Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,959, John Bitgood, R.I.

SERVICE
Bo. J.
Bitgood John.
NUMBER
8 14,959
CONTENTS
Gardens

Connecticut 9496
John Bitgood
of Windham Co in the State of Conn t who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Harris of the Reg t commanded by Col l Sturton in the Ct t State troops time for
15. months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn t at the rate of 50. Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of May 1833. and sent to F.B. Johnson, per S. Davis, present
Arrears to the 14th of March, 1833. 100. 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept r — " — 25. 00 $ 125. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. Francis Clerk, Book E. Vol. 3 d Page 4.

23205
M. Bitford Ch.
Admitted
Private 15 mo
Comm. State Troop
W. B. Johnson

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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. Those 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, shewing the Service of John Pitgood Windham & Co.
   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.     Vol - Dec. 76 15 for Attoxis Col Stanton A.R.G. Sturminster Newton Bradford, who swears to the service  
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 of the Court of 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.
W. L. Williams Clerk

John Bitgood
23205
Certificate to be sent to Francis B Johnston Plain- field Ct

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Connecticut County of Windham
On this 29 th day of January 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for the District of Voluntown in said County now sitting John Bitgood a resident in the Town of Voluntown in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut aged 71 years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the fore part of Decem- ber 1776. I voluntarily enlisted as a private Soldier in Capt. Riley Hoxie's Company of B. S. State Troops on Militem, and on the 16 th day of December 1776. I marched by the way of Providence R. I. to New London. I was in said State of R. I. where I joined said Hoxie's Company, and said Capt. Hoxie's Company was there and there joined to

Col. Joseph Stanton Regiment, and I there remained in service in said Compa- ny and Regiment, for a considerable time, from thence we marched to Wilksford in said State of Rhode Island. From thence we marched to Warwick Neck in said State where we remained a considerable time, we marched from thence to Howland's Ferry aforesaid, where I remained in service as aforesaid in said Company and Regiment until the 16 th day of March 1778. when I was discharged. The officers in said Horse Company, were as follows. 1 st Lieut. William Gardner. 2 d Lieut. James Bliving. Ensign — Wilks. Sergeants. Jonathan Brownell, Augustus Sunderland, John Hall and Prisoners Austin. Corporals. Thomas Pay- nells. Isaiah Hull, Wells Prinyon. Munit Stanton was our Piper. Asa Clark Drum- mer. Col. Stanton in the fall of 1777. left the command of said Regiment, and was called to some other post. and Col. William Barton then took the command of said Regiment. Col. Barton did

not remain in command a but a short time, being called to the west. I think the State of New-York, and then Col. Nathanael Hawkins took the comman- d of said Regiment, and continued in command until the 16 th day of March 1778. when I was discharged as aforesaid, making Sixteen Months, which I was in actual service in defence of my Country. I have no documentary evidence of this my term of service, but refer to the affidavit of Thomas Pery- nolds herunto annexed, who saw w- ith me during the full period of this my term of service, and I refer to the affidavits of Joseph Locke herunto annexed, for the greater part of this my term of service. I cannot give the general circumstances, or the names of the officers, more fully than I have in this my declaration. - and have produced all the evidence in support of my Pension claim, that was in my power.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. The following interrogatories were by Said Court propounded to said applicant viz
1 st When and in what year were you born Ans. in South-Hington in the State of Rhode Island on the 26 th day of June 1761.
2 o Have you any record of your age If so where is that record
Ans. I have no record of my age other than in my Father's Bible —
3 o Where were you living when call d into service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War And where do you now live
Ans. I lived in Stonington Ct. when called into service. Lived for the last forty years. I have lived in Kingston 1/4 th of a mile where I now reside. —
4 th How were you call d into service Were you drafted? Did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom. Ans. I voluntarily enlisted.

5 th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Ans. I recollect Gen. Spencer Gen. Garnett & Gen. Sullivan. — I did not give the general circumstances of my service more fully than I have in my de- claration. —
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it. Ans. I never received a written discharge but was honor- ably discharged. —

of the State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood And who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a revolutionary soldier, Nathaniel Sheppard and Jonathan Stanton.
John Britton
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before the Probate Court for the District of Volunton in Windham County and State of Connecticut
Timothy Gallup Judge

We Nathan Sheffield a Clergyman residing in the town of Voluntary in Said County and State and Jonathan Stanton residing in the same Town County State aforesaid hereby testify that we are well acquainted with John Pitgood who has subscribed to the foregoing Declaration that we believe him to be 71 years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Given to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before the probate Court for the District of Voluntary in the County and State aforesaid Nathan Sheffield Jonathan Stanton
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year afo- resaid, before the Probate Court for the District of Voluntary, in Windham County and State of Connecticut— Nimsey Gallup Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 Nathaniel Sheffield who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the said Town of Voluntown and that Jonathan Stanton who signed the same is a resident in the said Town of Voluntown and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit and that the persons who have subscribed the within affidavit are well known to this Court to be witnesses whose testimony is entitled to credit.
Attest. Harvey Gallup Judge of Probate

I Daniel Heagwin Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Volunton in the aforesaid County and State do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Pitgood for a person
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 29 th day of January 1833.
Daniel Heagwin Clerk

I Joseph Hoone of North-Harrington in the county of New London, and State of Connecticut, formerly of Hopkinton in the State of Rhode Island, aged 74 years a Soldier in the war of the rebellion and a Petitioner, do testify and say that in the Month of June 1877. I volun- tarily enlisted as a private Soldier, in Capt Percy Hovey's Company of A. S. State Troops or Militia, and marched to Chatham R. I. where I was joined to a part of said Hovey's Company, one 1 st Lieut. Col. William Gaudine & 2 d Lieut. James Blinn, from thence we marched to Warwick Rhe. and from thence to Linton both in R. I. and we were then joined to the other part of said Company, among which there was John Bitgood then of Harrington, New London County, State of Connecticut County, State of Connecticut, and the id- entical person who has signed the foreg- oing declaration, the said Company was

at D r Linton joined to the Regiment under the command of Col. Joseph H- unton, and I do further testify and say that I continued in service in said Co- mpany, in company with the D r Rev Pitgood, until the 16 th day of March 1778. When I was with the said Pitg- ood, honorably discharged, Col. Hunton in August or September of 1777 left the command of the D r Regiment and Col. William Benton then took the command of D r Regiment. Benton did not com- and long being called to another post, and then Col. Nathaniel Hunki- ns took the command of D r Regiment and continued in command until we were discharged on the 16 th day of March 1778. And further saith Not. Joseph Coon
Windham County ss Voluntown Jan. 29 th 1833. Personally appeared in open-

Count. Joseph Moore signed of the above affidavit, who is personally known to the Count as a witness whose testi- mony is entitled to credit, and a made affirm as to the truth of the same before Me.
Henry Galt, Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Voluntown.
I Thomas Reynolds of North Stonington in the County of Washington in the State of Connecticut aged 80 years, a soldier in the war of the rebellion, do testify and say, that in December 1876. I voluntarily enlisted as a Corporal in Capt. Riley Hovey's Company of R.I. State Troops or Militia, and was immediately by the way of Providence R.I. to Newlands - Army in South State, where I was joined to said Hovey's Company and said Company was joined to Col. Joseph Stanton's Regiment, and there remained in said Company and Regiment at said Newlands for a number of Months, and from there we were marched to Wickford in the

same State, from thence to Warwicks- Mick in Do State, and from thence to Lucia Howlands Ferry, and there remained in service as aforesaid, until the 16 th day of March 1778. When I was honourably discharged. The 1 st Lieut. in said Hossie Company, was William Gaudard, 2 o Lieut. James Blevins, at a time in Sept r 1777. the said Hossie Company was divided into two parts. Capt. Hossie, and a part of the company went to Charleston in S th A. S. and then returned to Howlands Ferry where they united with the other part of said Company to which I belonged, and I do further testify and say, that John Bit- good, then of Stonington at now of Volantown in Windham County, and the identical person who has signed the foregoing declaration, voluntarily enlisted into said Company and commenced service in said Company with me at said Howlands Ferry at the commencement of my service, and continued with me in said Company, as a Regimen- tal as aforesaid, as a private soldier-

until the said 16 th day of March 1878 when I was discharged. The said Bitg- ood was discharged at the same time I was, and we came home together.
And further saith Not.—
Thomas Reynolds
Windham County p. Durham, January 29 th 1833.
Personally appeared in open Court Thomas Reynolds, signer of the above affidavit, who is personally known to this board, as a witness whose testimony is entitled to credit as a witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before Me.
Vinney Galt, Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Voluntown

June 6, 1905 - Hirt to N. D. Prince Danielson Conn.
Revised
14959 INVALID.
File No. 14,959
John Bitgood Phil. Pa. un
Act: June 7th 1838
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 33
[Arrangement of 1870.]

The Windham County National Bank
OF DANIELSONVILLE,
DANIELSON, CONN.
1800.
J. A. ATWOOD, PRESIDENT, T. E. HOPKINS, VICE-PRESIDENT, N. D. PRINCE, CASHIER.
May 29, 1905.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:--
The "Record of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution", complied at the Adjutants General's office, by orders of the General Assembly, gives the name of one John Bitgood, residing in Windham County, Connecticut, who was a pensioner in 1832.
The Record states that the lists of names under this Act appears in Sen. Doc. 1st Sess. 23d Congress 1833-34 where further particulars such as age, date of death &c may be found.
If not out of order, will you kindly give me all data pertaining to the above named John Bitgood and upon receipt of same, together with your charges, I will gladly remit.
Respectfully yours,
N. D. Prince Cashier.