Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12336, Zephaniah Briggs, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Briggs, Zephaniah
S. 12336
carded
CONTENTS

9126 Connecticut
Zephaniah Briggs of Sherman in the State of Conn who was a Lieut in the Conn commanded by Captain Bradley of the Reg commanded by Col Waterbury in the Conn line for State Troops
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 89 Dollars 30 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of March 1833 and sent cash to Perry crew Milford Lt
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $178.60 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 1. 33 44.65 $223.25
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 3

State of Connecticut, County of Fairfield, Probate District of New Milford. On this 1 st day of August A.D.
1832, personally appeared in open court, before the court of Probate for said District now sitting at Sherman in said District & County, Lephaniah Briggs a resident of said town of Sherman aged ninety four 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 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 May 1775 he received a commission under the hand of His excellency for Jonathan Trumbull Governor of the colony of Connecticut appointing him 2 d Lieutenant of the 9 th company in the Fifth Regt. dated May 1 st 1775 which Commission is annexed to this declaration - and he also states declares that he had orders from the Governor as such Lieut. to enlist twenty five men to help form a Company of State troops - which order (for believed) has gone into the hands of the company officer Captain of the Company so formed - That in pursuance of said orders he did enlist at New- Haven in Connecticut twenty five men

one of whom was a Sergeant but for what length of time, he cannot. At this dis- tance, time and in his advanced age recollect when the regiments number of men were in- listed which was the last of May or first of June 1775 He marched with his men to Stamford Connecticut and there the Company was formed & then he joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Waterbury. After remaining in Stamford about a week He marched to New York and after remaining there about a fortnight the Regiment had orders to march to the north some of the Officers being absent he had orders from his Col. to notify them that their services were immediately required. He accordingly started immediately on horseback and reached the order to Lieut. Banks at Ridgefield. Capt. Noble Benedict of Canbury. Ensign Botstater of New- town and Capt. Ichabod Beardley of New- Fairfield being his own place of residence and remaining 2 or 3 days he proceeded immediately to Albany & from there to a place (at that time) called Half moons about 10 miles above Albany the place is now called Waterford and there joined the Regiment again where he remained two or three weeks and had orders to march to Skaneateles to which place he marched & proceeded immediately to Saratoga. He cannot tell exactly how long he remained there but will recollect that it was in Sept. of the same year when he left that place. From there he went to Crown Point and from there went in boats to, & encamped on the Isle of Noack

in Lake Champlain about 12 Miles from St Johns where he remained about one week and proceeded from there to St Johns and was there at the surrender of the Fort at that place their stores &c were kept on the Isle of St Johns till after the surrender of the Fort. He remained at St Johns till the 20 th of November of the same year about a fortnight (as he believes) after the surrender of the fort - when he was honorably discharged by Col. Waterbury, he had no written discharge. He immediately started for home where he arrived the 4 th day of December of the same year - and that during this Campaign he served as a S er geant in the Company to which he belonged under the aforesaid Commission Genl. Montgomery was at St. Johns at the time he (the declarant) was there -
At the burning of Canbury in April 1777 he again instead the service as a volunteer as a volunteer & served as Lieut. he was in the Rear of the battle at Ridgefield at which Genl. Wooster was mortally wounded he followed the enemy till they went on board their shipping at Comptons in Fairfield at this time he was in the service about one week or ten days he cannot tell exactly how long -
In May 1777 he was commissioned by His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull a Lieut. of the above Genl. Conn- pany within the limits of the 7 th Company of the 16 th Regt. in this State
In the month of July 1779 he served under the latter Commission as a volunteer at Norwalk on an alarm at the time that place was burnt and was there engaged in the service about a week or ten days

In the Winter following he again entered the service as a Lieut & march'd to Buxton Bridge at which place he had the command of a company - he was out but a few days only not longer than 8 or 10 days and Col. Linsell told him he had a sufficient number of officers and gave him liberty to return home -
That he was born at Taunton in Massachusetts May 3 d 1738 but has no record of his age that he knows of - He removed from Massachusetts to New Fairfield about twenty years since at which place he lived when he entered the service - He has ever since resided in New Fairfield & Shermer -
All the documents he has, he unto annexed and all the evidence he knows of to prove his services is annexed to this declaration
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. Sworn & subscribed this 10 th day of Decr aforesaid
his Stephen Briggs mark
We Matty Gilston a Clayman residing in the town of Sherman & Noah Seelye residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Briggs who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be ninety four years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed this 10 th day of Decr aforesaid
Matty Gilston Noah Seelye

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of of the matter, and after putting the inter- rogatories 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 Healthy Gibston who has signed the preceding certif- icate is a clergyman resident in the said town of Sherman and that Noah Selye 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.
Nathaniel Perry Judge of the Court of Probate for said District
State of Connecticut
District of New Milford ss:
I William I Hare Clerk of the Court of Probate for said District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Zephaniah Briggs for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 1 st day of August 1832. William I Hare

State of Connecticut,
County of Fairfield,
Probate District of Nutmeg
On this 17 th day of January
A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for said District now sitting at Sherman in said District County Stephen Briggs of said the Sherman who is personally known to the Judge of this Court and is the same person who made a declaration before this Court on the 12 th day of August 1832 for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the pro- vision of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 and now, for the same purpose makes the following declaration as sup- -plementary to & explanatory of his former declaration being first sworn according to Law. - I, Joseph and saith, that, by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memo- -ry 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 six months in the year 1775 I served as a Lieu- -tenant - for seven days in April 1777 I served as a Lieutenant - for seven days in July 1779 and for seven days in the winter follow- ing.

Served as a Lieutenant making Six months & twenty one days which I served as a Lieutenant ; & for such service I claim a pension -
Lephaniah his X Briggs mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid and the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant Lephaniah Briggs was a revolutionary soldier & served as he stated in his former declaration & as he has sworn above
Nathaniel Perry Judge of the court of Probate for said District -
State of Connecticut
District of Windham Co.
I William J. Starr Clerk of the court of Probate for said District , hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the supplementary applica- tion of Lephaniah Briggs for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this 17 th day of January A.D. 1833 William J. Starr Clerk

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 Jephaniah Briggs 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. 12336
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1, 1775. 6 mos. 2 nd Lt. 9 co. 5 regt. of Conn.   Apr 1777 7 days. Lieut volunteered at the burning of Danbury   May 1777 ✓ Lieut 7 co 16 regt   July 1779 7 days Lieut volunteered at the burning of Norwalk   Following winter 7 days Lieut in command of a guard at Byram's Bridge  
Battles engaged in, Surrender of Fort St John, Ridgefield.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Fairfield Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug 1, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Sherman, New Milford Dist. Fairfield Co. Conn.
Age at date of application, May 3, 1738 in Taunton, Mass.
Remarks: No family data.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1915. Nov. 29: history to Mers. Harry John Miller. M.B.H. 1921, Sept. 12 hist to Lucena H. Elmendorf - Ev
Rev. War
✓ 12336 INVALID.
File No. 12,336
Zephaniah Briggs Lt. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: — Vol. a , Page 48
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Colony of Connecticut. } JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esquire,
Captain-General and Governor in Chief, in and over His Majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America.
To Zephaniah Briggs GREETING :
BY Virtue of the Power and Authority to me given, in and by the ROYAL CHARTER, to the Governor and Company of the said Colony, under the Great Seal of England , I DO, by these Presents, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, constitute and appoint you, the said Zephaniah Briggs to be Second Lieutenant of the Ninth Company in the Fifth Regiment of the Inhabitants, inlisted and assembled for the special Defence and Safety of His Majesty's said Colony. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Second Lieutenant in leading, ordering and exercising said Company, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, in the Service aforesaid, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline; hereby commanding them to obey you as their Second Lieutenant , and yourself to observe and follow orders and Instructions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from Me, or the Commanding Officer of the said Colony for the Time being, or other your superior Officers, according to Military Rules and Discipline, pursuant to the Trust reposed in you.
GIVEN under my Hand, and the public Seal of the said Colony, at Hartford the First Day of May in the 15th Year of the Reign of His Majesty, King GEORGE the Third, Annoque Domini, 1775.
By His Honor's Command,
George Wyllys Secret
Jon: Trumbull

JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esquire, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief of the State of CONNECTICUT, in AMERICA.
To Zephaniah Briggs Gent. GREETING.
YOU being by the General Assembly of this State accepted to be Lieutenant of the Glastonbury Company within the limits of the 7th Company or Trained Band in the 16th Regiment in this State Reposing special Trust and Confidence, in your Fidelity, Courage, and good Conduct, I do, by Virtue of the Laws of this State, me thereunto enabling, appoint and impower you to take the said Company into your Care and Charge, as their Lieutenant carefully and diligently to discharge that Trust; exercising your inferior Officers and Soldiers in the Use of their Arms, according to the Discipline of War; keeping them in good Order and Government; and commanding them to obey you as their Lieutenant for the Service of this State. And you are to observe all such Orders and Directions, as from Time to Time you shall receive, either from me, or from other your superior Officer, pursuant to the Trust hereby reposed in you.
Given under my Hand, and the Seal of this State, in Hartford the 11th Day of May Anno Domini, 1777
By His Honor's Command,
George Wyllys Sec'ry.
J. Trumbull

See Michael C. T. Grant 18
Jan. 22. Conn. Returned,
Provis Declaration
See
Hon. Louis Lep
Sub. of War
Washington City

Wadsworth (Con) Jan 18. 1833
Sir.
I again send enclosed the Pension declaration of Stephen Briggs with an answer to the objection made by the Department in conformity to the instructions contained in the brief - Please make returns to me
Your Ob dt Serv t
N. Perry
Hon. Secy. Cope
Secy. of War

Lophornia Briggs 2037
admit Lieutenant 6m 21 days $89.30
Atto Perry New Milford CT

State of Connecticut, County of Fairfield, Probate District of New Milford p: On this 1 st day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in Open Court, before the Court of Probate for said District, now sitting at Sherman in said District and County, Ulrich Hengenford a resident of said town of Sherman, who being first duly sworn according to law testifies and says that he is Twenty  seven years of age - that he served in a company of state troops of Connecticut State Troops commanded by Capt. M c Bratley which said in said company in the month of May 1775 and served therein till about the 20 th November of the same year - that Stephen Briggs of said Sherman who is now present at the taking of this testimony was the Lieut. of said company and served in that capacity till the 20 th of November of the same year when the company was dismissed He also says he was with the Briggs in the  some at the time at Canbury was burnt and should judge that said Briggs was out a week or ten days as he has stated in his declaration - and further the deponent saith not
Ulrich Hengenford
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afore said before Nathaniel Day Judge of said Court

M 1 Rev Soc
Revolutionary Dept. Dept of the Interior. Dear Sir.
Can you send to me a record of the services of Lieut Zephania Briggs of New Milford Conn. of Geo Bull enlisting from Litchfield Conn. and Maj. Thomas Buel of Woodbury.
Any notes mentioning family of these men are

much wanted also.
I want also the Rev. Service of Capt Elisha Dampson of Duxbury Mass. This was my great grandfather and I think he must have applied for a pension as he lived in N. York. until 1848 or 9.
NOV 16, 1915.
Very Sincerely Yours
Mrs Harry John Miles 2223 Rucker Ave. Everett Wash.

W.H. Coeymans Hollow, N.Y. Aug 24, 1921
Com. of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear sir: Will you please send to the address below, a copy of the pension, granted to Zephaniah Briggs (a Lieut. in the Revolutionary war.) "under act of Congress, approved June 7 1832, pensions were granted to all officers and soldiers, whether Continental State or Militia, who had served, at one or more terms, a period of two years. The list under this act appears in Sen. Doc., first Sess. 23 Con- gress, 1833-34, where further particulars, such as age, date of death etc, not entered in the list here given, may be found". Copy from Book of Connecticut men in the Revolution page 650, at Continental Hall Washington D.C. Please send copy of pension of said Zephaniah Briggs to Lawrence H. Elmendorf. Coeysmans Hollow. New York.