Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 837, Ezekiel Billings, Conn. Continental Navy, Privateer, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Billings, Ezekiel
R 837.
Continental
Navy Privateer, R.I.
CONTENTS

Esquire Billings, private.
Colonel Sherburnes Regt Connecticut
en. line 1778 3 years
Sam Lake of Batavia N. York Agent
Respectfully and affectionately his wife
See the affidavits of two witnesses, within - 'tis all the evidence he has obtained
Applicant aged 63 yrs.
wife, 62 yrs. old
daughter 20 yrs. old
Gr: daugh: 17 yrs. old
Schad: 8 3/4: 55 1/2

I, Ezekiel Billings of the town of Perry in the County of Genesee and State of New - York and a Citizen of the United States of lawful age, do declare and make oath, that during the War of the Revolution, I was a private soldier in the service of the United States on the Continental establishment - and served as such for the term of more than nine months - against the Canadian Enemy that in the fall of the year, One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy six, I enlisted into the Rhode Island Line under Captain Thomas Wells for the term of twelve months - that after having been about four months in that service I was transferred to the Naval service and served as a marine on board the Alfred Ship of War Capt. Hopkins about seven months at which time my term of enlistment expired - that in the winter of the year one thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight, I again enlisted under Captain Jeremiah Halsey in the Connecticut line for three months, which term I served and was regularly discharged that I then immediately re-enlisted under Captain Amos Stanton, in Col. (Hass) Sherborne's Regiment in the Connecticut Line for three years - that I continued in the service about two years and seven months when I was taken sick and went home on furlough and did not again join my Com -

I further declare that by reason of my reduced Circumstances in life, I am in need of assistance from my Country for my support Renss. County N.Y.      Ezekiel Billings State of New York A.D. 16. 1818
State of New York      Wardlaw Seneca County ss      April 16. 1818
Personally appeared Ezekiel Billings to me well known to be the person, signing the foregoing Declaration and made solemn Oath that the facts therein contained and set forth are true.
Before me - Elizur Wetter one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County
I, Elizur Webster, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Seneca do certify that it appeared to my satisfaction that the said Ezekiel Billings did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding Declaration against the Common Enemy - and know transmitted the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for Certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War."
Dated at Wardlaw in the County of Seneca this 16 th day of April A.D. 1818.
Elizur Wetter

I Aaron Pond of the town of Perry in the County of Genesee and State of New York of lawful age, make oath that I have been well acquainted with Ezekiel Billings of the said town of Perry, the signer of the preceding affidavit, for more than a year past and that from his advanced age and reduced circumstances in life, he is, in my opinion, in need of assistance from his country for his support - and further say not. —
Aaron Pond
Perry, Genesee County State of New York Apr. 16. 1818
State of New York } Wardlaw Apr. 16. 1818 Genesee County }
Personally appeared Aaron Pond, to me well known to be the person signing the above Affidavit and made solemn oath that the facts therein set forth are true.
Before me — Elizur Hildreth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County

State of New York Genesee County } ss I Simeon Cummings Clerk of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Elyzer Webster before whom the foregoing Affidavits were made was at the date thereof a Judge of the court of Common Pleas in said County acting under the authority of this State and that that the foregoing are his signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and county Seal at Batavia this 19 day of August 1818
S. Cummings

Ezekiel Billings Inventory Copy
24.55

At a court of common Pleas held at the court House in the Village in and for the county of Genesee in the State of New York on the twelfth day of June of the term of June one Thousand eight hundred and twenty one being a court of Record in pursuance of the 41 st Article of the Constitution of this State, which has unlimited Jurisdiction and keeps records of its proceedings Present the Hon. John H. Jones, John Z. Rop, John Lee & Samuel M c Whorter, Judges . —∞.
Genesee County ss — On this thirteenth day of June A.D 1821. personally appeared in open court (being a court of record) Ezekiel Billings aged sixty three years  who resident of the Town of Castile in Saia County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows. In the three years service, more than two and a half years, that he enlisted for three years in the month of February 1777 and served in Capt. Stantons Company in Col. Sherborn's Regiment, raised in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, that he continued in service until the fall of the year 1779 when he received a furlough and permission to return home, being sick and unfit for duty, and did not join the Regiment again, That he volunteered on board of a Privateer Sloop commanded by a Mr. Lathrop for a short cruise in the Sound on the coast of Connecticut, and was taken prisoner & detained until after the expiration of his enlistment, and was exchanged from the prison ship Jersey on which he had been confined about three months, That his original Declaration is dated April 16 th 1818 and is hereto annexed  accompanies this —∞.

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that I have not nor has any person since that time by gift, sale or in any manner whatever 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" passed on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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
Schedule
   One sheep $ 1.50   Two swine 10.00   One ax, one Hoe & one old sickle 1.50   One old scythe 1.50   one common chest $ 1.00   One Kitchen Table 0.50 " 2.12 1/2   Three Old chairs 0.62 1/2   One pair shovel & tongs 0.75   One pot, 1 Dish Kettle & 1 Tea Kettle 2.00   One spider & 1 Skillet 1.00 " 5.00   One Iron Wammul 0.50   One pair small steelyards 0.75   One quart Bowl 0.18  

  a few cracked cups & Saucers {  0.50  }  2.93    Tea pot and other small {    Table Dishes —————       Two pails —————  0.50      One small churn —————  0.25      One pewter platter —————  0.50      Two Barrels —————  1.00          $ 24.55 1/2   
And the deponent further says that he has a wife named Deborah aged sixty two Years, and one Daughter named Betsey aged twenty years and one Grand Daughter named Ruth Billings, aged Eight years which compose his family that he lives in a house, and has a small improvement on Land, as he is informed, that is owned by a Company in the City of New York, and he the deponent has no title or interest in the Land, and is liable to be turned off at any time. And the Deponent further says that there was a mistake made in the date of his enlistment in the declaration hereto annexed, that he enlisted in the year 1777- instead of 1778. as he well recollects on reflection, of events which transpired in the year 1777- while he was in the service, one of which events was the capture of Burgoyne , that he also received a furlough to go home and see his friends in the winter of the year 1779- and returned to to his Regiment again in February or March at West Point and served until the time stated above.
Sworn & Subscribed the 18 th day of June 1824. Before me in Open Court
Ezekiel Billings G. L. Sheldon Clk.

I Chauncy L Sheldon, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Genesee, Do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record 824. 55 of the said court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty four Dollars and fifty five cents. In testimony whereof I have her- unto set my hand affixed the seal of the said court at Batavia this fourteenth day of June A.D. 1821.
C. L. Sheldon Clk

Affidavit of E. Billings Lewis
Other papers on file in War Dept. —

State of New York Saratoga County ss. Benjamin Billings of Said County being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that he lived in the Town of Griswold Stonington Connecticut in the time of the Revolutionary war, and knows that his half Brother Ezekiel Billings did as he then understood, enlist for three years in the Continental Service in the winter of the year 1777 and was absent from home as he then and now believes, in the Service of the United States, but the deponent cannot state what Regiment he served in but thinks he was under Capt. Sturtevant. That the deponent saw the said Ezekiel frequently after he enlisted during the said three years Service, that he returned home on furlough in the fall of the year 1779 as nearly as he can recollect, and went out on board of a privateer and was taken a prisoner of war was exchanged and returned home in the winter following, as he has been informed and believes. He saw Ezekiel Billings now lives in Genesee County in this State - and further says not Sworn & Subscribed the Eighth day of August 1823 Before me and I do hereby certify the Deponent to be a credible witness. Benjamin Billings A. Goodrich Justice

State of New York Saratoga County ss I Thomas Palmer Clerk of the court of Common Pleas in & for Said County certify that Alpheus Goodrich Esq is a Justice of the peace in & for Said County duly Commissioned and qualified according to law and that his sig- nature thereunto is in his own proper hand writing - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Said Court at Ballston Spa this 8 th day of August 1823 Thomas Palmer Clerk

MIRAFI Am
December 21, 1927
Blanche B. Mahlberg Attorney General's Office Olympia, Washington,
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 837 it appears that Ezekiel Billings applied for pension April 16, 1818 while a resident of Perry, Genesee County, New York and stated that he enlisted in the fall of 1776, served about four months as private in Captain Thomas Wells' Rhode Island Company, was then transferred to the Navy and served for seven months as mariner on the "Alfred" under Commodore Hopkins.
He enlisted in 1777, served three months in Captain Jeremiah Halsey's Connecticut Company, immediately after which, he enlisted and served two years and seven months as private in Captain Amos Stanton's Company, Colonel Henry Sherburne's Continental Regiment, was furloughed on account of sickness and went home (place not stated). While on furlough he entered on board a privateer, Captain Lathrop, to cruise on the Connecticut coast, was taken prisoner and confined two or three months on the prison ship "Jersey" and was then exchanged, but

and 'perfidious' went out of the 'letter' and no evidence exists to our knowledge that the 'letter' was ever -not out of existence of 'doubt' (doubtless) a proof no before or right now (doubtless) some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) a 'doubtless' (doubtless) some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless)
the 'doubtless' (doubtless) some time but no evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) -some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) -some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) -some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless) -some time but evidence to the contrary was 'doubtless' (doubtless)
W. H. ...
... ... ...
December 21, 1881
much honorable service
... notice ...
him a desert, but there is no more proof that he was than that he was not to be had

He is on the Gen. Billings list of soldiers who were not mustered into service
I did not say much concerning his claim as described in my letter of Sept. 27-23 to S. Lake, as that letter states the objection to his claim still exists & that I descended not call him a deserter.
stated that he did not return to his regiment.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to return to his regiment and serve out his time, therefore did not receive his discharge.
In 1821 he was living in Castile, Genesee County, New York aged sixty-three years and stated that his wife Deborah aged sixty-two years, daughter Betsey aged twenty years, and granddaughter Rua Billings composed his family. His half brother Benjamin Billings was living in Saratoga County, New York in 1823. There are no further data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

1927- Dec 21- Hist. to Blanche B. Mahlberg - MNF.
_____ Ex'r.
INVALID.
REFUGED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
837
P. O. Geriel Billings
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

These are the last papers.
The case was rejected 19 th Dec. 1821 — as follows —
"The claim of E. Billings "is inadmissible, not having "served out his time faithfully, "he is not entitled to any gratuity "from Government!"

Batavia New York September 10. 1823
Sir
— I enclose you an affidavit, relating to the Service and manner of leaving it of Ezekiel Billings of this County
The proof already produced is sufficient to entitle him to a pension if he has been regularly discharged. This affidavit shows that he came home on furlough as he states and was taken prisoner in a privatee and did not return home until the winter following — Mr. Billings is in great need of help, and I hope his claim can be allowed — without further delay —
Yours respectfully Sam. Lake
J. C. Calhoun Esq
Secretary of War

State of Connecticut } New London County } ss. On the 5 th day of October A.D. 1820. personally appeared appeared before me a Justice of the peace in said County. Reubin Brown to me known to be a per- -son of truth and veracity, who being by me duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath Say, that he enlisted in Capt. Stanton's Company in Col. Sherburne's Regiment for three years some time in February 1778. and shortly afterwards joined the Regiment; that he then became acquainted with Ezekiel Billings who was then a soldier in said Company and continued in service in said Compa- -ny until the winter of the year 1779 when he left the service, on account of sickness. But the Deponent does not know of his having any furlough or being discharged. — Sworn and Subscribed Reubin Brown This 5 th day of October 1820. Before me —
Jon s Brewster Justice Peace

New London County ss
I do hereby certify that Jonathan Brewster and Benjamin Bairs of Preston Esquires are Justices of the Peace in the County of New London, and for more than sixty days last past have been such, duly qualified, and acting under the authority of the State of Connecticut and that I believe the signatures to the attestations of the affidavits of Eben Morgan and Reuben Brown, herunto annexed are the signatures & in the proper handwriting of the said Esquires & being Justices of the Peace in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County Court of said Connecticut County, at Norwich in said County this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty
Charles Lathrop Bliss of the County Court for New London County

State of Connecticut New London County ss. On this 5 th day of October One thousand Eight hundred & twenty personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in the County aforesaid. Ebenezer Morgan Esquire a Citizen of the Town of Groton in said County, to me known to be a person of truth and veracity who being by me duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oaths say, that he was well acquainted with Ezekiel Billings in the time of the Revolutionary war. - That the said Ezekiel Billings did serve more than nine months in continuation on the Continental Establishment. That he must have entered the three years service as early as the Spring of the year 1777 instead of the year 1778 as stated in his declaration, that he served until He entered the service the Deponent thinks in Capt. Ellips Company, which was afterwa- =rdz Com manded by Capt. Stanton in Col. Henry Sherburnes Regt n and that he served in said Company untill the winter of the year 1779. when he left the service in consequence of discharge - but whether he had a furlough or not the Deponent cannot state, but testifies from a personal knowledge of his said service, as he the Depo- nent was a sergeant in the same Compa- -ny the time above mentioned, and served with the

Said Ezekiel Billings, and further says not
Sworn and subscribed
This 5 th day of October
1820 Before me — Ebenezer Morgan
Benjamin Harris Justice of the Peace for New London County
State of Connecticut 2 New London County ss. I Charles Lathrop Clerk of the Courts for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Benjamin Harris and Jonathan Brewster before whom the foregoing affidavits appear to have been made were at the dates thereof Justices of the Peace in said County acting under the Authority of this State. Also that I am acquainted with the writing of said Justices and believe the signature of the said Justices subscribed to said affi- -davits to be their hand writing respectively In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal of Office the day of October A.D. 1820
Affidavit in case of E. Billings
The CLK and not absent this certificate

Ezekiel Billings & Others in his behalf Petition
Hon. A. H. Tracy, H. R.

To the Congress of the United States the Petition of the subscriber is respectfully presented -
Whereas your Petitioner has presented his claim to the proper Department, for a pension as a Revolutionary Soldier; and has been informed by that Department, that his claim cannot be allowed - And whereas your Petitioner feels himself aggrieved, and believing himself as honestly entitled to his pension, from his services and situation in life, as any man - He therefore prays your honorable Body to take his case into consideration, and grant him such relief as may appear just and equitable - & will ever pray
Batavia N York                      Ezekiel Billings
February 13. 1822

To the Hon. The Congress of the United States The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the Town of Castile and Perry in the County of Genesee respectfully shews.
That your petitioners are well acquainted with Ezekiel Billings; we believe that whatever statement he may make in relation to his services in the Revolutionary war may be relied on as fully as from any man of truth and veracity. we consider him to be honestly entitled to a pension if his services more in the Revolutionary war were sufficient to entitle him to the same. as he is extremely poor and lives by his daily labor. and he has arrived to an age when a little assistance would be of infinite importance to him. as he is quite lame in consequence of a broken leg. and infirm from advanced age. He has also an aged wife to support. Your petitioners pray that such assistance may be rendered him as in your wisdom you shall deem just & equitable Dated at Castile Genesee County State of New York February 10 th 1822 -
Elijah Munsell G. Mordoff - of Perry Robt. Miles - do Charles Knapp - do Giles Tallman Castile

February 10 th 1822-
Elijah Mansfield
Guilford - of Perry Robt. Miles Perry
Charles Trapp Perry Giles Tallman Castile
Nathl. Perry Castile Aaron Paine Jr -
Antonio Willard Perry
Samuel Hatch Perry
Solomon Kelsey Perry
Wm. Dalber Perry
Samuel Gilman Perry
Jacob Stevens Perry
Hiram Wright Perry
Sheldon Rose Castile
Timothy Bannister Castile
Dyer Walker Castile
Joseph Hill Castile
Abel Gates Perry
William Smith Castile
Thomas Caguly Perry
John Bowers Perry

Ezekiel Billings Deposition

State of New York } Genesee County } ss. Ezekiel Billings being by me duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say, that he is the same person mentioned in a petition hereto annexed signed by Elijah Olmsted & others his neighbors, and will shew something of the reputation which the Deponent sustains in his own neighborhood And the Deponent further says that he has been informed by Letter from the War Department dated the 19 th of December 1821 "That the claim "of Ezekiel Billings is inadmissible, not "having served out his time faithfully; he is not "entitled to any gratuity from Government" —
That the reason for his not serving out his enlistment fully, was fully explained in his affidavit accompanying his schedule to which he wishes reference made. That he suffered much in the Revolutionary war, and was in the service the greatest part of the war. That he is acquainted and he thinks the circumstance of his being con- fined on board of the Prison Ship is a sufficient reason for his not being in service at an other place — and further says not. —
Sworn & Subscribed the                      Ezekiel Billings 13 th day of February 1822
before me I believe the Deponent to be a Credible person —
Sam. Lake Commissioner in & for said County of Genesee

Genesee County ss I Chauncy L. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that Samuel Lake is a Commissioner in & for said County duly commissioned and sworn & authorized to take affidavits & acknowledgments of Deeds &c. and that his name signed to the within affidavit is in his own proper hand writing. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & the Seal of said Court the 14 th of February A.D. 1822 C. L. Sheldon Clerk By R. J. Field

STATE OF WASHINGTON OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OLYMPIA
November 9, 1927.
Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I desire to thank you for the information tendered me in your letter of the 1st instant regarding Ebenezer Billings.
At the risk of becoming a pest, I am writing you again for information regarding Ezekiel Billings. The records of the adjutant general of Connecticut state that Ezekiel Billings was credited to the town of Groton for military service from 1777 to 1781, and received town bounty from that town. The adjutant general suggests that I write you relative to pension for Ezekiel Billings and his wife.
As this is the name of my great-grandfather, I am especially desirous of obtaining all information available regarding this man and his relatives. I am especially anxious to know if his wife's name was Anna Mather.
Thanking you for courtesies extended in the past,
I am,
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Blanche Billings Mahlberg
Blanche Billings Mahlberg, Attorney General's Office, Olympia, Washington.

COPY 7
War Department, Pension Office September 27, 1823
Samuel Lake, Esq., Batavia, N.Y.
Sir:
In answer to your letter of the 10th instant, concerning the claim of Ezekiel Billings, I have to observe that the same objection which was first made to the claim, still exists, and must remain. The fact of his not having been honorably dismissed from the land service, on account of which he claims a pension, is admitted; and it is this fact which constitutes the objection to the claim. The affidavit of Benjamin Billings which you transmitted, merely set d forth the circumstances under which he left the army; but these circumstances do not in the least justify the claimant in his conduct. No man who enters into the privateer service while on furlough from the army (as he did) can be considered in any other view than as a deserter. As such they have been invariably treated. The papers will remain on the files of this Office agreeably to the regulations of the Department.
I am etc.,
J. L. E.