Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12323, Gideon Bristol, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bristol, Gideon
S. 12323
carded
CONTENTS

2830
Connecticut
Gideon Bristol of Cheshire in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Connecticut State Troops for 17 mo's
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 50. Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of Decem 1832 and sent to Sam l A Foot. Senate 16. S.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $ 84 99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th March 1833 28 33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Erast D. Bullock Clerk Book D Vol. 3 Page 33

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 State of Connecticut, County of Litchfield } S.S. town of Sherborn Probate District of Sherborn.
On this 11 th day of August 1832 - personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Sherborn said Court being a Court of record & having by the laws of this State a Clerk and seal and now sitting - Gideon Bristol a resident of said town of Sherborn in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy seven Years - who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated - He enlisted as a fife for the term of seven months, into a Company (Cannot say whether regular or State troops) - Commanded by Capt Isaac Cook of Wallingford - Hough of Mendon Lieutenant In the month of May 1775 - for the purpose of going on to join Col. Sturtevant's regiment in the American Army about Boston - That in this Company he proceeded on as far as Pomfret County of Windham State of Connecticut - when word reached them that from the appearance it was likely that the enemy would soon yield there and orders were given that a part of this Company should proceed to & remain at Housatonic - and Capt Cook taking about one half of said Company - said detachment including Applicant proceeded with Capt Cook and

his part of the Company to Hornbeck. Here we found Conceivable of a force - and from thence proceeded to New York - when we remained thro the summer I think Col Wooster was in New York and a Col Arnold of Durham not the Traitor. He does not recollect the names of his field officers. Towards the latter part of summer a detachment of troops from New York. Applicant thinks under Col Wooster was conveyed up the North River to Albany - and Applicant was with his Company taken along - from Albany the troops were moved to Saratoga - when we made a small halt, & from thence we were marched to Crown Point & Ticonderoga and from thence, we were conveyed in Batteaux to St Johns - which remained to us after our having been about one month in the neighborhood - and here the British troops to the number of five hundred were marched out and laid down their arms & Those of us who had poor guns were permitted to pick out a better from those of the enemy) Baltho' I was enlisted as a fifer - yet I carried a gun, did duty, and stood guard like the others - as my gun was a poor one I was permitted to take one which had been laid down by Staten from the enemy - This gun I brought home and after the war was closed in the year 1783. I sold it to Abel Lewis - We were detained at St Johns about one month after it was taken tho our times expired he thinks when he first reached St Johns about the middle of October - we were verbally discharged merely - and did not reach home until January I should think and tho we enlisted for only the term of seven

we were absent from home I think more than eight months - He has no Documentary evidence and he knows of no person in Cheshire or any where in his neighbourhood now living except Enas Bunnel who can testify to his service - He thinks said Bunnel was with him in this service some part of the time - He cannot say whether they went the same or diff solutions and as he has not seen him he cannot now say whether Bunnel will remember him - In the Spring of the year 1776 Applicant again enlisted into Captain Bunnels Company - Lieut Miles Hall In the Capacity of Corporal - and he served in that Capacity and This Company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col Douglass Lieut Col Donald M c leay Porter - In this Company Applicant proceeded on to the City of New York and was there until he crossed over to the Island about the time of the Battle - he did not stay on the Island long before he with all the American Army were brot over in the night in boats His Regiment was not engaged in the battle on the Island - Tho they were on the Island he thinks while it was fought He was afterwards with his Regiment led up to Turtle Bay - was then engaged in rolling from out of the stores & carrying it away much of it was captured by the British - He was at the stores during the Battle and fell back with the Army to the heights of Harlem where we had quite a skirmish & defeated a party of the enemy and William Mearns was killed from Cheshire in this action - after this we crossed Kingsbridge and had another battle upon White Plains

where after a serious engagement we were defeated. From here we were led to North Berth and then discharged about midwinter.
In the year 1777 in the latter part of summer or first of the fall applicant went he thinks under Lucas Little, now living in Chester in one of the militia Companies of the town of Chester to the South River & his Company just made a halt at Fishkill. Staid there some time & then proceeded up the South River with the refugees of the enemy and had got up to Peekskill when we heard of the capture of the enemy Burgoyne and after falling again down to Fishkill we were discharged. The Applicant thinks after a Campaign of two months or more and did not reach home until cold weather. Applicant was also out upon two different tours of draft and at New Haven on alarms. But his recollection is so indistinct with regard to them that he only makes a claim for the tours above specified - to wit for the tours of 1775 & 76 fifteen months and for the South River tour 1777 two months in all seventeen months. In reply to the queries of the Department Applicant says first - That he was born about ten miles from where he now lives - Then the town of Wallingford - now the town of Chester on the 11 th day of June 1755 - 2 nd His age is recorded in Wallingford town records - also in family bible which Applicant produces in Court - 3 rd He has always lived in since Chester except when he was learning his trade and then he resided in Wallingford and it was during this period that he enlisted in the service - when drafted upon each tour he lived in Chester - 4 th Question he has previously answered - 5 th Applicant's informants are such he cannot remember more than he has stated previously.

That their statement is entitled to credit, and the Court further certify that Deacon Ira Smith of Prospect and Enos Burnell of Cheslin have in open court orally under oath testified to the truth of Appli- -cants statement respecting his first tour from their personal knowledge they being in said tour in the same Regiment with Applicant
Silas Hitchcock Judge of Probate for the District of Cheslin
I Clement Peck Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Cheslin do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- -ings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Gideon Bristol for a pension and I further certify that John A Foot Esq before whom the accompanying deposition of Ira Smith purports to have been taken is a Justice of the Peace and that his signature to the same is genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of this Probate Office this 21 st day of August 1832 —
Clement Peck Clerk

6 th he never rec d other than a verbal discharge 7 th Samuel & Esau U.S. Knapp - Lucius Little, Samuel Talmadge - Stephen Parker, Rev d Reuben Jones, Eliezer Gay and Charles Shelton Esq r - These Gentlemen be refer d to as to his character for veracity and as to his Reput- ation as a Soldier of the Revolution - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pension and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Gideon Bristol
We Joseph Whiting a clergyman residing in the town of Chester and Samuel Talmadge residing in the same town - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Gideon Bristol who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age - That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Joseph Whiting Samuel Talmadge
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 Joseph Whiting who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Chester and that Samuel Talmadge who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Chester and is a credible person, and a

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Gideon Bristol a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 12,323.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1775. 7 mos. Fifer. Isaac Cook. " Conn.   Spring 1776. 8 " Cople Ensign Bunnell. Douglas.   1777. 2 yrs. Pri. Lucius Tuttle. "  
Battles engaged in, Brandywine, Red Bank, White Plains. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wallingford Conn. Date of application for pension, June 11, 1832. His cl. was al. Residence at date of application, Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn. Age at date of application, Born June 11, 1755. Wallingford, Conn. Remarks: There is no data relative to family.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Jany 12 93 High - 4- E J Steele thro Rev Filer East Div.
1913, Apr. 30. History to Mrs. Wm. W. Gaar. Fr.
1916, Dec. 11. Hist. to Musa Marbut. Letter with Cl { W. F. 12029, Rev. War John Wincaid.
1923 June 25. Hist. to Wm. B. Bristol 12029.
Rev War
12323 INVALID.
File No. 12,323
Gideon Bristol
Bri. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: —Vol. A , Page 18
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sent back without Remarks
12.512.
P. Gideon Bristols
asps for Pension
Thos Depositions in this case were by mistake omitted in sending the papers. They are now enclosed - with additional evidence to support the claim which is believed to be amply sufficient - Francis Tuttle.
Schabed Ives - George Merriam & Bros Bement are known to me as credible witnesses to John D Reynolds & John A. Good as parties of Peace & their signatures are genuine
17 mo. John D. A. Good
$56:66 per ann. U. S. Senate

I Enos Burnell of Cheshire County of New Haven of lawful age depone and say that in the year 1775- In the spring of the year as early I should think as the month of May I enlisted with Capt Arnolds Company of Durham as New in my declaration for a Pension, for the term of six or seven months and served it out as then stated - in the same Regiment with me tho not in the same Company - Gideon Bristol of said Cheshire served as a Soldier I was well acquainted with him then, and living in the same town have ever since known him we had intercourse while in the Army and I remember that he went with us to St Johns. and we staid out for a longer time than we enlisted for - As Bristol was not in my Company I cannot say when he was discharged But I am very confident that S d Bristol must have served out the whole term, and further Deponent saith not Enos Burnell
New Haven County S.S. Cheshire Sept 12. 1832
Personally appeared Enos Burnell subscribe to the foregoing Deposition - and known to me as a credible person and made solemn oath to the truth of the same
before me
J. H. Hook Just Peace

1 I Lucius Tuttle of Cheshire County of New Haven of the age of twenty three years upon oath say that In the year 1777. I then holding the Commission of Ensign in one of the Militia Companies of the town of Cheshire & see the Company - The other Commissioned Officers not being out with the Company - to the North River and was there at the time of the taking of Burgoyne Gideon Bristol was a private in said Company and was out on said tour - which was of about three months duration according to my recollection - but my impression is, that he left the Company before the rest of us were discharged - He was a faithful good soldier and if he did leave might have done so under a furlough - I should think he was out as much as two months and I think my tour was about three months and further Deponent saith not Lucius Tuttle
New Haven County S.S. Cheshire Sep. 13 th 1832 Personally appeared Lucius Tuttle known to me as a credible person, and signed the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me J. H. Hook Jur. Peace

I Clement Peck Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Cheshire do hereby certify that John S. Foot Esq is a Justice of the Peace for New Haven County and that his signature to the several accompanying depositions of Lucius Tuttle, Ichabod Dyer & Enos Bunnell is his genuine signature — And that Hon. John D. Reynolds is also a Justice of the Peace for New Haven County and that his signature to the accompanying deposition of George Meriman is his genuine signature —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of this Probate Office This 14 th day of September 1832
Clement Peck Clerk

I Chabode was of Wallingford County of New Haven being of the age of twenty three years - I do hereby say that in the year 1776 - I was a Member of Col. Douglass Regiment - in Captain Brooks Company. That I enlisted in the month of May & was discharged the middle of the next winter - The term of this Regiments enlistment I think was eight months. In this Regiment and in the Company Com- manded by Captain Brimble of which Gideon Bristol of Hartford is said County was a Corporal and served as a Soldier in that capacity & in that Regi- ment and Company thro' the whole Campaign of twenty six in the City of New York and Vicinity - I was very well acquainted with him before we met in this Regiment and I was very intimate with him thro' the tour and further Deponent saith not. I am GODS
New Haven County to Wallingford August 3. 1832 personally appeared Ichabod Chabode of the foregoing deposition acknowledged & made to be the true thereof the same before me N. A. Root Just Peace

I George Merriman of Wallingford in the County of Middlesex of lawfully age depose and say that I am acquainted with the facts stated in the within deposition of Jehuboe Gues of said Wallingford - I was a member of the same Company and I know that said Gieson Bristol did then as stated in said deposition subscribed by said Jehuboe Gues George Merriman
New Haven County ss Wallingford August 14 th 1832
Personally appeared George Merriman subscriber to the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me
W. D. Sheffield Jr. Pro Se
New Haven County ss. Sherborn Sep 12 th 1832
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Jehuboe Gues and George Merriman signers of the within and foregoing depositions - and that they are credible persons
Attest J. A. Foot Jus Peace
G. B. Root

F. S. HIGHT, MANAGER.
THE NEW WILLARD, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, FOURTEENTH & F STREETS
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
April 22 1918
Pension Dept.
Will you kindly send me a copy of the pension record of Gideon Bristol of Chester & Wallingford Conn. who was on the pension rolls of New Haven Co. in 1832. he fought in the Rev. war 6 yrs. was born in 1755. June 11 th in Chester & died there in 1837—
Please address.
Mrs. D. D. Gaar. Richmond Indiana.

WILLIAM A. BRISTOL ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW STATESVILLE, N. C.
May 7th., 1923.
Dept. of Pensions, U.S. Pension Office, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me a certified copy of the application of Gideon Bristol of New Haven County, Conn., for pensions as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army.
I will thank you to send it at once, as I am desirous of joining the "Sons of America Revolution" and I wish to obtain from this application the Company and Regiments in which he served.
Yours very truly,
WAB/IP

January 12, 1897.
Sir:
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Gideon Bristol, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that he made an application for pension on August 11, 1832, at which time he was 77 years of age and residing at Cheshire, New Haven county, Conn.
In his declaration he alleges that he enlisted as a fifer in the month of May, 1775, for a term of seven months, in the Company commanded by Capt. Isaac Cook, of Wallingford. In the spring of the year, 1776, he again enlisted in Capt. Bannell's Company as a corporal and served in that capacity. This company belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Douglas. During this enlistment he participated in the battles of Harlem Heights and White Plains. He served, in all seventeen months. He always resided in Cheshire except while learning his trade, when he lived in Wallingford, and

it was during this period that he first enlisted in the service. When drafted for the last tour he lived in Cheshire.
Very respectfully,
First Deputy Commissioner.
Mr. E. J. Steele,
Torrington, Conn.