Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12220, Phineas Bidwell, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bidwell, Phineas
S. 12220
Carded
CONTENTS

14421 Buffalo 18163
New York
Let. to albaney agency, apl. 30. 1835.
Phineas Bidwell
of Chautauqua in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Sedgwick of the Regt. commanded by Col. Chester in the Arty. Co. ma- rine for Service.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of May 1833 and sent to C. Tucker Fredonia
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1833 of 53.32 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 13.33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book Vol. 4 Page 8

18163 In the Matter of Thimas Vidant
Checker, Agent
Allowed
The applicant in this matter requests that his pension (if allowed) be made payable at the Buffalo Agency N York, Please direct your answer to this applica- tion, To.
Chauncey Tucker, at Fredonia Chautauqua Co. N. York
Passed

State of New York Chautauqua County } ss:
On this twelfth day of October A. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting Phineas Bidwell, resident of Stockton in the said County of Chautauqua, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Decla- ration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. — That he entered the Ser- vice of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. —
That about the last of June or the first of July A 1776. he enlisted at East Hartford Connecticut his then residence, in a Company of State Troops commanded by Capt. Abraham Sedgwick, Lieut. John Hulbert and Ensign Winchell in the Regt. of State Troops commanded by Col. John Chester of Wethersfield Conn. That this enlistment was for six months — That they march- ed from Hartford aforesaid to New Haven when they embarked on board a vessel and went to the city of New York — That they were on Long Island at the time that the enemy landed there in the month of August as near as he can recollect & after some fighting, retreated and recrossed the East River to New York City where they remained a while & then marched to Valentin Hill near Kingsbridge — That they commenced building Barracks at Valentin Hill but before they were finished, they marched to White Plains where they stayed till the 28th November when they marched to the North River crossed the River, passed through New Jersey, crossed the Delaware River & continued their march to Salis- bury in Pennsylvania where they stayed till the 25th day of December  November A 1776 when they were dismissed & returned home to East Hartford aforesaid where they arrived on the 6th day of January A 1777, having served his full term of six months — That he is the identical Phineas Bidwell, mentioned in the deposition of David Williams, herewith presented, That he is well acquainted with

the said David Williams and that he actually served with him as set forth in his said deposition -
That in the month of October A.D. 1777. Capt. Sedgwick's Company was called out to go to go to the North River, to prevent the British from coming up the River. That he turned out and went with the said company from East Hartford CT  aforsaid as far as to a place called Livingston's Manor on the North River - That this tour lasted about one month - That in the month of June or July A.D. 1779 he was drafted to go to Old Milford, in Connecticut in a Company commanded by Abijah Colton who acted as Capt, although he thinks the said Abijah held only the rank of ensign - That he actually went in said company to Milford of course & that he was absent on this tour about one month besides the time spent in going & returning 4 or 5 days - That the two last terms of service above mentioned were so short that he does not recollect the names of the field & company officers any more distinctly than is stated above - That he actually served in the whole, full eight months & he thinks more - That he was born at East Hartford of course in the ninth day of July A.D. 1758. That there is a record of his age in the town Book at Hartford aforesaid, as he has been informed by his parents & friends time - That he left East Hartford in 1794, & went to Fairfax, Vermont, from thence to Fletcher, Vermont & from thence to Stockton, Chautauqua County N York where he has resided sixteen years last past & where he now resides. That his first term of service, (six months) was by enlistment, & that he considered that he was drafted for the two last terms - That the field officers of the Regt. in which he served, besides Col. Chester, were Lieut. Salomon Wells of Tolland Ct. & Maj. Ripley. That he saw General Geo. Washington at White Plains & several other places, That he never received any written discharge -

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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
Sworn to & subscribed } Thomas Bidwell The day & year aforesaid } before me J. B. Campbell
We Washington Windsor a Clergyman residing in the town of Stockton and M c Wet Patnam residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Bidwell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn & subscribed } Washington Windsor The day & year aforesaid } M c Wet Patnam before me J. B. Campbell
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, 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 & served as such States - And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Washington Windsor who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman residing in the town of Stockton aforesaid and that M c Wet Patnam who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit

I James B. Lowry, Clerk of the Courts of Common Pleas of the Said County of Chautauqua, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phineas Bidwell for a pension -
My hand
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set My hand and Seal of Office this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
James B. Lowry Clk.

18163
Phineas Bidwell Chautauque county New York
8mo pr. $26. 66
Buffalo
C. Tucker Fredonia New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Phineas Bidwell, Chautauqua, N.Y.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted 1776 6 private Capt. Sedgarick Lieut. Hubbert Col. Chester N. Haver Long Is. New York city White Plains Salisbury Pauyoke 74 Hartford Conn. tradition living witness pension six mo. service.   called out 1777 1 Capt. [illegible]   Drafted 1779 1  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz.:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, 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. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

M.C.S. Clear
January 16, 1924
Frederick D. Bidwell State Tax Department Albany, New York
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.12220, it appears that Phineas Bidwell was born July 9, 1758, at Hartford, Connecticut.
While residing at Hartford, Connecticut, he enlisted in June 1776 and served six months as private in Captain Abraham Sedgwick's Company, Colonel John Chester's Connecticut Regiment; he was in the battle of Long Island.
He enlisted in October 1777 and served one month in Captain Abraham Sedgwick's Company.
He enlisted in June or July 1779 and served one month in Captain Abijah Cotton's Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 5, 1832, while a resident of Stockton, Chautauqua County, New York.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner

Reuben
12220. INVALID.
File No. 12,220
Phineas Bidwell Pr. New War
Act: Jane 1 st 82 Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 83
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1920, May 4 Hist. to Myra E. Knapp - l Knapp - Bloomington, Wis. En. 1924 Jan. 16. Hist. to Frederick D. Bidwell. See letter filed in case of Daniel Bidwell, S. 32118

Phila. Brd. of Educ. Apr. 30
Pa. Ave. N.W.
1442
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions War Department City of Washington

Heck? & Farnes' Bank Albany Pension Agency April 27. 1835.
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissaire of Pensions,
Sir,
Phineas Bidwell of Chautauqua Co. at $24. 66 per annum, claims pay from 4 March 1834. His certificate bears date May 27. 1833. His name is not on Books - Be pleased to instruct us whether or not we shall pay him -
I am Sir very Respectfully Your obedt. Servt.
14420
to
14425
D. M. Knapp assg Pension agt

I David Williams of East Hartford in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, aged seventy six years, depose & say,
That in the year 1776 I enlisted & served six months in a Regiment of State troops commanded by Col o John Chester of Wethersfield in said County, in a Company commanded by Capt m Abraham Sedgewick of Hartford, Lieut t John Kurn & Ensign Wenchel : That the Company assembled at said Hartford (I think), & marched to New Haven, where the Company embarked in a vessel & went to New York: That the Company left S d Hartford the last of June , or perhaps the middle of that month, (being a few days after the deponent enlisted, as he thinks) but on reflection I will not be positive as to the precise time or date of leaving Hartford.
That the Company was on Long Island at the time that the Enemy landed there, in the summer, about August, as near as I can recollect & after some fighting, retreated, & recrossed the East River to New York: That it was with the American forces, in that City, & when the army retreated, I marched thro' several plains, & eventually reached the White Plains; There, sometime afterward, the whole Regiment under Col o Chester, marched to the North River, & crossed the river, passed thro' New Jersey, crossed the Delaware river, (pretty near the Forks (I believe)); That the Regiment marched to several places, (The names of which I don't

now remember) I served until the 25. day of December - 1776 when the regiment was honorably dismissed at a place, I think, about twenty or thirty miles from Philadelphia, & arrived home at East Hartford the forepart of January 1777. Having performed the term of service which was full six months , & perhaps a little over.
I further depose that I was then & ever since, well acquainted with one Phineas Bidwell, then of Hartford aforesaid, & now of Chautauqua County, in the State of New York, that I know, he enlisted & served throughout this term of service , in the same company, & Regiment, with me. & we returned together. I would add that said Bidwell served on the aforesaid tour as a private soldier. - I further the deponent saith not - Dated at Hartford in Conn. this 29 th day of August 1832 -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year last above written
David Williams
Before Me En. Parsons Just. Pac.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Mr. David Williams the above named deponent. That he sustains a fair character for integrity & veracity. & that his statements are entitled to credit.
En. Parsons Just. Pac.

Stat. of Connecticut County of Hartford } B.
I, Jared Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Hartford do hereby certify, That Enoch Parsons Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit of David Williams was taken, was on the twenty ninth day of August A.D. 1832, a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hartford; That I am well acquainted with his handwriting, & with his character, & that the signature, purporting to be his, is genuine; & that his statement is entitled to full credit.
In Testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of Office this twenty ninth day of August one thousand, eight hundred & thirty two.
Jared Griswold Clerk. Co. Ch. Hd. Co. Conne

Bloomington Wisconsin
April 13, 1920.
Revolutionary War Records Section, Bureau of Pensions
Dear Sir, -
Phinehas Bidwell served in the Connecticut forces in 1776. Did he receive a pension for his service, and if so what information have you on record concerning his age, residence, date and place of death, who his wife was, and what his service was?
For any information you can give me I shall be very grateful.
Very Truly yours,
Myra E. Knapp.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Phineas Bidwell a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. 12220.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1776 6 mos. Pvt. Abraham Sedgwick John Chester Conn.   Oct. 1777 1 mo. " " "   June or July 1779 1 mo. Abijah Cotton "        
Battles engaged in, Long Island
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hartford Conn.
Date of application for pension, Oct 5 1822 His el al
Residence at date of application, Stockton Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, 6 July 9 1758 at Hartford Conn.
Remarks: There is no data as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.