Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 15768, George Bush, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Bush, George
NUMBER
S15768
CONTENTS
Carded

22810
Connecticut
George Bush
Challan in the State of Conn who was a Music - in the Conn commands by Captain _____ of the Rept commands by Sage in the Conn time for 15. Mo 8 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 55 5 Dollars 97 7 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Apr 33 and sent - James Middleton Rep
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 33. Pension allowance ending Mar - 4
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 49
h
Letter to J. Barnes 28 Sept 1831 Order to pay 9 th Oct 1831 Nov 10 F F Stuart - history - Prior

George Bush 18081

State of Connecticut } ss. County of Middlesex }
On this 25 th day of October A D 1832, personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the district of Chatham, now sitting George Bush, a resident of said effective in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut aged seventy six 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
1. That in June 1775 he enlisted into a company of state troops commanded by Captain Tyler, which company belonged to a Regiment commanded by Col Huntington, for the term of Eight months, the captain officers of the company, he thinks were Timothy Percival, that he was at Lebanon, Stonington & New London Connecticut, but was stationed at Roxbury in Massachusetts, near Boston, that he served out his term of service as a drummer and returned to Chatham. 2. That in the month of June 1776 he enlisted into a company of state troops commanded by Captain Joseph Churchill in the Regiment commanded by Col Comfort Sayer for the term of six months. Timothy Block was his Lieutenant, that he was stationed at New York. That he marched with his regiment from Middletown in Connecticut to New Haven in Connecticut and there embarked on board a vessel commanded by Captain Phelps (he thinks) and proceeded to New York where he was then stationed as aforesaid. That the name of the Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment was Giles Russell and the Adjutant Samuel Johnson, the brigade to which his Regiment belonged was commanded by General M'Claws, that he continued at New York until the expiration of his enlistment when he was discharged. In this too of duty he was a drummer.

3. That in the winter of 1777 he again enlisted into a company of state troops, commanded by Captain Elisha Blackwell or Blackmore in the Regiment commanded by Col Roger Ennis for the term of three months, that the name of his first lieutenant was Joseph Kellogg, that of his second lieutenant was — Whitmore, that of the ensign was John Johns or that the name of the Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment was — Gulliver, the name of the Major was Wilcox. That soon after he enlisted he marched with his Regiment from Middletown to Horse Neck through New Haven, Milford, Stratford, Stamford & Stamford as near as he remembers; that he does not recollect how long he remained at Horse Neck but not long; that he thence proceeded to White Plains and continued most of the time to march from place to place as directed; that on the expiration of the said three months he was discharged at New Rochelle and returned home to Chatham.
4. That in 1778 in the fall he was drafted to perform a tour of duty of one month at Fishkill New York, that he went to said Fishkill and performed said tour of duty in the company commanded by Captain James Kellogg, the name of the Lieutenant was Robinson, that at the expiration of said month he returned home.
5. That he was drafted in August or September of (he thinks) 1780 to perform a duty of two months at New Haven Connecticut, that he went to said New Haven and performed said two months duty in a company commanded by Captain George Hubbard, at the expiration of said two months he was dismissed and returned home, that in all his tours of duty he was a drummer.
That he was in battle at Harlem Heights and White Plains.
That he was born in the town of Chatham, Middlesex County, Connecticut, where he since and still resides,
That he has no record of his age
That he knew Generals Washington, and Putnam
That he received discharges but has lost them
That he is known to Rev William Jarvis and Mr. Timothy Russell of his present neighborhood, who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolutionary.

That he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows no person living who can testify to his services in the town not embraced in the affidavit of Timothy Russell which is annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
George Bush
We William Jarvis, a Clergyman residing in the town of Chatham and Timothy Russell residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Bush who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn, said subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
William Jarvis.
Timothy Russell
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev William Jarvis who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the said town of Chatham, and that Timothy Russell, who has also signed the same is a resident of a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I William G. Comstock clerk of the court of Probate for the district of Chatham, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of George Bush for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 1 st day of November 1832.
Wm G. Comstock CLK

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., Sept 30, 1907
In reply to your request of Aug. 22 nd , received Aug 24 th for a statement of the military history of George Bush 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.     June 1775 8 mos. Dummers Tyler Huntington Conn.   June 1776 6 mos. " Joseph Churchill Comfort Dage   Winter of 1777 3 mos. " Ebenezer Dake Roger Ennis   Fall of 1778 1 mo. " James Kellogg —   Aug. or Sept 1780 2 mos. " George Hubbard —  
Battles engaged in, Sarum Heights & White Plains Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated Date of application for pension, Oct. 25-1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn. Age at date of application, 76 years. born at Chatham Conn. Remarks: No family data.

x 2.4.
P
15768 INVALID.
Sept 30. 1907 Hist. Soc. A.P. R.R.
File No. 15768
George Bush
Midian Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 53
[Arrangement of 1870.]

G. Bred
15 th & 8 th day minian
Mr. Lough Terms not supported by Mr. Phelps certificate not regarded as actual service.
J. Bane, Middlesex Co

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
20 Sept 1833
Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of George Bush
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this                      day of                      personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of                      in the county of                      and State, Territory or District of                      aged (c)                      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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)                      , with                      and served in the                      (e) regiment of the                      line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers: the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                      of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                      for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of                      &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the                      and C. D. residing in (the same)                      , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                      , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                      and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the                      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                      Clerk of the Court of                      do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
# If the claimant served in the troops raised after the first levy for service before Boston, he did not enlist nor serve more than five months. Proof of this service should be sought from rolls of service in 1775

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
from the office of Comptroller of Public Accounts where there are

Middletown Conn. Sept. 18. 1837.
Sir,
At the request of Mr. Henry S. Ward the overseer of George Bush, I transmit the inclosed certificates, with a view to obtain from you the necessary authority to the overseer to receive the pension at Hartford.
Very respectfully Your Obt. Servt. Jon a Barnes
J. L. Edwards Esq.

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I Timothy Russell of Chatham in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut do hereby depose and say that I am nearly seventy six years of age; that in the month of June A.D. 1776, I enlisted into a company of State troops commanded by Captain Joseph Church- ill in the Regiment commanded by Col. Sage for the term of six months. I farther depose and say that George Bush then and now residing in said Chatham en- listed with me at the same time into the same company and performed duty therein for the said term of six months. I farther depose and say that, in the win- ter of 1777, I enlisted into a company of State troops commanded by Captain Elijah Blackman in the Regiment commanded by Col. Roger Eno for the term of three months. I farther depose and say that said George Bush then and now living in said Chatham enlisted into said com- pany at the same time for three months and performed duty therein during the period of his enlistment. I farther depose and say that in October, 1777, I was drafted to perform a tour of duty at Fishkill New York, that said George Bush was drafted at the same time, went to Fishkill and was in the ser- vice at least one month. I farther de- pose and say that said George Bush was a drummer in the various tours of duty here- in before stated. —
Timothy Russell
Subscribed by the said Timothy Russell and by him

sworn to in due form of law, this 27 th day of June A.D. 1833 before me the undersigned justice of the peace in and for the County of Middlesex in said State of Connecticut, dwelling in Middletown in said County, and duly appointed, commission- ed and sworn. I farther certify that the said Timothy Russell is well known to me and that he is a respectable and credible witness. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my official signature on the day and year last aforesaid.
Jonathan Barnes Justice of the Peace
State of Connecticut Middlesex County } I William Dr. Fisk Assistant Clerk of the County Court For the County of Middlesex do certify that Jonathan Barnes Esquire is a Justice of the peace within and for said County of Middlesex duly com- missioned and sworn and that his name subscribed to the above certificate is his proper hand writing & signature
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Middletown in said County this 28 th day of June A.D. 1833
Wm Dr. Fisk H on Clerk

ELY & BUSH  ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW. SUITE NO. 18 MASONIC TEMPLE. TELEPHONE NO. 591.
A. G. BUSH U. S. COMMISSIONER NO. DIST. OF IOWA
August 22, 1907.
DAVENPORT, IOWA
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly give me the military record of Ezekiel Scudder, a private in Col. Willett's regiment of the N. Y. militia during the Revolutionary War, and any other information regarding him and his immediate descendants which you may have.
I would also like to obtain whatever information you have relative to Abram or Abraham Bush, of N.Y. or Pa. who was an orderly under Gen. Brown at the battle of Lundy's Lane, and regarding Geo. Bush, a drummer in Abraham Tyler's company, who enlisted in New York in 1776 and in 1777 re-enlisted for three months service near White Plains. He was a pensioner after the war.
I desire this information to enable me to trace my descent from a Revolutionary soldier.
Respectfully,
A. G. Bush.

FRANK FARNSWORTH STARR, GENEALOGIST, AND FAMILY HISTORIAN, MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
October 19 th 1888.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Sir,
George Bush of Chatham Conn was a drummer in the Revolutionary army, & for his services received a pension from March 4, 1831.
Being his great grand son, I wish to obtain all the information possible concerning him, & very much desire copies of such affidavits & other papers as were filed in support of his claim. Also, if his family record is still on file in your office, I wish to obtain the original. Trusting I have made no request, which can not be granted I remain
Respectfully yours
Frank F. Starr