Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25,264, Eli Botsford, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Botsford, Eli Polly
N 25,264
CONTENTS

3292 Polly Botsford widow of Eli Bon act 7. July 38.
it m 89 d 16 adm 2 yrs pri 80
no deduction
Mr Durand New York

State of Connecticut } New Haven County ss. Probate District of Milford On this 19 th day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty eight, personally appeared before the Subscriber, Judge of Probate for the District of Milford, Polly Buttsford a resident of the Town of Milford in the County of said; aged Seventy years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the bene- fit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1828, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows." That she is the Widow of Eli Buttsford late of Milford now deceased, who was a Private in the service of the United States, during the Revolutionary War; he served as a Soldier in the Fort at Milford: First under Capt. Peter Hepburn, then

under Capt. Joseph Davidson , and last under Commandant Nathan Baldwin . The time he served in Said Fort under his different comma- nders, was to the best of my knowledge & belief three years or more. He was a Soldier at the Fort when it was captured by the British, and if I rec- ollect right, it was in the Summer of A.D. 1782; he was then taken Prisoner and carried to New York where he was detained untill the following Summer, when he returned. + She further declares that she was married to the said Eli Botsford on the Thirteenth day of July in the year Seventeen Hun- dred Eighty nine, and that her Husband the aforesaid Eli Botsford died on the Thirtyfirst day of October A. D. 1819. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the Service; but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, Seventeen hundred and Ninety four, viz: at the time above stated. Polly Botsford

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written; Before me. Abijah Carrington
Judge of Probate
I then examined the above subscribed Polly Boltsford touch- ing the several points of her declaration, to my interrogatories, she gave satisfactory answers & persuaded me of the truth of the same; on the day and year aforesaid.
Abijah Carrington Judge of Probate
I David L. Baldwin Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Distri- ct of Milford, do hereby certify that the signature purporting to be that of Abijah Carrington Judge of Probate to the foregoing attestations is his genuine Official Signature taken in open Court and in due form.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed
The Seal of said Court this 19 th
day of November 1838
David L. Baldwin Clerk

2602
Connecticut Polly Botsford widow of Eli Botsford who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private .
Repeated Dec 26/48
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Dec r 1847 and sent to
Hon S. D. Hubbard Hof Rep
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 259 Vol. 1 .
A

I Asa M. Train Pastor of the Second Congregational Church in the Town of Milford State of Connecticut, do certify that the following is a true copy of the record of said Church in my possession, kept by the Rev. David Tullar the former Pastor.
"Married Elisha Botsford and Polly Lord, the thirtieth of July Seventeen hundred & eighty nine." with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the records in four legible figures (to wit, thus) "1789 July 30th Married Elisha Botsford and Polly Lord."
I Asa M. Train above named, depose and say that I am the Pastor of the Church, aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Church with the exception above named as certified by me.
Dated at Milford this
32 day of June 1839 Shown before me
Asa M. Train Pastor of 2 d Church
W. Brewster. Notary Public Jury Commisioned & Sworn

for a statement of the military history of Ebenezer Buttsford 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. Wid. # 25,264.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     March 1779 1 yr. Priv. Lieut. Peter Deyo — Conn.   March 1781 1 yr. Priv. "Joseph Davidson —   March 1782 Served to June 20, 1782, when taken prisoner at capture of Fort Milford and detained until following summer. "Nathan Baldwin —  
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Milford, Conn.
Date of widow's application for pension, Nov. 19, 1838. Her ch. was ab.
Residence at date of application, Milford, New Haven Co., Conn.
Age at date of application, 70 yrs.
Remarks: Soldier's name at Milford, Conn. July 30, 1789.  Polly Pond; he died Oct. 31, 1819.

p. m.
Key
WIDOW, &c.
1893, Mar. 10.
Hist. to Mrs. B. A. Hough Danbury, Conn. F.S.
J. L. Parraga, Solley. F.W.
File No. 25,264
Polly Botsford Wid of Eli Botsford Prin Ben Mar
1908, Sept. 24, History to Bridgeport, Conn. Letter with vid. F. 17853, Thomas
Act Sept 2nd 1848
Index: Vol A , Page 77
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Connecticut 3841 Polly Botsford, widow of Eli Botsford,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 31 st October 1819 of St. Haven in the State of Connecticut who was a Pa. in the County commanded by Captain Hepburn of the Reg t commanded by Baldwin in the Bar. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 80 Dollars 75 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Aug t . '39, and sent W m Burrows, Jr., New Haven, Conn.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. - $240.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 40.00 $280.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R Burrows Clerk, Book A Vol. 15 Page 167.

Reported.
23.
Connecticut Polly Botsford widow of Eli Botsford who was a private in the Connecticut, line for two years.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Eighty ~ Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th ~ day of April 1843 and sent to Benjamin Colton Esq d Hartford Conn.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 62.

New Haven 20 th November 1838
Sir,
Accompanying you have the Papers of Mrs Polly Dorrance, asking a Pension, for services rendered by her deceased Husband during the War of the Revolution — under the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1835.
They are her Declaration, Depositions from several persons respecting the services rendered, Certificate of Marriage, Widowhood, his death &c.
I am Sir Respectfully Your O bt Servant W m Durand Jr
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Dear Friend, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd inst. in the case of the late B. S. G. and Mrs. S. G. and to inform you that the same has been forwarded to the proper authorities. I am, Dear Friend, Yours very respectfully, H. D. Durand
W. L. Edwards Commissaire of Pensions Washington City

New Haven 11. June 1839
The accompanying Certificate from the Comptroller, relating to services rendered at the Port of New York in the Revolutionary War should have been forwarded with Certificates of Marriage (in cases of Mrs. Polly Botsford & Mrs. Abigail Walbridge) by yesterday's Mail; but was overlooked. I have the Honor to be Sir your Most Obedt Servant
J. S. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington City

Hanford
Penn!
March 21 st 1843
Sir
I send you herewith enclosed the claims of Polly Bryan, Polly Bolford, and Eunice Hood for pensions under the act of the 3 rd of March, 1843.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your Ob t Servant Ben n Colton
Hon ble J. L. Edwards Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

Isaac T. Train Pastor of the Second Congregational Church, in Milford, State of Connecticut, do certify that the following is a true copy of the record of said Church in my possession, kept by David Dullar the former Pastor. "Married Eli Bates and Polly Pond" with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, dated July 30 th 1789. "Married Eli Bates and Polly Pond" I the undersigned above named, do say that I am the Pastor of the Church aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Dated at Milford the 19 th day of November 1838.
Sworn before me. Abijah Carrington Judge of Court of Probate
Abijah Carrington Judge of Court of Probate Isaac T. Train Pastor of the Second Congregational Church
I David L. Baldwin Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Milford do hereby certify that the signature purporting to be that of Abijah Carrington Judge of Probate to the foregoing attestation is his genuine & official signature taken in open Court and due form. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court this 19 th day of November 1838. David L. Baldwin Clerk

I Caleb Nettleton of Milford County of New Haven and State of Connecticut of lawful age depose and say that in the fore-part of the year 1779 I enlisted into the military service of the United States to serve as a private in a company belonging to a Fort in the aforesaid Town of Milford, then under the command of Peter Hepburn and served in said Fort in said capacity for one full year. And I further depose and say that Eli Rootford then a resident of Milford entered the same service and joined the same company in said Fort that I did, and served in said Fort as a private for a year against the enemy of our country. And also I further depose and say that I have for a long time been acquainted with Polly Rootford, the widow of the aforesaid Eli Rootford deceased and am satisfied she has remained unmarried since the death of her husband the said Eli Rootford and is now the widow of the said Rootford and further saith not. Caleb Nettleton
State of Connecticut County of New Haven ss Milford November 16 th 1838
Personally appeared on this 16 th day of November 1838 the above named Caleb Nettleton who is well known to the subscriber as a person entitled to credit, and made solemn oaths to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed before me.
Abijah Carrington Judge of Court of Probate district of Milford

Comptroller Office Hartford May 30 1839
At a meeting of the General Council of Safety held at Hartford on the 1 st day of February A.D. 1779 -
Voted - That Blank commissions be delivered to Col. Davenport for the commission officers of Artillery men to be raised for the defence of the towns of Milford Stratford Fairfield Stamford Greenwich & that he be desired to fill up the same inserting the names of such persons as he shall judge proper
At Lebanon under date of March 5 th 1779.
Voted - That Lieut. Peter Hepburn Commander at Milford to have leave to have a Whale boat with a Swivel gun in her bow; if he can find such a one belonging to this State.
At Hartford Thursday 8 th Feby A.D. 1781
Upon recommendation & request of the Civil Authority Select Men of the town of Milford Joseph Davidson is appointed Lieutenant of the Guard there, in the room of Peter Hepburn resigned & his Excellency the Governor requested to commission him accordingly.
The foregoing are correct copies of votes & doings as recorded in the 2 d vol of 'Council of Safety' in this office.
I never have discovered in the records of this office any roll or list of the men or soldiers attached to Fort above mentioned.
Henry Wisbrow Comptroller

I Abel Clark of the Town & County of Litchfield Conn of lawful age being duly sworn do depose & say that in March 1781 I enlisted at Milford Conn for the term of one year as a soldier in the military service of the United States in the army of the Revolution to serve as one of the Garrison of the fort at Milford Conn & served there as such soldier through that year and after the expiration of 1 st year again enlisted in March 1782 and served under Lieut Commandant Nathan Baldwin till June & I think the 20 th of June 1782 when 1 st Fort was captured by the British & I was taken prisoner & carried aboard the British Schooner Mary Savage & carried to Loyal Neck, thence to New York City, where I was detained a prisoner in the sugar house some months, thence I was taken back to Loyal Neck, remained there a prisoner some time, then was absent from there 30 days on parole & at the expiration of 1 st 30 days returned to Loyal Neck & the next day was discharged on parole till called for
At the="Text"> At the time of my enlistment in March 1781 I was well acquainted with Eli Hotchkiss then a resident of Milford Conn where I also resided. He enlisted at the same time I did in March 1781, under the same officers served with me in the fort through that year, he having enlisted for the year. In March 1782 he again enlisted under the same officers with me for another year, & served in the fort till June 1782, was captured by the British when I was, was carried as a prisoner with me to Loyal Neck, thence to New York City, thence back to Loyal Neck & was discharged in the same manner & at the same time I was, viz in June or July 1783. The said Eli Hotchkiss died about nineteen years since, I have occasionally seen his widow Polly Hotchkiss since his decease & am satisfied that she has remained the widow of said Eli even

since his decease & is still unmarried (Dated at Litchfield Oct 31 st 1838)
Abel Clark
State of Connecticut } ss Litchfield Oct 30 th 1838. Litchfield County }
Personally appeared Abel Abel Clark to me well known & who is en- titled to credit & who subscribed the foregoing deposition in my presence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me
Geo. C. Woodruff Justice of the Peace
STATE OF CONNECTICUT, } ss. Litchfield. LITCHFIELD COUNTY, }
I Origen S. Seymour Clerk
of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Enoch J. Woodruff & Geo. C. Woodruff Esqrs are Justices of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds . And that their commission was dated on the 29 th day of May A. D. 1835 and will expire on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1839 and that the preceding signatures, which purport to be theirs respectively are genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 31 st day of October A. D. 1838
Origen S. Seymour Clerk

I Ezra Camp of the town & County of Litchfield Conn of lawful age being duly sworn depose & say that on the first of March 1779 I enlisted into the Military Service of the United States for the term of one year to serve as a private soldier as one of the Garrison in the fort at Milford Conn under the com- mand of Lieut Commandant Peter Hespburn & served as such soldier in said fort through the term for which I enlisted viz till the first of March 1780 I was at that time well acquainted with Eli Bots- ford then of said Milford where I belonged. The said Botsford enlisted at the same time I did viz the first of March 1779 & served as a private soldier with me in said fort in the military service of the United States for the period of one year for which he enlisted viz till the first of March 1780; and further saith not Dated at Litchfield October 4 th 1835
Ezra Camp
State of Connecticut } Litchfield County } ss Litchfield Oct 4 th 1835
Personally appeared Ezra Camp to me well known & who is entitled to credit, who subscribed to the above deposition in my presence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me Enoch J Woodruff Justice of Peace

I Samuel Peck of Milford County of New Haven and State of Connecticut of lawful age depose and say that in the month of April 1781 I enlisted into the military service of the United States to serve as a private in a company belonging to a Fort in the aforesaid Town of Milford then under the command of Capt Joseph Davidson and served in said Fort in the capacity of a private for the space of one year, in to April 1782 -
And I further depose and say that Eli Rootford then a resident of Milford enlisted into the same service and belonged to the same company in said Fort that I did and served in said Fort in capacity of a private during the time I was there in for one year - And I also further depose and say that I have for a long time been acquainted with Polly Rootford the widow of the aforesaid Eli Rootford deceased, and am satisfied that she has remained unmarried since the death of her husband the said Eli Rootford and is now the widow of the said Eli Rootford and further saith not Samuel Peck
Sate of Connecticut } ss Milford November 8th 1838 County of New Haven }
Personally appeared on this 8th day of November 1838 the above named Samuel Peck, who is well known to me and who is entitled to credit, and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, before me
Abijah Carrington Judge of Court of Probate district of Milford

Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of 2 d of February 1848 entitled "an Act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution"
State of Connecticut
County of New Haven
On this 1 st day of Sept. 1848 personally appeared before me a Magistrate in and for the County aforesaid Polly Botsford a resident of Milford in the County of New Haven in the State of Connecticut aged 80 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 2 d February 1848 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Eli Botsford who was a private in the Revolutionary war
That she received a pension under the act of June 17 th 1844 at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum. she further declares that she is still a widow Polly Botsford
Abigail Botsford
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year before written before me S. W. Beardsley Justice of the Peace
Enfuzend of S. W. Beardsley } Abigail Botsford }
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above declarant and know she is the widow of Eli Botsford — and the same individual who drew a pension as stated in the foregoing declaration — S. W. Beardsley Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut County of New Haven - ss. I Henry G. Lewis Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Lucius N. Brantley is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified, that his Commission was dated on the 30 th day of June 1848 and that his signatures above written are genu- ine -
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court this 23 rd day of September A.D. 1848 Henry G. Lewis Clerk

State of Connecticut } County of New Haven } ss. Milford
On this 18 th day of March 1843, personally appeared Elias Brumbach Master of Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Polly Rotford a resident of the town of Milford in the County and State aforesaid, aged 75 years who being first duly sworn, acknowledged that she does on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 8 th of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Eli Rotford who was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution and that on the 21 st of Oct r 1839 and that she was pensioner under the act of the 7 th of July 1835 at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum. She further declared that she is still a widow and has remained so ever since the death of her husband the said Eli.
Polly Rotford.
I have read the foregoing declaration just above written, and I certify that the de- clarant is personally known to me to me known to be the person described in and who executed the same and that she is the widow of Eli Rotford who was a soldier as she has stated and that the decla- rant was a pensioner under the act of the 7 th of July 1835, and is a respectable and credible person.
Elias Brumbach Justice of Peace

No 40
State of Connecticut ss.
Office of Secretary of State
I do hereby certify that Barnabas Woodcock Esq is, & for more than six months last past has been a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of New Haven in said State, duly appointed & commissioned, as appears of record in this Office - and that the within signature purporting to be his is, in my opinion, genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Public Seal of the said State, this 21 st day of March A D 1843.
Noah A. Phelps Secretary of State

Danbury Ct. Jan 2 nd 1893
To the Commission of Pensions.
on Polly
The name of Mary Botsford of Newtown Connecticut appears upon the Revolutionary Pension Roll. Will you oblige me by a statement of her qualifications as a pensioner. from whom she derived the same, and whether the records disclose as to his military history. This will greatly
oblige-
Mrs. B. A. Hough.
P. O. Danbury. Lock Box Fairfield Co. 34. Connecticut.

O. W. & N. DIV. F.S. W. 25634.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
March 1, 1895.
Madam:-
Referring to your communication requesting information concerning the pension paid to Polly Botsford, I have the honor to inform you that said pension was granted for the services of her husband Eli Botsford, in the Revolutionary War. She makes the following statement in her declaration concerning his services:
"That she is the widow of Eli Botsford, late of Milford, now deceased, who was a private in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War; he served as a soldier in the Fort at Milford; first under Capt. Peter Herburn, then under Capt. Joseph Davison and last under Commandant Nathan Baldwin. The time he served in said Fort under his different commanders was, to the best of my knowledge and belief, three years or more. He was a soldier at the Fort when it was captured by the British, and was taken prisoner and carried to New York where he was detained until the following Summer when he returned."
On November 10, 1858, the date of her application for pension, she was a resident of Milford, Conn., and seventy years of age. She was married to the soldier July 30, 1780, and he died October 31, 1800.
Very respectfully,
Mrs. B.A. Hough,
Commissioner.
Lock Box 54,
Danbury, Conn.