Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,557, John Brooks, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
7
Conn.
Brooks, John
S 23,557
B.L.Mt 26,157-160-55
CONTENTS
What the Possessive And adjectives ...

9970 Connecticut
John Brooks
of Bridgeport in the State of Conn. who was a Private in the Conn t commanded by Captain Walker of the ————— commanded by ————— in the Conn t Militia line for 12 mos Private $40
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn t at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of July 1833 and sent to Curious Bridgeport. Conn t
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $80.00 Pension allowance ending Sept — " — 20.00
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Viral Luce Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 4
Hon. A.S. Seymour. 12 th June 1854.

62.686. Apr. 12/50 Oct 50
J. Sherman Oct 5/55
John Brooks min.
Capt. R. Muller
Dr. P. P. P. Oct 5/50 No. 9970.
Ms 26 157/18 2075
Conn June 2-9970
W: 160 ac, Ms. 17/56
[Large handwritten signature/initials]
Isaac Sherman Bridgeport Conn.
Vol B2 page 68.

State of Connecticut, } ss. Bridgeport County of Fairfield, }
On this 25 th day of July 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Stratford
now sitting, John Brooks a resident of the town of Bridgeport in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged sixty Eight years, who being first 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
In the latter part of August or beginning of September 1779, I enlisted in a company of guards commanded by Capt. James Burton and stationed at Stratford Point, (on Long Island sound and about 20 miles from Long Island) and about 4 miles from the principal village in Stratford, and served therein faithfully three months until I was discharged in December following. About the 1 st of March 1781, I again enlisted for nine months in a company of guards under the command of Capt. Robert Walker, Lieutenant John Benjamin and Ensign Isaac Brown, all which officers had borne commissions in the continental army of the United States. The two first named were from Col. Lamb's Regiment of artillery, and Ensign Brown from the infantry, but from what I cannot recollect, but think it was from Col. Webb's Regiment. I served out my said term of nine months faithfully, & until I was discharged in December 1781. The Myrtle de Merivale . All the above officers have been dead long since. This guard was organized & entered upon duty early in March 1781 and continued in active service under the strictest discipline until sometime in December following. It was raised by the Both these companies of guards were raised by the State of Connecticut for the protection of the coast lying on Long Island sound between New Haven & New York, and during my one year's services therein, I drew my pay & rations regularly from said State. We often drove off enemy's boats and prevented their crews from landing & plundering our inhabitants, and once, I recollect during my said service, two armed Brigs of the enemy with regular troops on board after having landed at West Haven (about 13 miles East of Stratford) and taking prisoners there, came to Stratford Point the same day, and landed their regulars when the said company of guards rallied all the force they could & charged the enemy and drove them off. Capt. Joseph Walker, now deceased, Aid de camp to Genl. Parsons, happening at that time to be at home on furlough, volunteered to take command of our company & other citizens who joined us, and did command the party. I was born in Stratford in the year 1763, and halways resided until 1821, since which I have resided at said Bridgeport

5. Henry A. Judah a Clergyman residing in the Town of Bridgeport hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Brooks who had submitted a Second to the above Declaration - That I believe him to be sixty eight years of age that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a son of the Revolution & that I am sure in that opinion -
John Brooks Bridgeport Conn. June 1862 No. 3002
I the undersigned of the Court of Oyer & terminer for the District of Fairfield in Connecticut do hereby certify that R. S. Nichols as Clerk of said Court that the within is his true and correct copy with the seal of said Court hereunto annexed
Richd. M. Miller Judge
I the undersigned of the Court of Oyer & terminer for said District of Fairfield do hereby certify that Ephraim Wilson, David Burford & Stephen Benjamin the witnesses to said Declaration have sworn in support of said application as friends of both Henry & Cordilla Wilson.
Richd. Miller Judge

I Asa Benjamin now in Court do testify that I reside in Bridgeport in the Probate District of Stratford within mentioned, where I have resided since the year 1821, and before that year I always resided in the town of Stratford, except when I was in the army of the revolution. that I have always been acquainted with John Brooks the within named applicant for a pension, from the time he was a boy, that in the year 1781 he & I enlisted together in the month of March for the term of nine months in the company of guards commanded by Capt Robert Walker, and that he the said Brooks served out his time faithfully in said company as by him stated in the foregoing declaration by him subscribed, Asa Benjamin
I Lewis Burton of Trumbull in the said Probate District, now in Court, do testify that I formerly resided in said Stratford & have been acquainted with John Brooks the within named applicant for a pension, from the time he was a boy and know that he served nine months in the company of guards under Capt Robert Walker in the year 1781 as stated by him the said Brooks in the foregoing declaration by him subscribed and that I served with him in the same company during the same period. Lewis Burton
I Ephraim J. Willcoxson of Stratford in said Probate District now in Court do testify that I have well known John Brooks the within named applicant for a pension from the time I was a boy, & I am now 70 years of age, and that I served in the company of guards raised in said Stratford in the year 1779 commanded by Capt James Burton more than three months, and that the said John Brooks served in the said company, as a private, in the fall of that year I cannot remember distinctly what time he entered said company, but according to the best of my recollection, I believe he served two or three months in said company during that fall, and was discharged in the month of December. Ephraim J. Willcoxson
The above Depositions of Ephraim J. Willcoxson Lewis Burton & Asa Benjamin were severally subscribed & sworn to in open Court before Sibley Muller Judge of said Court of Probate & are (to be considered) part of the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of the said John Brooks for a Pension under the Seal of said Court
R. L. Nichols, Clerk

which was formerly a part of said town of Stratford I refer to Smith Frewedy & Samuel Stratton who are two of the Select men of said town of Bridgeport, for proof of my age, character for veracity, and their belief of my having served in the war of the revolution - I have no documentary evidence to prove my said services, except and have no witnesses that I can procure of the same without great inconvenience, except Asa Benjamin Col: Ephraim J. Wilcoxson, and Lewis Burty whose Depositions are hereto annexed. The whole of my service at said two periods was one year. I have a record of my age on my Father's Bible which is now in the possession of my mother who resides at Stratford.
The said John Brooks 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.
Attest - R. S. Nichols Clerk
John Brooks
We, Smith Frewedy residing in the town of Bridgeport and Samuel Stratton residing in the town of Bridgeport hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brooks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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.
Attest -
R. S. Nichols Clerk
Smith Frewedy Samuel Stratton Henry R. Judson
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Smith
Frewedy who has signed the preceding certificate, is colonyman president in the town of Bridgeport and that Samuel Stratton who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Bridgeport and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest -
William W. Hull Jr. Esq.
R. S. Nichols Clerk
I, R. S. Nichols Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of John Brooks for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 25 day of July 1832.
I also certify that the three following Depositions taken in open Court & certified by me are a part of the original proceedings in this application & included in this certificate.
R. S. Nichols Clerk

The foregoing was the Subscribed by me and the truth thereof by me known
I Ephraim John Willcoxson of Stratford in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John Brooks late of said town of Stratford but now residing in the town of Bridgeport, and that the said John Brooks did to my personal knowledge serve in a company of guards commanded by Capt. James Austin which were stationed in the town of Stratford in the year 1779 full two months between the months of September and December following of the same year. And I do further certify that I verily believe the said John Brooks did serve three months within the above period of time which facts I know from the circum- stances of being myself attached to the same company of guards and frequently by mounted guard together with the said Brooks. As Witness my hand and seal this 27 th day of December 1832 Ephraim J. Willcoxson 
Fairfield County ss. Stratford Ct. December 27 th 1832 -
Personally appeared Ephraim John Willcoxson, signor and sealer of the foregoing certificate and made solemn oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed in my presence
Before me David Brooks Justice of the Peace
S. R. S. Nichols Clerk of the Court of Pleas for the District of Stratford in Fairfield County ss. Before me the above deposition was taken in a public hearing in said Court and I do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the same as shown to me and the seal of said office on this 28 th of Dec r 1832
R. S. Nichols, Clerk
The two first names were from Col. Lamb's Regiment of Artillery, and Boston from the Infantry, but from what Regiment I cannot recollect but

State of Connecticut & f- Bridgeport County of Fairfield ss
On this 26 day of March 1833 personally appeared in Open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Stratford now sitting John Brooks a resident of the town of Bridgeport in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, aged Sixty nine years who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated - In the latter part of August or beginning of September - 1779, I enlisted in a company of guards commanded by Capt. James Burts and Stationed at Stratford Point on Long Island sound and about 20 Miles from Long Island and about 4 Miles from the principal village in Stratford, and served therein faithfully three months until I was discharged in December following -
About the 1 st of March 1781 I again enlisted for nine months in a company of guards under the command of Capt. Robert Walker, Lieutenants John Benjamin and Ensign Isaac Drown all which Officers had borne commissions in the Continental army of the United States - The two first named were from Col. Lamb's Regiment of Artillery, and Ensign Drown from the Infantry, but from what Regiment I cannot recollect, but think it was from Col. Webb's - I served out my said term of nine months faithfully, & until I was discharged in December 1781 - All the above Officers have been dead long since - This guard was organized & entered upon duty early in March 1781 - and continued in active service under the strictest discipline until sometime in December following - Both these companies of guards were raised by the State of Connecticut for the protection of the coast lying on Long Island Sound, between West Haven and New York, and during my one year service therein I drew my pay & rations regularly from said State - We often drove off enemy's boats and prevented their coming from landing & plundering our inhabitants, and once I recollect during my said service, two armed Brigs of the enemy with regular troops on board, after having landed at West Haven (about 13 Miles East of Stratford, and taking prisoners there, came to Stratford Point the same day, and landed their regulars, when the said company of guards called all the force they could I charged the enemy and drove them off - Capt. Joseph Walker, now dead, order'd the camp to Genl. Parsons, happening at that time to be at home on furlough, volunteered to take command of our company & other citizens who joined us, and did command the party - I was born in Stratford in the year 1763 - and always resided there until 1821, since which I have resided at said Bridgeport which was formerly a part of said town of Stratford -
I refer to Smith Twiss & Samuel Stratton, who are two of the Select Men of said town of Bridgeport, for proof of my age & character for veracity and their belief of my having served in the war of the Revolution - I have no documentary evidence to prove my said service and have no Witness that I can procure of the same without

great inconvenience, except Asa Benjamin, Col: Ephraim J. Wilson and Lewis Burton Gay whose Depositions are hereto annexed. The whole of my service at said two periods was one Year - I have a Record of my age in my Father's Bible which is now in the possession of my Mother who resides at Stratford.
The said John Brooks hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not in the Pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Brooks
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after fulling the interrogatories prescribed by the War Dep ment that the above named African was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as the States And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry C. Spedden who has signed the Certificate on the original Declaration made on the 28 th day of July 1832 is a resident of the Town of Bridgeport & that Samuel Stratton & Simon Smedley who have also signed the same are residents in the Town of Bridgeport & one credible persons & that their statements is entitled to Credit in And the said Court do further certify that the said witnesses to wit, Asa Benjamin in Lewis Burton & Ephraim J. Wilson whose testimony & Depositions are also on said original Declaration & are annexed one credible witnesses & that said Depositions were Subscribed & sworn to in Court
Titus Wheeler Judge
S. R. Nichols Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of said Court in the matter of the ap- plication of John Brooks for a Pension his testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office on this 26 th day of March 1833
R. S. Nichols, Clerk

5. Yates  at the  Shalford  Shalford Dr Bishale for the Disheal of Shalford Dr Racey's Certify that R.S. Nichols is blank of hand Count of that the Aggregate is the signature with the Seal of Sandwell mands annexed - March 27 th 1833 John Wheeler
at the School of Fish & Game office on Miss 28 th of December 1882
... Regiment of Artillery, and was, ... from the Infantry, but from what Regiment I cannot recollect but

STATE OF CONNECTICUT COUNTY OF Fairfield
ss.
Bridgeport
On this 27 th day of March A. D., 1854 1855
Notary Public
Personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace, duly authorized by law to administer oaths in and for the County aforesaid, John Brooks
aged 91 years, a resident of Bridgeport and County in the State of
Connecticut who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical John Brooks who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Robert Walker in the Regiment of
commanded by
in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812.
Revolutionary War and is a pensioner of the United States on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency at the rate of 40 dollars per Annum under Act of June 1832 that his pension certificate is dated on the first day of July 1833 and is No 9970 and for proof of his service in said War he refers to his application for a Pension under said Act at the Pension office at Washington City and continued in actual service in said war for four
for the term of
ten days: that he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of September 28, 1850,
That he served in said War at least 12 months and was honourably discharged
and received a land warrant No. for acres, which he has since legally disposed of and cannot now return.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved the 3d day of March, 1855. He also declares, that he has never applied for nor received, under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty-land warrant except the one above mentioned.
John Brooks
WE Sarah Burr and Caroline Greene residents of Bridgeport, Fairfield County in the State of Connecticut upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by said John Brooks in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.
Sarah Burr
Caroline Greene
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Stephen J. Booth
Justice of the Peace, Notary Public

State of Connecticut.
By his Excellency HENRY DUTTON , Governor of said State.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Know ye, That Stephen S. Root was on the 14th day of August A.D. 1854, for the term of ten years from and after said date appoin- ted a Notary Public
in the said State, duly constituted and commissioned, and that to his acts and attestations as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within attestation is in due form and by
Henry Dutton the proper officer, and that I believe the signature of said thereto to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the public Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed. this 29th day of March A. D. 1855, and in the seventy eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor,
A. J. Root
Secretary of State.

State of Connecticut } Bridgeport April 2 th District of Fairfield } 1833.
On this day personally appeared before me Filoh Wheeler Judge of the court of Probate for said District of Fairfield in Linfield County
The above named Applicant John Brooks & being first sworn further declares & says that he does not know of any person or witness living who served with him in the Revolutionary War except Asa Benjamin, Lewis Burton & Ephraim J. Wilbur the three witnesses who have testified in support of his declaration nor does he know of any other or better evidence than that of said three witnesses. In his former declaration the Applicant stated that he knew of no other evidence except that of the above named witnesses which he would produce without great inconve- nience — By this allegation he did not mean to be understood that he knew of any other witnesses whose testimony he could produce but merely intended to convey the idea that great inconvenience would attend the search for other testimony
All the officers under whom he served are dead & the Applicant must rest his claim on his own oath & that of the three witnesses who have sworn that they served with him —
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Brooks
Filoh Wheeler Judge
J. H. S. Nichols. Clerk of the court of Probate for said District of Fairfield County that

That the foregoing Declaration was made and subscribed in court on the 27th Day of April 1833 - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office on the 27th Day of April 1833.
R. S. Nichols, Clerk.
John Ormiston
I Henry R. Judah a Clergyman and residing in the Town of Oxford certify that I am well acquainted with Mr. Brooks who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration that I believe him to be forty eight years of age. That he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a resident of the Providence where I was in the Prison -
Sworn Subscribed the Day & year above expressed Henry R. Judah
Albany
R. S. Nichols, Clerk
John Wheeler Judge of the court of Probate State of Connecticut certify that Henry R. Judah who has signed the above Certificate is a Clergyman an Resident in the Town of Oxford I further certify that R. S. Nichols the Clerk of the court above is his signature with the seal of said court. John Wheeler Judge

Revolution
2355 u
INVALID.
am
File No. 23,537
John Brooks
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 88 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 57
[Arrangement of 1870.]

✓ 26. 157
J New Am

62686.
FEB
L. P. Waldo Esq Comm tee of Pensions & Bounty Land Washington City D. C.

62.686.

State of Connecticut Hartford County Bredjont April 10 th 1855
L. P. Waldo Esq. Learn d . of Pensions & Bounty Land
Sir I. send you the application of John Brooks for Bounty Land under act of Congress approved March 3 1855 Please send his Bounty Land Warrant to me — Yours Respectfully Isaac Sherman

John Brads
11. 12. 14 17
Smittin
Paid 12 months $40
F Meder
130

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Sam Brooks 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? 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? 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
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No II Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?  4 & Subsequent
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.
Objection XI. is removed by the certificate of a Magistrate and State R. Judah 200/121
200 121 By Certificate of Judge
The name of Service is distinctly (10 wds), the first Service 3 Months from September 1779 to December - the 2 period 9 Months from the 18th March 1781 to December. Two Witnesses have sworn positively to the 9 Months Service & both qualified to be credible Witnesses - The other period is proved by my camp & must of 27th March & 18th March