Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,337, Stephen Briggs, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Briggs, Stephen Deborah
W. 17,337
CONTENTS

Connecticut 2079
Deborah Briggs widow of Stephen Briggs dec d who died on the 14 March 1822 of Fairfield in the State of Ct. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Smith of the 1st Reg t commanded by Col. Mead in the Ct. line for 2 years Conn.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of June 1838 and sent Hon. J. T. Whittelsey No. of Reps.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1838 $560.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 40.00
$600.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book 1. Vol. 2 nd Page 65

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } S. Stamford
on this 13 th day of Sept. A.D. 1837 before the court of Probate within and for the district of Stamford in said County and State the same being a court of record and held at Stamford in the said district personally appeared Deborah Briggs aged seventy four Years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath testify and make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836 That on the 18 th of Jan y A.D. 1778 she was lawfully married to Stephen Briggs Dec d late of said Stamford (by Nehemiah Hancher Esq.) who was a private in the army of the revolution. and to the best of her knowledge and belief commenced his services in Capt. Rawlings company in the year of 1777 in Col Ennis Regt & served six months in said company & left and the place of station as she was at that time informed was in Westchester County at White Plains, Collabark & Peekskill and was brought home to said Stamford from said place sick & sent for, said Deborah to come & see him, says said Stephen was sick some thing like two months. and the was immediately after his convalescence married to said Stephen - says about two months after her marriage he returned to the Army & enlisted in Capt Charles Smith's company for eight months as near as her memory serves her & served out the period of his enlistment. in the Spring of 1779. in Apr l or May he the said Stephen enlisted in Capt Sylvester Brown's company. Col Matthew Mear's Regt and continued in said company in actual service till the Spring following 1780 the first of March and was discharged. and she believes he in the same month of March 1780 enlisted again in Capt Charles Smith's

Company. Col John Mearns Regt & continued till some time in June 1781. in said Capt Smith company and was discharged - says that her husband was frequently called out after said discharge to go on scouts but can't tell the particulars. Says her Maiden Name was Briggs. That their marriage is recorded in the family Bible, the witness that saw them married she believes are all dead. Says her husband died on the 14 th day of March 1822 and that she has remained his widow ever since. We were married in Pound Ridge of the State of New York, the said Father being a justice of the peace in that place - we went there to be married because our clergyman Mr Seward was absent. He & said Father are both dead - His service in the Continental Company began the first of March 1777 - it was State troops of Connecticut of Captain's six months - his said eight months term under Charles Smith began the middle of March 1778 or thereabout and about the middle of March of the same year - said Smith's company was Rangers of Connecticut State troops - I claim for the term under Capt Sylvanus Brown ten months - there were Connecticut State troops - for the last term under said Charles Smith she claims fifteen months. I suppose it consists of two enlistments - the first for a year beginning the first of March 1780 & ending a year from that time - followed by a second term of three months - my said husband & myself always belonged to said Company - Have no other record of our marriage but the family record which I found and herewith, begging that the same may be returned after being examined as it is our only family record -
Deborah Briggs
Sworn of Subscribed the Day of Year Approved before me - The words "seventy four" "Deborah" of "the" having been interlined before sig- nature or oath
Deborah A Briggs mark
Chas. Hildreth Judge -
Sworn of Subscribed also in presence of W. Wright

MEMORANDUM
Stephen Briggs was born June 10 1757 And was married to Deborah Briggs January 18 1778 She was born March 9 1753
An account of their children
1 Solomon was born January 16 1780 2 Polly was born March 19 1783 3 Betsey was born March 16 1788 4 Henry was born May 19 1790 5 Mahetebe1 was born May 11 1792 6 Philip was born October 7 1795 7 Philander was born March 9 1797 8 Hiram was born January 1 9 Alvy was born August 10

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17337
Deborah Briggs Wid. of Stephen Briggs Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 4, 1836
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 80
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Deborah Prigg
Connecticut
Suspended
see let to Hon
J. T. Whittelsey
Dec. 16 1837
d. a. p. 8 1838
Admitted.
Act 1836

Stephen Briggs
Manned 1778 (January) Died 1872
+ 1777 Col. Enos & ma came home sick, and returned to the army after marriage, under Capt Charles Smith, for 8 mo.
May 79 Col. M Mead, Capt. S Brown. for 12 months. early .
March 80 Again under Col. Smith. (A. J. Mead until June 1781
+ Reuben Seafeld's roll June 1777 not on Jan Dean. witness to it

Deposition in the case of Deborah Briggs widow of Stephen Briggs
Hon. J. T. Whittier H.R.

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss Stamford Be it known That on this 16 th day of May A D 1838 before me W d Weight a Notary — Public for & within said State & County personally appeared Enos Waterbury of said Stamford aged seventy years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he was well acquainted with Stephen Briggs late of Stamford deceased the Revolutionary army viz that according to the best of his knowledge & belief, said Stephen Briggs enlisted some time in the month of April A D 1779 in Captain Sylvanus Brown's Company of State Troops Col. Matthew Head Regiment as he the deponent saw said Briggs in said Comp- -any when deponent entered company & that said Briggs with deponent continued, all of the time in act- -ual service in said company & kept till the first of March March A D 1780, deponent says that he draws a pension for nine months service at the time when the the place of Station was at Horn neck in the town of Greenwich in said County & State deponent says that they were regularly discharged & their service that they performed were that of guarding the lines. & further deponent saith not
Enos Waterbury
Personally appeared Enos Waterbury on the same day & year & sworn to the truth of the above by him subscribed & I certify that he is a credible person before me, W d Weight Notary Public

Comptroller's Office Hartford Connecticut January 9th 1838
I certify that Capt Reuben Scofield is charged on the paytable books in this office as follows, to wit,
  1777 June 17  To order on Treasur r to raise his company  516  "  "    1778 Jan y 17  " order on Treasur r  1365  6  3      £1881  6  3  
He is credited for service in Enos Regiment in 1777 Wages £1101.0.5, Bounties £752.10, Commission £27.15.10 - £1881 6 3
He is also charged June 3 d 1780    1781  To order on Treasur r  Parofit Money  100  "  "    Jan y 15  "  "  "  "  "       2200  8  9       £2300  8  9  
He is credited for his account rendered same day and same amount.
W m Field Comptroller

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss. Stamford
Be it known that on this 8 th day of August A.D. 1835 Before me M c Naughton a Justice of the Peace within and for said State & County, personally appeared Reuben Linn aged 78 years who being duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath testify, that he was well acquainted with Stephen Briggs of said Stamford & that said Stephen served in the army of the revolution, that That to the best of his knowledge and belief the said Stephen as a private in Capt Sylvanus Morgan's company of Col. Jonathan Trumbull's Regiment enlisted in April or May of 1779 and continued in said company till March 1780 all of which time said Stephen was in actual service & after his discharge in the same Spring of 1780 he enlisted as a private in Capt Charles Smith's company of rangers in Col. John Mead's Regiment and con- tinued in said Smith's company at least one year from the time of his enlistment all of which time he believes he the said Stephen was in actual service, & he thinks he con- tinued in said company till sometime in Jan 1781, the place of station when at Stamford, Born Neck, Sydenham & so along the lines, to keep in awe the ruffians or others who called to protect our inhabitants & their property, they often had skirmishes and our sentinels where frequently shot down and the inhabitants maimed in cool blood, says that the lower party as they were frequently called when more cruel and cruel than the British before, and the duty of our men was more arduous & harassing than that of the conti- nental army, and that the inhabitants were not safe to go to sleep in the night, says that said Stephen Briggs whose maiden name was Briggs & that said Stephen has been dead some 18 or 20 years since & said Deborah is his widow & has been even since said Stephen's decease
Theodore Tinker Reuben Linn Personally appeared Reuben Linn on the same, month day and year and swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed & I certify that he is a credible person. before me M c Naughton Justice of the Peace

I also certify that all erasures, interlineations & alterations were made pursuant to the execution of the within affidavit J. H. Wright Justice of Peace
And the said Court doth hereby after the investigation of the matter declare its opinion that the said applicant Debe- rah Briggs was married to said Stephen Briggs on the 18 th day of January A.D. 1778 & that he was a Revolutionary Army Soldier & served as such, as she in her forego- ing Declaration states - That he died on the 14 th day of March A.D. 1822 & that she has ever since re- ceived of still is his widow
Chas. Hawley Judge
Frederick Jones
James Lee Jones for for Stephen Briggs

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss Stamford
Be it known that on this 19 th day of Sept. A.D. 1837 before me N o 11 Wright a Justice of the Peace for and within said State and County, personally appeared E st Samuel Dean aged 74 years who being first duly sworn accord- ing to law doth on his oath say and testify, that he was well acquainted with Stephen Briggs late of Stamford Dec d who was a private in the army of the revolutionary war. viz. that in the fore part of March 1777 he enlisted in Capt n Reuben Scofield's Company John Davenport Major. & Col d Richard Innes. Regiment of State troops, for nine months. but believes he was taken sick one or two months before the expira- tion of his period of enlistment & was brought home the place of station of said company & Regiment was, at that time, on the Northern, in Westchester County White Plains. Coldenham. Peekskill. Deponent says that in March 1778 said Stephen enlisted in Capt n Carlos Smith's company of Rangers for eight months as he was in said company at the time of his enlistment The Deponent says about said time of Briggs enlistment he the Deponent enlisted out of said Smith's company into another Choir called years mercifully commanded by Capt n John Gates. Col d Innes Brig d . Deponent says he occasionally saw said Briggs after his enlistment, on the fore part of his enlistment in said Smith's company and the latter part of the time in said Smith's company and verily believes he served the whole period of his enlistment in actual service. said Smith's company was Rangers & Connecticut State Troops & the place of station was at Horse neck. Nyron. guarding the lines, the Deponent further says some time in Apr d 1779 said Stephen enlisted in Capt n Sylvanus Brown's company. Col d Matthew Mead Brig d of State Troops.

for a period of nine months at least, as he the deponent was in said Brown's company at said time and served with said Briggs, till discharged, which was the last day of Feb 1780, says that said Stephen in March 1780 enlisted in Capt Charles Smith's company, for one year, Col John Mead Regt of Penns & served on the period of his enlistment, as he frequently saw said Smith in service, as the deponent was in Capt. during I. Coffield company, Col John Mead Regt at said time and were all stationed on the lines, at Fort Mifflin, Bryon. Manufactory after his discharge he in the same month of March again enlisted for three months in said Charles company & served out the period of his enlistment. The deponent further says that said Stephen lived with said Deborah Briggs as husband, and it was always said that they were lawfully married, & hereby he believes they were married, as their marriage was never questioned. That said Deborah had children, some of whom are now living in said Stamford, as the deponent well knows them. Samuel Dean
Personally appeared Samuel Dean on the same day and year and swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed & certify he is a creditable person before me M c Neight Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield ss Stamford
Be it known that on this 2 nd day of Sept r 1882 before me N o Wright a Justice of the Peace within and for the State of Connecticut & said County per- sonally David Smith aged 76 years of said Stamford who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify, that that he was well acquainted with Stephen Briggs of said Stamford who served in the army of the Revolution, as a private That in the Spring or the latter part of April in 1779, the said Briggs enlisted in Capt Sylvanus Brown's Company Col Matthew Mead's Regt for nine months & served out the period of his enlistment as he the Deponent served in said Company at said time & was regularly discharged, he then as he was informed enlisted in Capt Charles Smith's Company Col John Mead's Regt in the Spring of 1780, & continued in said Smith's Company till May 1781, he frequently saw Briggs while in Smith's Company as they were on scouts together, & verily believes he served in Smith's Company as above stated, he was well acquainted with the wife of said Stephen, that they were married, as they lived together as man and wife & that said Stephen has been dead some 40 years. & that said Deborah his wife has been his widow ever since, he further says that their habitations were on the lines, & that the privations & sufferings were great, & that the women suffered always from great fear, then there were frequently by pickets & women abused.
David Smith
Personally appeared David Smith on the same day and year and swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed & I certify that he is a creditable person before me N o Wright Justice of the Peace

V 2115
Deborah Briggs Widow of Stephen
Con.
March 1778
March 1832
Allen Sept 7, 1830
for own - no debt due
Con. Still owing
Large sum due
Col. much
Mr. J. J. Whittier H.R.
Paul Haight
Not returned
St.
St. 25
Not returned
I, Deborah B. Derr, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stamford in Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Deborah Briggs for a pension. Intestine when I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 17 th day of November A.D. 1837.
Graham B. Ferris Clk.
David Smith for Stephen Briggs
State of Connecticut } Fairfield County }
I Thomas B. Coborne Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Nathaniel D. Haight Esquire for more than one year last past has been a Justice of the Peace within said County duly commissioned & duly authorized to administer oaths &c and that all the signatures to the Certificates annexed to the foregoing Deposition hereto attached & purporting to be his, are genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 23 rd day of September A.D. 1837.
Thomas B. Coborne Clerk
I certify that all erasures, interlineations & alterations were made previous to the execution of the within affidavit.
M c Neish Justice of Peace