Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14955, Eleazer Bidwell, Conn.

SERVICE
born.
Bidwell, Eleazer
NUMBER
S. 14955
CONTENTS
carded

17.638
Connecticut
Ebenezer Bidwell
of Holbrook in the State of Conn who was a Pr. & Ser. in the Conn. commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col. Giles in the Conn. Militia time for 9 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Sep 1830 and sent Mr H
Mills, Norfolk Ct
Arrears to the 14th of Sep 4 1833 $ 108.32
Semi-ant. allowance ending March 14, 21.66
$129.98
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Russell Clerk,
Book 8 Vol. 3 Page 6

488227 Chas. Bidwell
Declaration
Pg 1206.

Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7-1832 State of Connecticut } So Norfolk Probate Suffolk County } District On this 9 th day of August 1832
personally appeared in Open Court (court now sitting) before me Michael F. Mills Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk. Elazer Bedwell a Resident of the Town of Calabrack aged Eighty years old last July who being first duly sworn according to Law do then his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7-1832 That in the year 1775 he entered the service of the United States under Col t Elazer Curtis in Col t Benjamin Hennan, Reg t of which Company he was attached for a short time and here produced his Original Warrant signed by said Col t Benjamin Hennan and served seven months the term for which he enlisted had a Discharge but has lost it. That he was in the Northern Army the whole time.
That in the year 1778 he was drafted into the service under Capt t Kellog and was with Col t Kellog & Col t Gils in the service about one month and was marched with Bergaen's army to land said Bergaen's Army through the State

and near this time
and further that in Nov. 1881 - he was drafted as Sergeant of the Malitia under Capt. Mays and Arnon Austin Col. Shepard and Marched to New Haven and Served one month
and that he was Born in Hartford in said State but  and Resided there until he was fourteen years of age then came to Colebrook where he has Resided ever since that is acquainted with the Rev. Rufus Babcock Clergyman and Samuel Phelps Esquire of said Colebrook who can testify as to his character that they are well acquainted with him
he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on or the pension Roll of the agency of any State - signed -
Ebenezer Bidwell
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year above before me Michael F. Miles Judge of Probate

and due Rufus Babcock Clergyman residing in the Town of Norfolk and Lemuel Phelps Esquire Residing in said Town herewith certify that we are well acquainted with Eleazer Bidwell of said Calebback who has subscribed and sworn to the above and further declaration that we believe him to be Eighty years of age that he is Respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Sinner of the revolution and we concur in that opinion and we further certify that his her character is fair for Spirit and veracity and his statement entitled to credit.
Rufus Babcock
Subscribed and sworn to the above and further declaration me Michael F. Miles Judge of Probate and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion of all the material parts of the matter and after having had interrogatories submitted to the said Court that the above named Rufus Babcock is a Clergyman in the town of Calebback and that Lemuel Phelps Esquire is also a Clergyman in the town of Calebback and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Michael F. Miles Judge of Probate
I Jona W Pettibone Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Eleazer Bidwell for a Pension under the acts of Congress passed June 7 th A.D. 1832.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 9 th day of August A.D. 1832
Jona W. Pettibone - Clerk

Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7- 1832 State of Connecticut } S r Norfolk Probate District Court } District on this 13 day of July A D 1833
Personally appeared in open Court now sitting before me Michael F. Miller Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk Eleazar Bedwell of Callicoon in said County 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 in addition to his former Declaration made before this Court on the 9 day of August A D 1832 that as to the time of service in 1778 as mentioned he is confident he served one month and believe some more but is confident it was one month and as to the first time of service of seven Months Genl. Skyler was the Commander as near as he can recollect as to the time of the second term Col. Gils was Commander and as to the other terms Col. Tustin was the Commander
And further that he has no knowledge his age and that he had a discharge

but has lost it and at the time after loans he had no such charge. That he has no further evidence that he knows of having sworn and subscribed the same and your affiant
Oleazar Bedwell
In when Court before me Michael G. Mills Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk
I Michael G. Mills Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Oleazar Bedwell for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 13 day of July 1883
Michael G. Mills Clerk

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWF/eel
April 8, 1929
Maybel Britell 814 Nebraska Street Wayne, Nebraska
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.14955, it appears that Eleazer Bidwell was born in July, 1752, at Hartford, Connecticut.
While residing at Colebrook, Connecticut, he enlisted and served with the Connecticut Troops as follows:
In 1775, seven months as fourth sergeant in Captain Eleazer Curtis' Company, Colonel Benjamin Hinman's Regiment; in 1778, one month in Captain Kellog's Company, Colonel Giles' Regiment; in 1781, one month as sergeant in Captain Moses Shepard's Company, Colonel Aaron Austin's Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 9, 1832, at which time he was living in Colebrook, Connecticut.
There are no data as to family.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner,

1908 Feb. 17. Heist to Francis Deming and 1922 Sept. 14 " Miss Minnie Bidwell-En. 1929 Apr. 8 " Maybel Birtell serg.
Rehman
14955 INVALID.
File No. 14955
Eleazer Bidwell Sergt. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 32
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ticonderoga. Benjamin Henman Esq r Colonel
of the fourth Regiment raised for the special Defence of his Majesties English Colony of Connecticut in New England in America to Eleazer Bedwell Greeting. Do by these Presents reposing special trust and Confidence in your loyalty Courage and good Conduct, constitute and Appoint you the sd Eleazer Bedwell to be fourth Serjeant in the seventh Company and fourth Regiment of Inhabitants Inlisted and Assembled for the special Defence and safety of his Majesties sd Colony and I do hereby Authorize and Empower you to Exercise and Discharge the Duties thereof which you are Diligently to Attend and do your Duty as Serjeant Aforesaid According to the trust reposed in you for which this is your Sufficient Warrant
Given under my Hand and seal at Ticonderoga the 14 th of June A.D. 1775 and in the fifteenth Year of his Majesties Reign.
Benjamin Henman Colo 24 th Reg t

Roger Stillman of Calabnack in Stithford Circuit being first duly sworn according to Law Testifies and Says That in the year 1881 he has been in company with Edgar Bedwell and ever since, and that in the year 1881. he was with the said Bedwell a period of one month at New Haven in the house of the said Bedwell that said Bedwell was a Sergeant in Col Shephard's Company in Col Austin's Regt.
Roger Stillman
Subscribed and sworn to above and before me this 9th day of August 1882
Michael F. Miles Judge and I hereby certify that it appears to said Court that Roger Stillman is a Resident of the Town of Calabnack is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Michael F. Miles Judge

187.206 Eleanor Bidwell
1 st private
8 th dere
43.33
M. F. Mills Esq.
Norfolk Ct.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Ebenezer Bedwell,  which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes in one case. XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes  No XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? yes  No if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 the 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.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

Ex. mm
Div. Per. Hist. Section
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C. July 3 , 1922
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.
1" name of widow No. of claim Ruth Bidwell
✓ Name of soldier, Ebenezer Bidwell
P.O. address of claimant, at enlistment and after service
Company _____
Regiment _____
✓ State where enlisted. _____
Date of enlistment birth Aug. 2, 1752
Date of discharge death Nov. 2, 1840
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
Return attached letter with reply.
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.

Wayne, Nebr.
August 16, 1928.
Pension Bureau, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.
I am a relative of Eleazer Bidwell of Colebrook, Conn. I know he was receiving a pension from the U.S. Gov. in 1840. Will you please send me his military record from the Revolutionary war?
Yours truly,
Maybel Britell 814, Nebr. St. Wayne, Nebr.

per Kingfisher, Oklahoma May 22, 1922
United States Pension Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs,
I am a great grand- daughter of Eleazor Bidwell who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Will you please send me the military record of his ser- vices during this war?
Thanking you I am
Yours very truly, (Miss) Minnie Bidwell

Kingfisher, Okla. Aug. 19, 1922
United States Pension Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs,
The information I have concerning Eleazer Bidwell's service was obtained from "Connecticut Men in the Revolution," a book compiled by the Adjutant General of Connecticut in 1889.
This book states that in 1840 Eleazer Bidwell, of Colebrook, Connecticut, was drawing a pension from the United States government for his service in the Revolutionary War.
He was born at East Hartford, Connecticut, and died at Colebrook,

Connecticut.
As all his children were born at Colebrook we suppose that is the place from which he enlisted.
Hoping this will be enough information to obtain his military record I am,
Yours very truly, (Miss) Minnie Bidwell

London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Co.
A. G. McHWAINE, JR. MANAGER.
OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.
AGENCY DEPARTMENT, HARTFORD, CONN.
FRANCIS DEMING, AGENT BERLIN, CONN.
Berlin, Conn. Feb. 10th. 1908
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
As my wife wishes to join the Daughters of American Revolution I desire to learn what is on file in your department of Eleazer Bidwell who was born in East Hartford, Conn. August 2nd. 1752 and died in Colebrook, Conn. November 2nd. 1840.
He was a pensioner of the revolution army.
Awaiting your favor, I remain,
Yours truly,
Francis Deming P.O. Box 85.