Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 10414, Sylvanus Bills, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bills, Sylvanus Lydia
W. 10414 B.L.W. 36611-160-55-
CONTENTS

17.115 Connecticut
Sylvanus Bills
of New Haven in the State of Connecticut who was a Pri. in the Conn commanded by Captain Van Ness of the Conn commanded by _____ in the Conn for Guard 8 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of July 1833 and sent Henry White New Haven Conn arrears to the 4th March 32 $ 3 32 Pension allowance ending Sept 33 13 33 $ 66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk book 60 Vol. 3 Page 58
R B

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Connecticut } County of New-Haven } ss.
On this third day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate for the district of New- Haven in the State of Connecticut, being a court of record now sitting, Sylvanus Bills a resident of New-Haven in the county of New-Haven & State of Connecticut aged 66 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth in 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 officer, & served as herein stated
That in the year 1781 in April as he thinks he entered the service of his country in the Connecticut State troops, in the company commanded by Capt. Wm. Vandusen - that he was fifteen years of age at the time he entered the service but cannot now remember whether he enlisted or served as a substitute - that John Clause was Ensign of the company that John Warner was Lieutenant, that he served from April 1781 to New-year day 1782 when the company was discharged a period of nine months - During all this time this company was stationed as a guard in New-Haven. In August or September of the same year, at the time when New London was burnt by Arnold, his father was drafted into a company of militia, raised in about New-Haven for the purpose of keeping guard at New-Haven, & that Declarant entered into that company.

commanded by Capt Robert Fairchild, as a substitute for his father, & declarant's younger brother took the place of the declarant in the company of state troops to which declarant belonged - that the regiment of militia to which sd Fairchild's company belonged was in a month disbanded & then declarant immediately returned into the company of state troops to which he first belonged, formerly commanded by Mr Vanderveer, but now by Capt John Warner. that he has no documentary evidence of any kind - and that he never received any written discharge from the service.
That declarant was born in New-Haven on the 15 th of November 1766, that there was a record of his age kept in his father's family bible, which was burnt at the time the British troops took New-Haven on the 8 th of July 1779, that declarant lived in New-Haven at the time of his entering the service, that after the revolutionary war declarant was a sailor from the port of New-Haven that in 1794 he removed to Albany in the state of New York where he resided until the year 1808, when he removed to New-Haven where he has resided ever since that he never received any written discharge - that Elijah Hotchkiss of sd New-Haven can testify as to his service during part of the time that he was in Capt Van Deusen's company that he knows of no other persons who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. - that Eli Barstow & Punderson Hotchkiss are persons in his neighborhood who are acquainted with the declarant and can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
Sworn to in open Court Augt 3 rd - 1832 Attest. Nathan D. Farnham Clerk
Sylvanus B. Pills

Supplementary Declaration of Sylvanus Bills.
State of Connecticut } County of New-Haven } ss
On this twenty first day of November AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for the District of New-Haven in the County of New-Haven and State of Connecticut being a court of record now sitting, Sylvanus Bills a resident of New-Haven in the County of New-Haven and State of Connecticut aged sixty 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, in addition to & explanation of the declaration heretofore made and sworn to by him before sd Court on the third day of August AD 1832 for sd purpose, sd former declaration having been returned by the War Department as defective in several particulars - that he entered the service of the United States in the month of April in the year 1781 in the company of Connecticut State Troops, commanded by William Vandusen of sd New-Haven, that he resided in sd New-Haven when he entered sd Vandusen company - that the declarant served as a private soldier in sd company from sd April 1781 to the first day of January AD 1782 - on which sd first day of January sd company was dismissed & the declarant was discharged but received no written discharge, that sd company was called into actual service during the whole of sd term from April AD 1781 to January AD 1782 - and that the declarant served constantly as a private in sd company during the whole of sd term, except the time that the declarant was in Captain Fairchild's company as stated as hereafter stated - that in the month of August or September of the year 1781, at the time when New-London was burnt by Arnold, the declarant left sd Vandusen company and entered the company of Connecticut militia commanded by Captain Robert Fairchild, as a private, & as a substitute for the declarant's father, who had been drafted into sd Fairchild company - that the younger brother of the declarant took the place of the declarant as

then commanded by John Warner a substitute for the declarant in sd Van Dusen company - that the declarant served as a private in sd Fairchild's company the full term of one month after which period of one month had expired sd Fairchild's company was disbanded and the declarant discharged, but received no written discharge from sd Fairchild's company - that immediately upon being discharged from sd Fairchild's company the declarant took his place again as a private in the company in which he first entered formerly commanded by Van Dusen, but at that time commanded by John Warner the former Lieutenant of sd company - that sd Fairchild's company was called into actual service during the whole of sd term of one month during which the declarant was a private in sd Fairchild's company, & that the declarant was constantly in service during sd month while he was a private in sd last mentioned company - that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, nor as to the precise time in the month of April when he entered sd Van Dusen company, nor as to the exact month or day of the month on which he entered sd Fairchild's company & was discharged therefrom, but he knows & can state that from some time in the month of April AD 1781 to the first day of January AD 1782, the declarant was constantly in service in one of said companies and according to the best of his recollection he served as a private not less than eight months for which service he claims a pension.
And the declarant further states that he was born in New-Haven in the County of New-Haven & State of Connecticut, on the fifteenth day of November AD 1766 - that there was a record of his age in his Father's family Bible which is now lost - that he knows of no other record of his age - that after the war of the revolution the declarant was a sailor from the port of New-Haven, that in the year 1794 he removed to Albany in the State of New-York, where he resided until AD 1808 when he removed to New-Haven where he has ever since resided - that he has no documentary evidence to prove the facts stated in this declaration or in the declaration heretofore made by him, to which this is an addition & explanation.

That there is no such documentary evidence to his knowledge that there are no persons living to his knowledge whose testimony he can procure to any or all of the facts stated in either of his sd declarations, except those persons whose depositions are annexed to this declaration, & Elijah Hotchkiss whose deposition was annexed to the declaration before made by the declarant & to which this is an addition - that he can procure no testimony as to the time & manner of his service as stated in this declaration, except that contained in sd depositions annexed to sd declarations.
He hereby again relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State. I sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Attest Anthony D. Sanford Clerk - Sylvanus Billings
I Abraham Thompson of New-Haven in the county of New-Haven and State of Connecticut of lawful age, being duly sworn before me say, that I am well acquainted with Sylvanus Billings who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration, that I well remember that in the year 1781 sd Billings was a private soldier in a regiment of Connecticut Militia, to which Captain Fairchild company was attached, that I cannot now remember the company to which sd Billings belonged, nor the time when he entered & left sd regiment, but that I remember seeing sd Billings in service in sd regiment in West Haven near New-Haven. That I was a private in sd regiment, & saw regiment was called into actual service from the time it was raised to the time it was disbanded. Dated at New-Haven November 22 nd : 1832 Attest Anthony D. Sanford Clerk - Abraham his X Thompson mark

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & 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 certify that Elijah Hotchkiss of sd New-Haven who has subscribed & sworn to the deposition annexed to the former declaration to which this is an addition, & Abraham Thompson, whose deposition is hereto annexed, are both credible persons & that their statements are entitled to full faith & credit.
Chas. A. Ingersoll
Judge of said Court
I Anthony P. Sanford clerk of the court of probate for the District of New-Haven in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court of Probate in the matter of the application of Sylvanus Pills for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22 nd day of November AD 1832.
Anthony P. Sanford Clerk
State of Connecticut
Probate District of New-Haven ss. November 22 nd 1832.
I Charles A. Ingersoll Judge of the Court of Probate for sd District, do certify that Anthony P. Sanford whose signature is to the foregoing certificate is clerk of sd Court of Probate duly appointed & sworn, & has the keeping of the records of sd Court - that full faith & credit are due to his official acts - that the foregoing seal is the Seal of sd Court of Probate & that the foregoing attestation is in due form.
Chas. A. Ingersoll
Judge of said Court.

Declaration State of Connecticut } ss New Haven New Haven County }
On this 14 th day of December 1843, personally appeared before the court of Probate held at New Haven within and for the District of New Haven Lydia Bill, a resident of New Haven in the county of New Haven aged 69 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 7 th 1830 entitled an act granting half pay of pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Sylvanus Bill, Revolutionary Pensioner deceased under the act of 7 June 1832: for proof of which, additional; a reference may be had to the records of the War Department Book E Vol 3 page 5
She further declares that she was married to the said Sylvanus Bill, on the twenty seventh of February in the year One thousand eight hundred & Ninety Three & that her husband the aforesaid Sylvanus Bill, died on the 25 th day of September 1842, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January One thousand eight hundred & ninety four viz at the time above stated & that she has never since been married but still remains the widow of the said Sylvanus Bill, Revolutionary Pensioner deceased
Lydia Bill Done in open court this 14 th day of December 1843. Alfred Blackman Judge

In the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and ninetythree, February twentyseventh, Sylvanus Pills was married to Lydia Bradley, by James Dana.
The foregoing extract from the records of the First Church of Christ, in New Haven Connecticut, is a true copy of the record, with the ex- ception of the date, which is expressed on the record, in fair legible figures as follows, "1793, Feb y
27"
Attest. Leonard Bacon, Pastor.
I Leonard Bacon, above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Pastor of the First Church of Christ, in the city and State aforesaid; and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Leonard Bacon, Pastor. Sworn before me this 5th day of January 1844. Alfred Blackman Justice of Peace

5068
Connecticut.
Lydia Bills, widow widow of Sylvanus Bills Conn
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26— Dollars 66—
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Sept. 1849 and sent to
A. S. Monson. New Haven Ct.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 266 Vol. 1.
235426

235. 426
Cler Mar. 3. 77.
Feb. 18. '76
Sydia Bills. mil. Sylvanus Bills. fri.
Recv. war. Pen? Act $26.66 per ann
Comm Feb 48 5068 W: 160 ac, Aug: 2. 75
[Large stylized letter R]
[Handwritten signature]
Charles Robinson.
New Haven
Conn
Vol. Br. 142. —

County Laid, 2d of March 3 rd , 1855. Application of Revolutionary Widow.
State of Connecticut. 3 rd . County of New Haven. 3 rd .
On this 16 th day of February, A. D. 1856, one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, before me the subscriber a Notary Public for said County and State personally appeared Lydia Bills of New Haven in said County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged 84 years, who being by me duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Sylvanus Bills, who was a private in the War of the Revolution, and received a pension of twenty six 66 / 100 dollars per annum for his said service;
That she herself now receives a Pension from the United States, of twenty six 66 / 100 dollars per annum, as the widow of said Sylvanus Bills;
She farther states, that she was married to the said Sylvanus Bills at said New Haven, in said New Haven County, on the 27 th day of February, A. D. 1793, by the Rev. James Dana a Clergyman, and that her name before marriage was Lydia Bradley;
That her said husband died at said New Haven on the 25 th day of September A. D. 1842; And that she is now a widow.
For the particulars and proof of her husband's service, of her marriage with him, and of his death, she respectfully refers to the evidence filed in the United States Pension Department in connection with the applications of her said husband, and of herself, for pensions as aforesaid;

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the County Land to which she may be entitled under the Act of March 3 rd 1855.
Lydia Pills
We Marcus Shumway and Adaline Shumway residents of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Lydia Pills in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
Marcus Shumway Adaline Shumway
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 she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Sidney M. Stone Jr. Notary Public

Rev.&1812 Wars Section. W.C.10414 ADY
August 22, 1929.
F. R. Oertel, 897 East 40 th Street, Brooklyn, New York.
Dear Sir:
I advise you that from the Revolutionary War records of this bureau it appears that Sylvanus Bills was born November 15, 1766 in New Haven, Connecticut.
While a resident of New Haven, Connecticut he enlisted in April 1781 and served to January 1, 1782 as a private in Captains William Vandeursen and John Warner's Connecticut Company.
In August or September 1781 he substituted for his father, name not given, served as a private in Captain Robert Fairchild's Connecticut Company and soldier's younger brother, name not stated, took his place for one month, at the end of which time soldier returned to Captain John Warner's Connecticut Company.
After the Revolution he was a sailor from the port of New Haven, no details given.
In 1794 he moved to Albany, New York and in 1808 he moved to New Haven, Connecticut.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

August 3, 1832 while a resident of New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut.
He died September 25, 1842 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Soldier married February 27, 1793 in New Haven, Connecticut Lydia Bradley. She was allowed pension on her application executed December 14, 1843 while a resident of New Haven, Connecticut, aged sixty-nine years.
It is not stated whether they had children.
This is the history of the only Sylvanus Bills found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH, Commissioner.

Ray WIDOW, &c.
1929 Aug. 22, Visit to F. P. Oertel. QNY. 1930 Jan. 23 - F. P. Oertel ad- vno other etc. MMNF
File No. 10414
Lydia Bills Wid Sylvanus Bills Prior New War
Act: Feb 21 48
Index: Vol. A , Page 63
[Arrangement of 1870.]

235.426
Ms.
Gen. J. Hunt. General of Pensions. Washington D.C.
PAID

10-524 Lydia Bills cont Rejected
Set to A.S. Monson Sep 7. 44 - to Hon. J. Stewart Nov 17. 45 A.S. Monson May 19th 49
Act 7 th July '38
36.611
5 Woo Amos

Connecticut Roll Act 7 th June 1832 Sylvanus Bills Private $26.66 per annum. To what time last paid? P d to 4 th Sept. 1842. Bills.
8689 Connecticut.
Lydia Bills. widow of Sylvanus Bills. who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26 — Dollars 66 — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th. day of Sept. 1849 and sent to
A. S. Monson
A. S. Monson. New Haven, Ct.
[Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 2. Page 57

No 10.524 Lydia Bills, widow of Sylvanus et
Act 3 March 1843 & 17 June 1844,
Married 1793 Her band died 25 Sep 1842
Adm s 8 months per $ 26.66 per ann. commg 4 th March 1843,
Adm s Act 2 Feb 1848
A. S. Morrison, New Haven et

State of Connecticut } ss New Haven New Haven County
On this first day of June 1849 before the court of Probate holden at New Haven in & for the district of New Haven personally appeared Lydia Bill, a resident of New Haven in the county of New Haven aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2 d February 1840 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war & likewise the amount of pension which she now has yet received under the act of 17 th June 1844
That she is the widow of Sylvanus Bill who was a private in the Army of the Revolution & received an annual amount of pension of Twenty six dollars & sixty six cents under the pension act of the 7 th June 1832 commencing on the 4 th of March 1831 & continuing til his death and that he died on the 25 th day of Sept r 1842 & further more that she was married to him previously to the first day of January 1794 She further declares that she is still a widow & I have the most satisfactory evidence that the facts are as herein stated The declarant is personally known to me
E. A. S. Henson In presence of H. Sherman } Lydia Bill
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my official signature and caused the seal of the Court to be affixed this first day of June 1849
E. K. Foster Judge Court of Probate for District of New Haven.

10524
used 7 Lisburn Sept. 25 th 1842

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, County of New Haven, COUNTY COURT, CLERK'S OFFICE.
} ss. New Haven 5 Febry 1844
I, Robert H. Osborn Esq., Clerk of the County Court, within and for the County of New Haven, and keeper of the seal thereof, and of the Commission of the Justices of Peace for said County, hereby CERTIFY:—
THAT,
Alfred Blackman Esquire was on the 5 th day of February
1844 and now is a Justice of the Peace within and for the said County, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, with power by the laws of this State, to administer OATHS, and take the acknowledgment of DEEDS and other instruments; that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and that the signature to this instrument hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and seal of the said Court this 5 th day of February 1844
R. H. Osborn Clerk.

235. 426

State of Connecticut. } County of New Haven. } ss.
On this the 16 th day of February A.D. 1856, before me the subscribed a Notary Public for said County, and State, personally appeared Marcus Thurnway and Adaline Thurnway of New Haven in said County, whom I certify to be credible witnesses who being duly sworn according to law, depose, and say;
That they have been for many years near neighbors to, and well acquainted with Mrs. Lydia Bills, who is the widow of Sylvanus Bills deceased, formerly of said New Haven, who was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the rate of 26. 66 per dollars per annum;
That the said Lydia Bills is now a widow, and receives a pension of 26. 66 per dollars per annum, as the widow of said Sylvanus Bills, and is the identical person who has executed the declaration hereto attached; and, that they have no interest in her claim for Bounty Land.
Marcus Thurnway Adaline Thurnway
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 16 th day of February, 1856, and I certify that I have no interest in said claim.
Sidney M. Stone Notary Public.

2069
1 Aug 1883
Passing off
Admitted Private 8 mo - f26.66
Henry White New Haven Conn

I Elijah Hotchkiss of New-Haven in the State of Connecticut of lawful age being duly sworn do depose & say, that I am well acquainted with Sylvanus Bills of sd New-Haven who has subscribed to the declaration hereto annexed, that sd Bills was in the service of the United States in the Connecticut State troops in the company commanded by Capt- Wm Van Deusen, stationed as a guard at New-Haven, that I myself was in the same company at that time viz in the year 1781 with sd Bills, but cannot now testify as to the length of time in which sd Bills was in sd service, that I myself believe sd Bills to be 66 years of age, & further deponent saith not
Dated at New-Haven August 3 d . A.D. 1832.
Sworn to in open Court Augt 3 d - 1832 Attest - Anthony D. Sanford Clerk
Elijah Hotchkiss
We Eli Barnett a clergyman residing in the town of New-Haven & State of Connecticut & Joseph Punderson Hotchkiss residing in sd town of New-Haven hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Sylvanus Bills who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 66 years of age, that he is a man of veracity & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
Attest Anthony D. Sanford Clerk
Eli Barnett Joseph S. Hotchkiss

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Eli Barret who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of New-Haven & State of Connecticut & that Joseph Punderon Hotchkiss who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of New-Haven & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Chas. A. Ingersoll
Judge of said Court.
I Anthony P. Sanford clerk of the court of probate for the district of New-Haven & state of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Sylvanus Bills for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this third day of August A.D. 1852.
Anthony P. Sanford Clerk
State of Connecticut
Probate District of New Haven ss
August 3rd A.D. 1852
I Charles A. Ingersoll Judge of the Courts of Probate for said Probate District, do certify that Anthony P. Sanford whose signature is to the foregoing certificate

is Clerk of said Court of Probate, duly appointed and sworn, and has the keeping of the records of said Court: that full faith and credit are due to his Official acts: that the foregoing seal is the seal of said Court of Probate: and that the foregoing attestation is in due form —
Chas. A. Ingalls Clerk of said
Court.

235.426

New Haven Feby 16. 1856
Hon. J. Meigs. Commissr of Pensions.
Dear Sir.
Herewith I forward the application of Mrs Lydia Bills of this City, Widow of Sylvanus Bills deceased for Bounty Land under Act of Mar. 3 rd 1855.
She is a respectable Lady whom I know to be the individual she describes herself to be.
Should any farther evidence be required please let me be informed, and when her warrant is issued please let it be forwarded to me.
Very Respectfully,
Yr. Servt.
Charles Robinson New Haven Conn

Hon J. L. Edwards Dr Sir
New Haven 10 July 1869
Lest some documents sent you in a letter concerning Mrs Bill Penson to enable her to obtain pension certificate might have never been received by you
I hope you will pardon me for advert- ing to the fact that they were sent on the department directly on receipt of your last to one in the Subjet I think in April last Should they have been received & there is any informality causing them to be unacceptable I will esteem it a favor if you will have the goodness to advise me of it & what it is
Very Respectfully y r obedt
A. S. Manser

me why
The deceased has passed a ice a Z e ufer he receive death not but on son
marriage sent as
June 4/49
Decl n Lydia Bills
Mr. J. Z. Church Commissioner of Pensions Washington Dist. Columbia

Wm. J. L. Edward Sir -
New Haven June 1849
Less than a year after the decease of Mr. Bills & of course before Congress passed a law making the evidence on which a pension is granted to a soldier proof of his service in the case of his widows application for one I sent on to yr department the necessary documents had his name been returned on the muster roll to which may I be allowed to refer if in these now sent a deficiency in respect to record proof of date of marriage should render them defective I suppose she will receive pay from the date of her husbands death
Very Respectfully yr obed Servt A. S. Monson
PS the pastors certificate of their marriage agreeably to the tenor of the above was sent on at that time to the department

October 2 o 1848 Widow of Sylvanus Bell died,
D. L. Alanson,
St. Colomb.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Mr. Dimes.

Stu Mavon Conn et October 26 1840 J. L. Edward Esq Dear Sir
I would invite your attention to a small pension claim of the widow of Sylvanus Bills Revolutionary pensioner he has been dead I think about six years & she has not remarried but still remains his widow. Soon after his decease documents necessary for her receiving a widows pension were made out but she was cut off on the ground that his name was not on the muster roll.
I would now respectfully enquire whether under the late laws of Congress concerning pensions proofs of service &c. You cannot now allow her claim.
No question ever was had of his service among his contemporaries & incontestible proofs of his service from living witnesses were presented to the department on the strength of which his pension was allowed.
His widow is now seventy five years old very destitute but much respected.
As early a reply as may be convenient will greatly oblige & if favourable whatever additional documents may be necessary I can transmit.
Respectfully your Obedient
A. S. Monson

House of Reps. Jan'y 9th 1845
Dear Sir
I am requested to call your attention to the application of Mrs Lydia Bills of New Haven Ct. Widow of Sylvanus Bills deceased for a pension.
I understand Mrs Bills is very aged and poor, and undoubtedly entitled to the bounty she asks.
Will you, at your earliest convenience examine her case and report to me the result
I am Sir. With Great Respect Your Obedient Servt John Stewart
Hon J. L. Edwards. Commr of Pensions,

10524 Feb 9. 1844
let. Lydia D. D. D. July 1838
M
FREE
J. G. Church Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington
10-524 Lydia D. D. D. Boston Oct 7 th July 38. Ms. A. 9. 2. 25 p. 42

New Haven Feby 5th 1844
J L Edwards Esq
Sir
Enclosed are the documents appertaining to the pension of Lydia Bill, widow of Sylvanus Bill, Revolutionary pensioner deceased. Will you have the goodness to act upon them within ten days & oblige yours very Respectfully &c A P Mansan

F. R. OERTEL EIGHT NINETY SEVEN, EAST FORTIETH STREET BROOKLYN, N. Y.
May 29, 1929.
Pension Bureau, Washington, D. C. Gentlemen:
Will you kindly furnish me with the Pension Record of SYLVANUS BILLS who fought in the Revolution at the BATTLE OF MONMOUTH?
If there is any charge for this service, kindly advise and a check will be forwarded immediately.
Thanking you, I am
Very truly yours,
STAMPED ENVELOPE ENCLOSED

F. R. OERTEL EIGHT NINETY SEVEN, EAST FORTIETH STREET BROOKLYN, N. Y.
January 20, 1930.
Mr. Earl D. Church, Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to your Rev. & 1812 Wars Section, W. C. 10414, ADY: dated August 22nd, 1929:
The Sylvanus Bills that you refer to is not the one we are endeavoring to locate. The Sylvanus Bills we want was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey and fought in the battle of Monmouth. We understand in our investigation that there was a pension record covering him and a copy of such record was secured about ten or twelve years ago. Unfortunately this copy has become lost and we are very anxious to get another if it is at all possible.
Will you kindly have another search made to ascertain if you can locate another Sylvanus Bills in your records?
Yours very truly,
P. S. The Sylvanus Bills in question was a member of a New Jersey Regiment.

Rev.&1812 Wars Section. MMHF
January 23, 1930.
F. R. Oertel, 897 East 40 th Street, Brooklyn, New York.
Dear Sir:
I advise you that the record of Sylvanus Bills (W.10414) furnished you on August 22, 1929, is that of the only soldier by that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
It is suggested that if you received information from this city relative to a Revolutionary War soldier by that name, who served in the New Jersey Troops and was in the battle of Monmouth, it may have been his military record and not a pension, in which instance it would be found in the office of The Adjutant General, U. S. A., this city.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH, Commissioner.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME Bills, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Lamb's Artillery (New York)
WARRANT NUMBER 6885 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Aug. 4, 1790 to Peter DeWitt, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.