Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12331, John Briggs, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Briggs, John (Pioneer)
S. 12331
CONTENTS
carded

Dead. Let to M rs R. Briggs Aug 28 '39
4005
New York
John Briggs
of Skaneateles, in the State of New York who was a Priv of Inf try & Cav ry in the Company commanded by Captain Dixon of the Regt commanded by Col Sage in the Connecticut line for 1 month Private Cavalry and 10 months Private of Infantry
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 37 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of January 1833 and sent to Mrs H. G. Hawett
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $56.25 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 18.75
$75.00
✓
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Enobrownwell Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 156

Cannell No
Aug 23 - 39
Free
J. Edwards Esq.
Pembroke Court
City of Washington
W L. Briggs Esq.

Camillus N. Y. Augt. 21. 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq Sir
Roxey Briggs widow of John Briggs of Skaneateles N. Y. is entitled to the back pay due her husband as a Revolutionary soldier He died at Skaneateles the 25 th of June last — & drew 4 th March last — The amt. is small, but she is poor — I promised her to write to you & ask you to send her all the necessary blanks — please direct them to her at Skaneateles N. Y. by mail —
Yr. obedt. Servt.
Ja. P. Lawrence

Record of Mr Noah Briggs's Children who were born in the Town of Voluntown
Isaac. The son of Noah Briggs & Elizabeth his wife was born in Voluntown March 29 th 1750 The above named Isaac. departed this life Nov. 1-1776
Sarah. The daughter of Noah & Elizabeth Briggs was born in Voluntown March 11 th A.D. 1752 The above named Sarah departed this life Nov 3. 1820
Susanna, the daughter of Noah & Elizabeth Briggs was born in Voluntown Sept. 26 th 1754 The above named Susanna died.
John Briggs. son of Noah & Elizabeth Briggs was born in Voluntown Sept. 9 th A.D. 1757
James Briggs son of Noah & Elizabeth Briggs was born in Voluntown June 1-1760
Extracted from Voluntown Records by James Alexander Town Clerk
A
Voluntown Sept. 15. 1822

State of New York
Onondaga County ss. On this Eleventh day of September A. D. 1832. personally appeared in open Court, in a court of Chancery held for the State of New York before the Vice Chancellor of the Seventh Circuit of said State at the Town of Onondaga John Briggs a resident of the Town of Skaneateles, in the County of Onondaga State of New York aged Seventy five years the ninth day of September 1832. 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 units as herein stated
That on the 25 th day of June 1776. at Voluntown in the County of Windham State of Connecticut, where he then resided, he enlisted as a Soldier in Capt. John Dyer's Company belonging to a Regiment commanded by Col. Comfort Sage of Connecticut Troops, for the term of 14 Months, after deponent joined said Company at the said time said Regiment in which said Company was marched to New York, there it was Embarked on board of shipping and sailed for the City of New York, said Regiment was landed on the battery in said City of New York where it remained until said City was taken by the British Army on the 15 th September 1776. The said Regiment with other forces retreated to Harlem at which time deponent with the Regiment was in battle with the British forces the night of the sixteenth day of September 1776. on the night of the said 16 th the said Regiment retreated to White Plains at which place deponent was in another engagement between the forces of the United States & the British forces, the said Regiment remained at White Plains until some time in the Month of October in the same year, when it marched to North Castle
affirmed

in Westchester County and remained there till the twenty fifth day of December 1776. at which time deponent was discharged, he did not receive any written dis- charge, The Regiment was formed into a Hollow Square & then discharged pronounced by the Commanding Officer, Then Troops as deponent believes were called the new Legion of Connecticut - General Wadsworth of Hartford Connecticut Commanded these Troops - Colonel Sage was the Col. of the Regiment to which deponent belonged as aforesaid, on the roll when Christian name depon- -ent does not remember Lieut. Col. one Buel was the Major; John Dyer was Capt. William Edmonds the first & Abraham Shepard the second Lieutenant, one Chamberlain was the Ensign of the Company in which deponent so served - Deponent returned home to his father in Saill Voluntown in the month of January 1777. Early in that Month, on the first day of February 1777. he again enlisted for two months in a Battalion Commanded by Major Ripley of Windham in Connecticut he was placed in a company Commanded by Capt. Asa Hemen, they marched to Providence, from there went to Bristol and then remained till the expiration of the two months then, and were then discharged - Deponent further saith that in the year 1778. he belonged to a Company of Light Horse in the Town of Voluntown Com- manded by Capt. Chamberlain of Tolland in the State of Connecticut, that in the latter part of July or first part of August of that year he was drafted to form a company of Light horse - they went to Providence, then to Bristol and was engaged in a battle between the United States Troops under Genl. John Sullivan and the British under Col. Prescott one day - the British then left Rhode Island, deponent with his Company

then went to Providence at which place deponent with several other Soldiers, were ordered to go to Green- -wich, they staid there a few days, then were ordered to go to South Kingston, to execute the commands of Col. Peabody which they did and remained there in that service till some time in September 1778. They then returned to Providence and were then discharged - Deponent further saith that he had a brother James Briggs who lived in said Voluntown and Early in the winter of 1778 said James was drafted and went into the United States Service under Capt. Gordon at Providence - he was then taken sick and some time about the first days of February 1778 deponent took the place of said James as a sub- -stitute and served as such substitute until about the first day of April 1778. at which time he was discharged - Deponent was born in the Town of Voluntown, Windham County State of Connecticut the 9 th September 1757. that he has no record of his age, the record of his birth is kept by the Town Clerk of said Town he has rec- -ord the annexed marked A, which he understands I believe is a true copy of the Record of the birth in his father's family as kept by said Town Clerk; that after the Revolution- -ary war closed he remained returned to said Voluntown, until about the year 1785. when he moved to Hoosick in the state of New York he staid there about three years then moved to Shafter's being in Vermont and resided there about ten years and then moved to the Town of Marcellus in Onondaga County and State of New York in the said Town of Marcellus where he now resides said Town being divided by a line passed in the year A.D. 1830 the place being now called Hambleton, deponent did never receive a written discharge from the army - he lived in said Voluntown at the second time that he went into the service

Deponent has not got any documentary evidence of the facts herein stated; he is well acquainted with Israel Sabin of the Town of Oatman in the County of Wayne in said State of New York he has recently visited him to obtain his testimony in regard to the deponent's service in the war of the revolution, that he procured his affidavit that in the opinion of deponent said Sabin is wholly unable to attend Court in Onondaga County by reason of his bodily infirmities. - 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; - deponent further saith that he doth not now know of any other witnesses by whom he can prove his service in the army than such as he has produced to wit Israel Sabin, Samuel Stewart & Joseph Billings
Sworn & Subscribed before this Court
The day & yr. in aforesaid
Daniel Mosely
Circuit Judge in
Vice Chancellor of
Seventh Circuit
John Briggs

State of New York
Onondaga County, ss. Samuel Stewart of the Town of Junius in the County of Seneca and State of New York on this 11 th day of September A.D. 1832. personally appear- -ed in open Court, in a Court of Chancery held for the said State in said County before the Vice Chancellor of the Seventh circuit, of said State, I being duly Sworn Saith that he was born and brought up in the Town of Voluntown County of Windham and State of Connecticut that he resided in said Town of Voluntown during the revolutionary war and until about the year 1790. he is seventy one years of age the 10 th day of March last, he was well acquainted with Noah Briggs the family during said revolution in the last said Town, the father of the father of this deponent and said Noah Briggs joined, he knew John Briggs who is now before said Court making his application to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. said John Briggs is a son of said Noah, he remembers that some time in the early part of the revolutionary war, said John Briggs went off, it was said to the City of New York in a Company of Connecticut Troops commanded by Capt. John Dyer in Col. Comfort Sager's Regiment said Briggs was absent several months he should think as long as six months, it was well understood then since that said John Briggs served at that time as a soldier what so ever in said Company & Regiment, deponent did not see him in the Service - Depo- -nent further saith that after said Briggs returned home to his father in the winter, he remained at home a few days & then was absent again and as deponent understood went into the Service in Capt. Kennys Company

and was absent some time but how long deponent cannot tell; - Deponent further saith that John Briggs a brother of said John went to Rhode Island as a soldier was taken sick there & that said John Briggs took his place & was absent at that time some time but how long he cannot remember - Afterward said John Briggs went off in the light house has gone some time but how long he cannot remember -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Daniel Mosley Concave Judge & Vice Chancellor
Parson Phelps
11 15

Reform
12331 INVALID.
Feb 4-19-1908 this to Geo. Perkins Chillicothe Ohio
File No. 12,331
John Briggs Pvt Capt Pvt Recd War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. A , Page 48
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Israel Sabin of the Town of Ontario in the County of Wayne being being Duly sworn saith that his bodily infirmities are such that he is not able to attend the Court in the County of Onondaga and I would for the state of my knowledge of him I should think he was not able to attend sworn before me this seventh day of September 1832
Russell Whipple Judge of Wayne County Courts

I Isreal Salin of the Town of Canajoharie in the County of Wayne and State of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is seventy nine years of age and that he is acquainted with John Breeys of the Town of Morillus in the County of Onondaga in the State of New York and that the said John Breeys enlisted in the new line of State Troops in the State of Connecticut in the month of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy five under Captain John Dickson Lieut William Edmonds and Lieut Abraham Shepard and Ensign Chamberlin in the Regiment of Col d Comfort Sage of Middletown in the State of Connecticut and under Lieut Col d Russell and under Major Buel. after being enlisted the said John with my self and others were marched from P'keepsie to Verage landing and from that to the city of New York and landed at the Grand Battery and after a short time were stationed on Governors Island and remained there until the fifteenth day of September and then retreated to Harlem Heights where we had an engagement with the British Troops and from thence to Kings Bridge & from thence to White Plain where we had an engagement with the enemy and from thence to North Castle where the said John Breeys and my self were discharged on the twenty fifth day of December 1776 by order of Col d Sage making the time of service six months or more
Isreal Salin
Sworn and subscribed before me this seventh day of September 1832
Russell Whipple Judge of Wayne County Courts

State of New York Wayne County ss.
I Colleen Foster, Deputy Clerk of said County do certify that Russell Whipple before whom the within Declaration or affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Judge of the County Court in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn. And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the signature of said Judge thereto is the genuine signature of the said Russell Whipple. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this Seventh day of September A.D. 1832.
Colleen Foster, Dep. Clk.

State of New York
Onondaga County ss. Joseph Billings of the Town of Skaneateles in said County, on the Eleventh day of September 1832 personally appeared in the Court of Chancery of the said State now held before the Vice Chancellor of the Seventh Circuit of said State in the said County, & being duly sworn says that he is now acquainted with John Briggs of said Town that he knows said John Briggs in the Company commanded by Capt. Asa Kinnery in the Connecticut Troops, said Briggs served two months in said Company, with disponent from about the first of February 1777 to about the first of April of the same year; disponent soon after enlisted for three years, said Briggs as disponent understood was from Voluntown & disponent was from Preston adjoining, Voluntown was in Windham County & Preston in New London County.
Joseph Billings
Subscribed and sworn to the day & year aforesaid
David Mosely Acting Judge Steele

And the said Court doth hereby declare his opinion that 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 -
Daniel Mosely Vice Chancellor
I, Daniel T. Mosely Deputy Clerk of the Court of Chancery in and for the Seventh district of the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Briggs for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at the Town of Onondaga in said County of Onondaga the Eleventh day of September A.D. 1832.
Daniel T. Mosely Deputy Clerk

10997. In the Matter of the Application of John Briggs of Skaneateles, Onondaga Co. N. Y. for a pension under act of 7 th June 1832.

John Briggs
6 Mo -
1 - Enlisted 25. June 1776. for 6 Mo - was discharged 25. December 1776 -
Supported by his own oath & oath of Israel Sabin - Sam d Stewart
2. -
2. - 1. February 1777 for 2 Mo -
Do oath of Joseph Billings Samuel Stewart
1. -
3. Last of July 1778. or 1 st of Aug. 1778 Drafted & remained till some time in Sep r 1778 - Sam d Stewart
4. Served as a substitute in place of James Briggs from about 1. Feb y 1778 to about 1. April 1778
2
11. Mo -
The above are the facts stated & proved fully except the last 2 Mo - & the Service during the last 2 Mo is proved by oath of applicant & reputation of that Service by Samuel Stewart

and Brief - V. 10, 997
John Briggs -
Adm o

121997.
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Briggs which require further proof or explanation.
 I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes  II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes  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? e Va  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? e Va  VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes  VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes  VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes  IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes  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? Yes. (inscription not perceptible.) 

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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? Yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Yes 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?
yes XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes
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.

Chillicothe Post Office.
OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER.
CHILLICOTHE, Ross Co., O., FEB - 5 1904 190
Hon Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
Dear Sir and Comrade.
Will you kindly inform me if the following soldiers of the Revolution, drew pensions under the law of 1818, or any previous laws.
John Briggs, a private in a N. Y. Regiment who after the close of the war lived in Elmira N. Y.
Nicholas Gale of a N. Y. or Pa Regiment who afterwards lived in Williamsport Pa and Chillicothe Ohio, died in Chillicothe Ohio in 1829.
Thomas Perkins, of a N. Y. Regiment who lived and died at Pultney, Steuben Co N. Y.
Any information in regard to the service of these soldiers, will be thankfully received.
By, Yours in S. C. & L. George Perkins, Adj