Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,775, Reuben Brown, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Brown, Reuben Matilda
NUMBER
W. 20,775.
CONTENTS
1820. aged 40-45 years & res. Durham, Middlesex Co. Conn. died Wallingford Conn. Mar. 5, 1830
8

Connecticut Roll.
1889
Reuben Brown, seconda N o Drummer Connecticut line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 st of March 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th of June 1818, and sent to the Hon. S. F. Hoxie, Middletown, Conn.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
Remained following
5 months 1/31 4/30. $ 41. 31
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
77 till Jan. 80
Continued
Durham Widows
Notication sent to John Fish Esq. Middletown Conn. 5 th July 1820

4194
New York, Albany
Rep.
Matilda Brown
Conn.
widow of Reuben Brown
who was a Drummer
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 88 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4. day of Jan. 1844 and sent to H. R. Lygatt Oxford, N.Y.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 259.

I Reuben Brown of Durham, County of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut do testify, That I served in the army in the war of the Revolution three years; That I enlisted for three years in the month of January One Thousand, Seven Hundred, and Seventy Seven as a drummer in the company commanded by Capt. Simeon Barker, in the Regiment commanded by William Douglas Esq., and afterwards by Col. Asa Jonathan Meigs; That I served in said Company, which was in the Brigade of Genl. S. H. Parsons & in the Connecticut Line, until January of the year One Thousand, Seven Hundred, & Eighty, when my time having expired, I was duly discharged; which discharge, supposing it to be of no future use was carelessly kept, & has become lost.
I further testify, That I am wholly destitute of property, & that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I have need of assistance from my country for support & trust that I may obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress for revolutionary soldiers. March 31 st 1818. Middletown
Reuben Brown
A State of Connecticut Middlesex County, ss. Middletown March 31 st 1818. Personally came Reuben Brown of said Durham, signer of

The preceding Deposition, before me Stephen Fitz Woomer a Justice of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut, and made Solemn Oath to the truth thereof.
Stephen Woomer.
I Seth Strong of Durham, in the County of Middlesex & State of Connec- -ticut do testify, That I served three years in the Army in the war of the Revolution, in the company & Regiment Regiment mentioned in the preceding Deposition of Reuben Brown of said Durham, & was well acquainted with said Reuben then & ever since, That I have heard the said Deposition of Reuben Brown, and except as to the top of his discharge, I believe and declare, that the facts in said Deposition are true, further saith not, - -
Middletown March 31 st 1818.
Seth Strong
13. State of Connecticut, Middlesex County, to Middletown March 31 st 1818. Personally came Seth Strong of Durham in said County, Signer of the preceding Deposition, before me Stephen Fitz Woomer a Justice of the Su- -perior Court for the State of Connecticut,

State and District of Connecticut, ss.
ON this 22 nd day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before the adj d County Court holden at Middletown within and for the County of Middlesex in said State, on the 20 th 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, Weuben Brown aged seventy years, resident in the town of Durham 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 Weuben Brown enlisted for the term of Three years on the last day of January in the year 1777 in Durham in the State of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Barker in the regiment commanded by Colonel Return J. Meigs in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said corps until the fifth of January 1780 when he was discharged from the said service in Morristown in the State of New Jersey . 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 31 st day of March 1818 ; and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War, No. 1. 689
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 battle of
That I am by occupation a Shoe maker

That the number of my family residing with me is two , and their names and ages are as follows :
Matilda My Wife aged 53 years Betsy daughter 17 —
That my daughter is just able to support herself and that my Wife is infirm that I have so lost my eye sight as to be altogether unable to work at my trade that I am too feeble & too poor to subsist without my pension and if deprived of it I must come on the Town
Reuben Brown
Sworn to and declared day of June
1820
, before the Court of Common Pleas for Mid Ex on the 22
J. W. Dink Ck for Ch

SCHEDULE annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken before the Court aforesaid.
  1 Chest. $5.   1 Sett of Chairs. 5.   2 old Tables. 3.   1 jug. 3.   looking glass. 1. 20   1/2 dozen knives & forks. 1.   pot. 1.   spider. .25   1 pair shovel & tongs. .50   6 plates. .40   $20.35 
Reuben Brown

SCHEDULE annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken in the Court aforesaid.
11/121
Reuben Brown
Confines
1689 30 June 1818
I Wm. Dike Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Ulster 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 Twenty - dollars and Thirty five cents.
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 22 d day of June - 1820
Wm. Dike Clerk of P. Court

State of New York } Chenango County } ss On this 25th day of September 1839 personally appeared before the Circuit Court, being a Court of Record held at Norwich in and for said County of Chenango. Present Robert Mould, Circuit Judge Matilda Brown of Oxford in said County of Chenango and State of New York, aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Reuben Brown who was a private in the war of the Revolution and who was a pensioner under the act of 1818. For evidence of which service she would refer to the evidence on which she was pensioned.
She further declares that she was married to the said Reuben Brown on the (fourth) day of October in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty three by Revd Mr Goodrich of Durham at Durham, in Connecticut. That her husband the aforesaid Reuben Brown died on the fifth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty 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, her
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written in open Court,
Matilda J. Brown Mark
Cyrus Wheeler clerk

State of Connecticut } ss Durham, April 1 st 1840. Middlesex County, } ss I, Worthington G. Chauncey of Durham in Middlesex County and State of Connecticut. Being duly sworn doth on his oath say that he is 60 years of age, that he was well acquainted with Reuben Brown and his wife Matilda, and that deponent was well acquainted with the said Reuben and Matilda before they were married, that depo- nent lived in the town of Durham near to them when they were married, and well recollects of their marriage which deponent believes was in 1783. That in the fall of 1783 they lived together as husband and wife in said Durham and continued there to live fifteen years after they were married, and that deponent was well acquainted with them, and they had several children during their residence in Durham and that deponent well recollects that they were mar- ried before the year 1784 from the fact that Matilda Higgins before her marriage resided in the family of Timothy Hall where I frequently visited & was well acquainted, & was also well acquainted with Reuben Brown before & after his marriage and there can be no reasonable doubt but what they were lawfully married & further the deponent saith not
Worthington G. Chauncey
Sworn to this first day of April — 1840
Before me, and I certify that the affiant is a credible person
A. John White Justice of the peace

State of New York
Chenango County, ss David Brown of Oxford in said County of Chenango being duly sworn, saith that he is thirty seven years of age and is the son of Reuben Brown and Matilda Brown, and that the declaration of the said Matilda is annexed, that he has always understood in the family of said Reuben and Matilda and believes true that the said Reuben and Matilda were married in Durham, Connecticut, in 1783. That the following are names of the children of said Reuben and Matilda and the times of their birth as deponent has always understood from his mother and believes true.
1 st . Amos, born Nov r . 1785. died an infant 2 d . Charles " July 1787 - died in 1789 3 d Henry " Dec 3. 1789 - died several years since 4 th Seth " Sept 1792. died in West Indies some years since 5 th . Nathaniel " March 1794 dead 6 th . Elijah " June 1797. dead as believes, not heard from for many years 7 th . Dennis " Oct 3. 1799. lives in Stamford. Dutchess Co. NY 8 th . David. " Aug t 10. 1802. this deponent 9 th . Betsey " June 23. 1805. died last May in Oxford
There is no family record of said marriages or births, that the said Reuben Brown died in Wallingford, Connecticut on the 20 th day of March 1830. that in September 1834. this deponent moved his mother from Connecticut to this County. that she has since 1834 lived with deponent and has not married since the death of said Reuben Brown. That the said Reuben was a pensioner under the act of 1818 and that a letter relating thereto is herewith annexed.
Sworn to March 23 d 1840 Before me and I certify that I am well acquainted with said David Brown and that he is a credible person
Alvan S. Perkins Commissioner of Deeds
David Brown

State of New York
Chenango County ss I, Alfred Purdie Clerk of the County of Chenango hereby certify that annexed is the original declaration made by Matilda Brown before the Circuit Court of said County, certified by Cyrus Wheeler then clerk of said Court, that Alvin S. Perkins before whom the annexed two affidavits were taken, was a competent witness at the time of the making of said affidavit and that the signatures of said Alvin S. Perkins and Cyrus Wheeler are genuine. Witness my hand and the seal of said Court, April 14th 1840.
Alfred Purdie Clerk
6945 Matilda Brown of Rensselaer New York

Rev. War Section. Record Division.
AW OW
Nov. 17, 1931.
Mrs. E. B. Davis 94 Williams St. Norwich, Conn.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the 27" ultimo, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Reuben Brown , born 1738, and died 1781, at Stonington, Conn. leaving a widow Margaret.
The pension claim, W. 30775 , shows Reuben Brown, Drummer in Capt. Samuel Barker's Co., Colonels William Douglas and R. J. Meigs' Conn. Regiment, place of residence at enlistment, not stated. He died Mar. 5, 1830, at Wallingford, Conn., leaving a widow Matilda.
The pension claim, W. 17359 , shows Reuben Brown, Fifer in Captains Amos Stanton and Williams Companies, Colonels H. Sherburne and Samuel B. Webb's Conn., Regiments, place of residence at enlistment not stated. He was living at Groton, Conn., in 1820 and died Aug. 9, 1824, leaving a widow Ruth. The above noted, are the only soldiers of the Revolution, named Reuben Brown, found on the records of this Bureau.
Very respectfully,
Washington Gardner Commissioner.

4703

State of New-York
County of Chenango ss On this Sixth day of October 1843 personally appeared before the Judge, a Justice of the peace in and for said County. Matilda Brown a resident of Oxford in the said County of Chenango and State of New-York, aged Eightythree years, also being just duly sworn according to law, doth on her oaths make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the pension made by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Henry Brown who was a soldier of the Revolution and that the annual amount of the pension which she received under the act of July 7, 1838 was Eighty eight dollars and for evidence of her husband's service she refers to the papers on which she was pensioned. She further declares that she is still a widow. Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me and I certify that the declaration is personally known to me
Matilda her Brown Mark
Wm Tracy Justice of the peace
STATE OF NEW-YORK, Chenango County Clerk's Office, } ss.
I, John Latham Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, That the person whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowl- edgement of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Chenango, dwelling in the said county, commissioned and sworn, and duly authoriz- ed to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledg- ment is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County, the sixth day of October A. D. 1843.
John Latham Clerk.

M. Brown
$ 88 per ann
H. R. Mygatt Oxford N. York

Oxford. Chenango Co. N.Y. Oct 10. 1843
Sir
I send declaration of Matilda Brum for a pension under act March 3. 1843
Please send me cer- tificate for her as place above dated,
I am. Very Resp't Yrs
Henry R. Mygatt
J. L. Edwards Esq Secy. of Pensions

6945 Matilda Brown of Reuben New York
Admitted
Summons 2 yrs $88. — Capt Barker Col Meigs to on:
died 5 March 1830
Act 7 July 1828.
Henry R. Mygatt Oxford N.Y.

Durham May 11 th 1839-
A. B. Mygatt Esq
Yours of the 25 th April was received as it respects the marriage of Reuben Brown and Matilda Hargis there is no Record of their marriage on the Town Records for I have carefully examined them all - I would further state that Mr Goodwin did not keep any Record after the year 1779- as can be found by any of his Relatives - And as it respects John Larkins he is dead he died about two years since - I have inquired of most all of the old people in the place to see if I could find any that was knowing at his wedding but could not find any one that could testify to it -
Yours & Asahel Robinson Town Clerk

State of New York }
Chenango County, ss Aaron Andrews of Oxford in said County of Chenango being duly sworn. Says that he is 36 years of age, that he married the only daughter of Reuben and Matilda Brown, and that said Matilda now resides in said Oxford, that deponent has been during the past winter at Durham in the State of Connecticut and has endeavored to find evidence of the marriage of said Reuben and Matilda, and that in company with the within Asher Robinson, town clerk of Durham he searched the records of said town clerk and that he also searched the records of the Presbyterian Church in said Durham, to find evidence of the said marriage, and that upon diligent search no records of said marriage could be found either in the town clerk's office or among the church records, and further that he could find no person who was present at the said marriage and verily believes that there is no person living who was at said marriage.
Sworn to March 21. 1841 }
Before me, and I certify that said Aaron Andrews is a credible person }
Aaron Andrews
Alvan P. Perkins Commissioner of Deeds

Durham Ct / 83 New York Henry R. Mygatt Esq Oxford Chenango County N. York
John C. Durham Oct. Nov. 11. 1839

Oxford. Chenango Co. NY. April 16. 1840
Sir,
Within I send declaration of Matilda Brown widow of Reuben Brown for a pension.
Service of husband will appear from records of the war department as he was a pensioner under act of 1810 as see original letter signed "J. L. Edwards within,
Marriage , no town, family, or church record
See letter Asher Robinson, town clerk, Durham Ct. affidavit of Aaron Andrews & David Brown marriage took place in in Oct 1783.
See affidavit David Brown with memorandum of the ages of the children, also affidavits of Worthington G. Chauncey and Marshall Camp. Chauncey and Camp well knew them before marriage and will recollect the marriage and the reasons given for recollecting the marriage are conclusive Death , and not since married
see also David Brown,
You will please address me.
I am, Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
Henry R. Mygatt
J. L. Edwards W Comr of Pensions War Dept Washington City D. C.

Reuben Brown

1 1 1689
War Department,
PENSION OFFICE,
July 5 1820.
SIR,
You are hereby informed that the schedule of your property has been examined ; and the Secretary of War has directed your name to be continued on the Pension Roll.
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
To Mr.
Reuben Brown
Care of John Fisk Esqr
Middletown
Conn.

RECEIVED OCT 28 1921
U. S. PENSION OFFICE OCT 28 1921
RECORD OCT 29 1921 DIVISION

Norwich, Conn.
Oct. 27, 1921.
Bureau of Pensions. Washington, D. C.
In "Connecticut men in the Revolution" there are two men named Reuben Brown, both musicians.
My no rec below ancestor Reuben (Ruben) Brown of Stonington, Conn. enlisted Feb. 12, 1778 in Stanton Co. Colonel Sherburne's Regiment; was transferred to L. B. Hebb's Regiment May 1, 1780 and discharged Jan. 1, 1781. He was a Fifer.
He was born in Stonington Aug. 20, 1738 and died there in 1781 administration on his estate being granted to his wife Mrs. Margaret Brown on Nov. 6, 1781. He was sent a pension.
References.
Brown Genealogy Dabell p. 174 Wheeler Hist. of Stonington, Conn. pp. 47- 262 - 377
Conn. Men in the Rev. p. 255

The second Reuben Brown was in Barker Cr. Sixth Regiment, "Conn Trent-Line" 1777-1781 (He was a pensioner. W. 207N - ) I hope through the Pension Records to learn something about this second Reuben Brown I wish to convince the Registrar General of the Daughters of the American Revolution that this second Reuben Brown was not of Stonington, Conn. at least he was not my ancestor.
I wish to learn to whom his pension was paid and where he lived at enlistment and where after - in fact anything that the Pension Records will show.
Respectfully yours - Elizabeth Brewster Davis
Mrs. E. B. Davis 94 Williams St. Norwich, Conn.

Rev. Mr. Veitchon 8-149. Ex. 1 Div. 1  cord
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C. Oct. 21 , 19 21
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.
Full name of widow No. of claim, _____
Name of soldier, Reuben Brown
P.O. address of claimant, at enlistment and after service
Company Barkins
Regiment Sixth
State where enlisted Connecticut Mainly in New Haven County
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
Approximate dates of birth & death
Return attached letter with reply.
Washington Commissioner.

Northford, Conn.
Oct. 17, 1921
Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
In response to my inquiry of June 27, 1911 I learned that the " Revolutionary War records fail to show that any claim was ever filed for Reuben Brown described by me".
Since the service of my ancestor has been disputed I now wish to ask for the record of the Reuben Brown who was a pensioner. Will

you kindly send me whatever the records show concerning this man.
Yours respectfully, Elizabeth Brewster Davis
Mr. E. B. Davis 94 Williams St. Norwich, Conn.

1924 Mrs. E. B. Davis, data to her Nov. 17
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20,775
Matilda Brown
Wid of
Reuben Brown
Drum r Rev. War.
Act: March 3 d 1843
Index:—Vol. CA , Page 90
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Connecticut, County of Middlesex ss. Durham April 1. 1840. Manoch Camp of Durham in Middle- sex County & state of Connecticut being duly sworn both on his oath say that he is 79 years of age, that he was well acquainted with Reuben Brown, & his wife Matilda & that deponent was well acquainted with said Reuben & Matilda before & after they were married - that deponent lived in the town of Durham near to them when they were married, & well recollects that they were said to have been married, which deponent believes was in 1783. - That in the fall of 1783, they lived to- gether as husband & wife in said Durham, & con- tinued there to live fifteen years or more after they were married, & that deponent was well acquainted with them, & they had several children during their resi- dence in Durham, & that the deponent well recollects that they were married before the year 1784 from the fact that said Brown worked as a Shoemaker in the same shop with deponent, & much was said to said Brown in a sportive manner respecting his marriage; & also that deponent went to New York to work in 1784. & that said Reuben & Matilda were married the fall be- fore deponent left the town. Manoch Camp
Sworn to this first day of April 1840, before me; & I certify that the affiant is a credible person
before me
John White Justice of the Peace
State of Conn. } John Dike Clerk of the County Middlesex County } Court of Common Pleas of Midd- lesex do Certify that John White Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex as per Court. on my file in my Office & that his name subscribed to the preced d Certificate, mark A. B. are his proper Hand Writing & signature In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affix the seal of said Court this 1 st day of April 1840 W. Dike Clk

and made solemn oath to the truth thereof. Stephen Titus Wormer.
C.
I Stephen Titus Wormer a Judge of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut do certify, That, it appearing to my satisfaction, that Reuben Brown the signer of the first Deposition in this paper, served in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as in his Deposition he and that he is of special interest in reduced circumstances, has testified, therefore, transcribe the preceding testimony. Stephen Titus Wormer
Middletown Conn March 31 st 1858.
To the Honorable the Secretary for the Department of War.
I John Fisk Clerk of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut do certify, That the Honorable Stephen Titus Wormer of Middletown in the said State of Connecticut, is one of the Judges of the said Court, and that his name subscribed to the proceeding certificate, marked A. B. C. is his proper hand writing and signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed

The Seal of the said Court at Middletown affixed on this 20 th day of April 1818.
Mr. S. M. Clerk
on seal as above

5652 New York
Matilda Brown widow of Reuben Brown, decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 5 March 1830 of Chenango (in the State of New York) who was a drummer in the Company commanded by Captain Barker of the Regt commanded by Col. Knapp in the Col. line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany , at the rate of 88 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of July 1840, & sent to Henry R. Mygatt, Oxford, N. York.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840 $ 352.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep r 40 44.00
$396.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by J. M. Curdy Clerk, Book A. Vol. 2. Page 69.