my daughter is an invalid and from her youth has been - That the property which I possess and my ability to labour with the assistance of my wife would be utterly insufficient to support either them or me without the support of my country and that I rely solely on my pension for the means of livelihood
Ezra Potter
Sworn to and declared day of June
182
11,
before
the
Court
of
Common
pleas
for
the
Third
60
on the 20 th
M c Neil Clk of court

SCHEDULE annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken before the Court aforesaid.
one half acre of Land with an old house thereon standing much out of Repair worth $130.00 one Pig 2.40 one hoe and one axe both old 1.00 5 Chairs 1.00 1 table 1.50 1 pot - 1 Tea Kettle and one Spidorn 1.00 $156.90 Debts which I owe 40 116.90
Ezra Potten
11

I W. D. Dike Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Salem & Co. aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath and Schedule annex- ed, are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is One Hundred & Fifty Six dollars and Ninety — cents.
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 20 th day of June — 1820.
W. D. Dike Clerk of S. Court

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 22 d , 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The child ren of Ezra Potter, dec d , a Pensioner on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency, at the rate of — eight — Dollars and — Cents per month  annum , under the law of the 18 th March 1818, have been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March, to the 24 th April 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
 Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
awb
January 3, 1925.
Frank F. Starr, Middletown, Conn.
Sir;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 35575, it appears that Ezra Potter enlisted at New Haven, Connecticut, January 1, 1776 and served as a private to January 1, 1777 in Captain Hezekiah Holdridge's Company, Colonel Samuel Wylllys' Connecticut Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 1, 1819, while a resident of Chatham, Connecticut, aged sixty-five years.
In 1820, soldier referred to his wife, Lydia, aged sixty- seven years and daughter Abby, aged thirty-three years, and in 1826 son John is referred to.
Soldier died April 24, 1841, leaving children, their names are not stated.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

207 Main St. Danielson Conn.
Bureau of Pensions
Dear Sir -
Will you kindly inform me if you have upon record of the Revolutionary War Pensioners an Ezra Potter - whose home must have been Portland, Conn - as he is buried there. He is my great, great, grandfather and I am endeavoring to enter the D.A.R. Kindly send me all the information possible.
Sincerely (Mrs. Mildred H. Nelson)

WASHINGTON APR 21 1920 OFFICE

Restored
20 April 1827. Commg 19 March 1827, and
Notification sent to John Fish Esquire Middletown Connecticut
Sept 1829

Deed
Paid at the Treasury under the Act 6. April 1838 from 4. March to 24. April 1841. Agt Notified 21. Oct 1841.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Ezra Potter a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. F. 35,575
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Jan 1, 1776 to Jan 1, 77 Priv Hezekiah Holdridge Samuel Wyllys Conn.                                     
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓ Enlisted at New Haven, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Apr. 1, 1819. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Chatham, Conn.
Age at date of application, 65 yrs.
Remarks: In 1820, he referred to his wife, Lydia, aged 67 and daughter Abby, 33 yrs of age. In 1826, a son, John, referred to. Soldier died April 24, 1841.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

FRANK FARNSWORTH STARR, GENEALOGIST AND FAMILY HISTORIAN, MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
STARR'S ANCESTRAL REGISTER.
Decmeber 17, 1924
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.,
Sir:
I wish to obtain a statement of the services in the War of the Revolution of EZRA POTTER who in 1840 was a resident of Chatham, Conn. Also any information about his family that the files may disclose.
Respectfully,
Frank Farnsworth Starr

FRANK FARNSWORTH STARR, GENEALOGIST AND FAMILY HISTORIAN, MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
Rev Sec STARR'S ANCESTRAL REGISTER. Sec
August 26, 1916
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir:
I wish to obtain all possible information regarding Ezra Potter, a Revolutionary Pensioner who in 1840 was living in the town of Chatham in this state.
Respectfully,
Frank Farnsworth Starr.

35575 Rev. INVALID.
File No. 35575-
Ezra Potter Rev Rev Ind
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 485
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1916, Sept. 7. History to Frank F. Starr. Fr. 1923-June 11- Hist to Mrs. Mildred K. Olson. awt. 1925- Jan. 3- Hist. to Frank F. Starr awt.

Pension Office
April 19th 1897
1 March 1823
Exra Potter
John Lusk
Middletown, Ct.
Recd. 19th
Nov.
City Washington
James Brown

Middletown Conn. Ap. 14. 1827 We pleasd. to inform me of the fate of the enclos d application W. M. D. B.
Hon. Jas. Barbour.

District of Connecticut County of Middlesex
ss Attest for Middletown October 10 th 1826
On this 10 th day of October A D 1826, person who appeared in open County Court held at Middletown within and for the County of Middlesex being a Court of Record according to the laws of the State of Connecticut by which it was created and having the power of fine and imprisonment Ezra Potter aged Seventy three Years resident in Chatham in the County of Middlesex aforesaid 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 Acts of Congress of the 10 th March 1818. and the first May 1820. That he the said Ezra Potter enlisted for the term of one Year on the first day of January in the Year 1776. in New Haven in the State of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Hezekiah Hookeridge in the regiment com- manded by Colonel Samuel Pyss in the army of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment; that he continued to serve in the said Corps until some time in January 1777 - when he was discharged from the said service in Peks Kill in the State of New York; that he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the Law of the 10 th of March 1818. as nearly as he can recollect having no minutes on the first day of April 1818. and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the

Department of War No 12033, that he applied for a renewal of his pension on the 20 th day of June 1820 and was dropped from the pension roll -
And in pursuance of the Act of the 1 st May 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 10 th of March 1810 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 10 th day of March 1810. and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
Schedule of all the real and personal estate of Ezra Potter, comprising every article thereof necessary bedding and clothing excepted viz
   1 Pig $ 4. "   1 Veste Hoe 17   5 Chairs 1. "   1 Table 1 "   1 Pot one Teakettle and one spider 1   $ 7. 17  
Ezra Potter.
That since the exhibition of my first Schedule, the following changes have been

made in my property now. The half acre of land with an old house thereon was my appraised at 150 Dollars I con- veyed about a Year since to my son John Powers in consideration of his having paid several small debts on my account and supported me in part since the year 1820. The pig mentioned in my former schedule has been long since slaughtered eaten; and the age is worn out;
And I do further declare that I am by occupation a day laborer that the number of my family residing with me is two and their names and ages as follows to wit my wife Lydia aged seventy three Years, who is infirm and sickly having been most of the past summer under the care of a Physician. one daughter named Abby aged thirty nine years who has been an idiot from her birth that by reason of sameness of age & infirmity I am unable to pursue my occupation and that I have been for two Years past past and now and in a great mea- -sure supported by the Town of Chatham as one of the poor thereof; that the residence of my support has been furnished chiefly by my said son who has a family which he supports by his daily labor
Also I do further declare that the property conveyed to my said son is but a partial compensation for the debts which he has paid for me and the support which he has furnished since

the Year 1820. and that I can not subsist without the aid of public or private charity —
Ezra Dorr
I swear & declare on the 18 th day of Oct r A.D. 1826. before the County Court for Middlesex County. W m Fitch Clk. of Court.
I John Fitch Clerk of the County Court for Middlesex County aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing Oath & Schedule annexed are truly copied from the record of said Court & I do further Certify that it is the Opinion of the S d Court that the Total amt. in Value of the property exhibit d in the afores d Schedule is Seven Dols & Seventeen Cents — I do further Certify that George W. Stanley & — Augustus Cook whose names are subjoined in their proper Hand Writings respectively to the annexed Certificates marked A & B. now are & for more than One Year last past have been Justices of the Peace in & for said County duly Commission d & sworn. — & that Isaac Smith whose name is sub- scribed in his proper hand Writing to the annexed Certificate marked C. is a respectable Physician

resident in Chatham in said County In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my Hand & affixed the Seal of the P. Court on the 19 th day of March A.D. 1827.
Geo. M c W. Clerk of said Court.

John Potter's Affidavit.

Guy Cooper of Chatham in the county of Middlesex & State of Connecticut, of lawful age deposes & says, that he is & for more than two years last past has been one of the Selectmen of the Town of Chatham aforesaid, that he is well acquainted with Ezra Potter of said Chatham formerly a pensioner of the United States, that said Potter is poor, infirm, & incapable of earning his subsistence, and that to the knowledge of this deponent, the said Potter has been for two years past partially supported by the said Town of Chatham, & is still a charge upon said Town as one of the poor thereof. Middle-town Oct. 18 th 1826. — Guy Cooper
Subscribed and sworn to in due form of Law this 18 th day of October A.D. 1826. Before me, A. Gloyd Stanley Jus. of Peace

John Potter John Potter Chatham Nov 10 1826
To Deat Isaac Smith bill finally me... 42.59
  Dec 3. 1821 to 116 lb beef at 4c 4.66   to 22 lb cheese at 5c 1.34   Dec to 8 bushels rye at 50c 4.00   to 1 D Tea 1.00   to 28 lb codfish .84   to 17 lb cheese 1.40   to 9 lb Sugar 1.00   Dec to 1 pail .33   to 1 Shad 1.50   to 1 cheese 1.84   1822 to 2 head New 3.00   Jan to 5 head Weeds and keeping 10.00   1823 to use of a boat three years 40.00   1824 to one wet beef at 4c 4.00   1825 to Corn 3.00   to fifty lb pork at 4c 4.00   to half bbl Shad 5.00   to one head Weeds 1.50   July to 3 head Weeds 8.00   to 5 bush Corn 3.34   $ 141.84 
Middlesex County ss Middletown Nov 11 th 1826 Personally appeared John Potter and made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing account before me B. Aug t Cook Jus. Peace

I Isaac Smith of Chatham in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut of lawful age, and having been duly cautioned to declare the truth, do now and say, that I am a physician resident in said Chatham, and as such attended upon Ezra Potter of said Chatham, during sickness previous to March 1824; that my bill for services amounted to forty two dollars & 57 cents, & cost thereon 60 1/2 cents, making in the whole the sum of forty two dollars & 59 cents, which I have received from John Potter the son of said Ezra Potter; that since the said year 1824, I have attended the said Ezra Potter & his family professionally & have received payment for my services from the Selectmen of the said Town of Chatham: that said Ezra Potter is very indigent and infirm: that his wife is unable to labor: that his family consists only of his said wife, & one daughter who is nearly an idiot a nativitate , & incapable of taking care of herself. —
Middletown March 19 th 1827. —
Isaac Smith.

Subscribed and sworn to this 19 th day of March A.D. 1827, in due form of Law, before me the undersigned a Notary Public duly appointed & sworn, residing in Middletown in the said County of Middlesex.
Witness my Signature & Seal of Office.
Don a Barnes Esq. Notary Public.