Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,560, Samuel Botsford, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Botsford, Samuel
S 31,560
CONTENTS

2765
Conn. Secret
Samuel Botsford of New Haven in the State of Conn who was a Pvt in the Conn command by Captain Olmstead of the Regt commanded by Col Enos in the Conn line for service
No. 22765
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Octo. 33 and Sent - C. B Phelps, Woodbury
Arrears to the 4th. of Sept 33. $ 2.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Mar. - 10
$ 12.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullen Clerk.
Book 2 Vol. 3 Page 32

Samuel Rootford

State of Connecticut, Probate Court
} ss.
District of Woodbury
On this 16 day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury held at Southbury in New Haven County within and for said District
now sitting, Samuel Botsford a resident of Southbury in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, age Twenty one years, who being first 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.
_____
I was born at Newton in the County of Litchfield State of Connecticut on the 3 rd day of June 1761 and am now Twenty one years of age, my birth was recorded in the Town Records of Newton and I lived in Newton until enlistment into the Army during the Revolution in the month of June 1778 at which time I enlisted into Capt Smith's company this enlistment was for one year having a right to be discharged and leave the army at the expiration of every three months. Smith's company was a State company I was before joining the company transferred to Capt David Housatonic Company of State Troops and in June 1778 joined the company at Ridgefield. The officers of this company were Capt David Housatonic Lieut. Mills Ensign Silas Housatonic The Sergeants were Abijah Housatonic Diondy a Ensign. Whaples & Samuel Housatonic after joining the company were marched to White Plains

remained there perhaps for weeks and went to Port point crossed the River at Nutpoint at the expiration of the three months the company was disbanded and returned home after having been at home a few days in a fifteen we were called out again and joined the same company under Capt  (Edward Collins was Ensign in the town) Olmstead at Ridgfield. Capt Olmstead led them we marched to Horse Neck for three months under the same officers. When we first got in to Horse Neck the Brit. British came out into Ring Street and took a Col Robinson a Continental Col we went in pursuit of the English party coming right of them but could not bring them to an action at the expiration of the three months we were disbanded and returned to Newtown while I was at Horse neck the British sent a Hoop into the Service of New York in company with a Ship. The American whale Boats went out and took the Hoop she was commanded by one James Hoyt Hoyt James Hobbs. Hobbs and the crew were put to Fairfield Jail I was there one Hoyt Hobbs and he was put in the dungeon. This was Thanksgiving day in Nov. I have not been at home more than a month when we were called out again and joined the company at Horse Neck the company was under the same officers a part of the time a part of the time Capt Smith took command as Halibut was there Ensign Hubbell was not there. Edward Collins supplied his place remained at Horse neck all the time and at the expiration of three months we were disbanded again I served the full period of nine months in the company under Olmstead and Smith

Page 3
1 About the month of August or Sept 1779 2 I was residing at Newton and was drafted in 3 the militia draft for three months immediately 4 joined the company at Horeb. It was com- 5 manded by Benjamin Sumner. Abiel Baldwin 6 was Lieutenant. Ensign Ruggles. Probably Sergeant & 7 have forgotten. We remained at Horeb three 8 months & was discharged in Dec as I think the close 9 of it. We had no fighting.
10 When at White Plains 11 we joined Col Ennis Regiment. Col Robinson 12 was Lieut Col. Major Curtis was Major. 13 Gen Gates with his troops came there. When at 14 Horeb the first three months. Col Ennis was 15 in command of the Regiment. I remember 16 the following Captains of companies besides Olmstead 17 Capt Wright, Capt Leomin, Capt Duke, 18 and the second three months were different 19 same Cols.
The Col in the last service a whole regiment was there but great numbers scattering about and was not often rendezvous. Henry Duke was Adjutant. We had no fighting in the last tour. I never had a written discharge. I do not know of any body by whom I can prove my service that I can obtain. I remained in Newton until
I was about 21 years old and then removed to Southbury where I have resided since and now reside. I have made diligent inquiry for evidence to support my claim & prove my service and have been unable to

to procure any other testimony than the depositions of Joshua Raymond. Matthew Parker and William Hubbell herewith transmitted
I am acquainted with Rev Aaron Pierce and The Honorable John Pierce of Southbury and others.
1 October

The said Samuel Botsford 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 to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Botsford
H B Phelps Judge Probate
District of Woodbury
We, Aaron Pierce a clergyman, residing in the town of Southbury and John Pierce residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Botsford who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 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.
Aaron Pierce John Pierce
H B Phelps Judge of Probate District of Woodbury
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev Aaron Pierce who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Southbury and that Hon John Pierce who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Southbury and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H B Phelps Judge of Probate District of Woodbury
Nathan Preston Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Botsford for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this Ninth day of October 183 2 —
Office,
Nathan Preston Clerk

See her further response in L. She did not request these photos of our claim
December 28, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Charlotte T. Luckhurst 156 Western Avenue Albany, New York
Samuel Botsford, S. 31560 Daniel Blanchard, W. 20725 Zebulon True, W. 22449
BA-J/MMHF:MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request photostatic copies of papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claims based upon service of Daniel Blanchard, whose widow, Mary, was a resident of Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1840; Zebulon True, widow, Martha, and Samuel Botsford, of Connecticut, born in 1733.
There is only one claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Samuel Botsford. He was born June 3, 1761, in Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The number of pages to be copied in that claim, S. 31560, is fifteen. The number to be copied in claim, W. 20725, based upon service of Daniel Blanchard is twenty-eight, and the number to be copied in claim, W. 22449, based upon service of Zebulon True is twenty-three. The cost per page is twenty-five cents.
Please make remittance by money order drawn to the order of The Treasurer of the United States.
It may interest you to know that written reports of Revolutionary War soldiers are furnished by this office without charge. The claims are examined and all data pertaining to ages, service, residences, families, etc., as found therein, are included in the reports furnished. These official reports have been accepted by various patriotic, historical, and other societies, when certain data were required, and have been used instead of photostatic copies. Of course the demand for such data is great and the clerical force available for furnishing such information is limited, therefore, it has not been possible to make a series of investigations and reports for one person or organization. Because of the very frail condition of many of those old documents, it can be

seen, readily, that the extra handling for photostatic copies would necessitate injury to them. In consequence of this fact, it is always appreciated when the official reports can be used in place of photostatic copies.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

31 560
1933 Dec 28 - Charlotte J. Lusk - Hurst ass. cost of photos. MNF
Reg INVALID.
File No. 31, 560
Samuel Botsford Sci Rev Nov
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 46
[ Arrangement of 1870. ]

State of Connecticut } District of Woodbury. }
Be it remembered that on the 12 th day of October 1883. personally appeared in open court before the Probate Court for the District of Woodbury, now sitting, Samuel Botsford of Southbury in said district who being first duly cautioned and sworn, on oath makes this his declaration in addition and supplemental to the former declaration by him him made in said court on the 16. August 1832
That in the first tour of duty in 1778 he enlisted as he believes for one year, not to serve at one time, in continuation, more than three months, and that he served for the first three months, from June 1778 to September 1778 and for the second tour from the last of September to the last of December 1778.
The Officers in these two tours tours he believes he has stated correctly and that Ennis was Colonel.
On the suggestion of the Commissioner that Ennis' Regiment served but six  eight months in 1778, he has examined the original declaration, and does not find he has stated more than six months service in 1778 in any Regiment. The declaration is obscurely expressed in the 15 th 16 th 17 th 18 th & 19 th lines of the third page He intended to speak of the captains of companies, at White Plains - in the first tour, and at Horseneck in

in the second tour and that I said two tours altho the Captains changed, the Col. viz. Eno. did not change but I did not intend to say any thing about Col in the third tour. When I come to consider the third tour tour, under Capt Smith a part of the time I labored under a confused and indistinct recollection as to Officers. That I served, the third three months. Commencing quite at the close 1778. or early in 1779. I think I am not mistaken. - but I do not know who commanded the Regiment in the 3 rd tour . I dare not say it was Eno. and did intend in the original declaration so to be under- stood. It is possible Col Eno commanded in 1779 at Horse Neck at the time I was there. in the third tour.
I am unable to give further Explanation or proof and submit the subject to the Commission
I am old. and my recollection imperfect in regard to transactions of the ancient date. asking the Commission to strike out the third tour if it should not be proved satis- factorily.
My extreme poverty and frailness, require some aid. and its early reception is of more importance than the increase of the Pension by the addition of the three months
Yours before me
Thos Phelps Mayor
of Probate District of Woodbury
Samuel Batsford

State of New York
Westchester County
ss Bedford
September 14 th 1832
Be it remembered that on the day and year aforesaid personally appeared before me Solomon Clason Esq: a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Westchester duly qualified Luther Raymond Esq: of the town of Bedford in the said County to me personally known who is a credible witness and being first duly cautioned and sworn on oath declares that in the year 1778 he was acquainted with Samuel Buttsford then of Newtown now of Southbury Connecticut that said Buttsford in May or June 1778 enlisted into the service of the United States in a company commanded by Captain David Olstead Col. Enos Regiment and served in said company and Regiment until his term of service expired said Buttsford enlisted for nine Months or a year and this deponent is not confident which This deponent was in service in the same company as a private The service of the said company was performed on the North River Horse Neck and parts adjacent The said Buttsford joined said company in a few days after his enlistment and was discharged in the spring of 1779 as late as April
Sworn and subscribed } on the day aforesaid } before me }
J. Othello Raymond
Solomon Clason Justice of the Peace

I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester State of New York - do certify that Solomon Mason the person before whom the within affidavit was taken is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that I believe the signature subscribed to the same to be his
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 17 th day of September 1832
N Bayles Clk

Dear Belford 14098.
Reply to HB Phelps Esq Woodbury Conn

State of Connecticut
Simsbury County
of Winchester
August 7th 1832
Be it remembered that on the day above you affirmed Personally appeared before me Isaac Brendon — a native of the Place within said for Simsbury County only commissioned and sworn, Silliman Hubbell of said Winchester to me personally known to whom I certify is a credible witness who being first duly sworn on his oath declares and says that in October 1780 Samuel Bots ford and myself were drafted into the service of the United States Militia in Capt Benjamin Sumner's & Abel Baldwin's Regiment — Rezzles Ensign and served at Horse neck three months only half of the time as waiters on the Officers and afterwards went into the Ranks
Silliman Hubbell
Sworn before me the day & year above before me Isaac Brendon Justice Peace

I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut do certify that Isaac Bronson before whom the within affidavit of William Hubbell appears to have been taken, was on the 14 th day of August A.D. 1832 a Justice of the Peace for said County of Litchfield, & that I believe the signature to the contiguous annexed to said affidavit is the genuine signature & proper hand- writing of the sd Isaac Bronson —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 17 th day of June A.D. 1833.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk

Samuel Potiforce
Reply to
M c Pherson
Woodbury 60n

State of Connecticut
1 Fairfield County Ridgefield
August 8 1832
Be it remembered that on the day and year afore said personally appeared before me Jesse J Bradley Esq a Justice of the Peace and Associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Fairfield duly qualified. Matthew Reeder of said Ridgefield to me personally known to whom I certify to be a credible witness, since being first solemnly sworn on oath, declares and says that he has been acquainted with Samuel Dotsford formerly of Newton Connecticut now of Southbury in said State since the year 1775. This deponent served in the company of Capt David Olmstead Col Ennis Regiment in the Connecticut State Troops in the Revolutionary War as a private in the year 1778. 1779 Ennis will remember said Dotsford was a private in said company and served with this deponent for the period of nine months. commencing as well as this deponent can now recollect in the  the month of November and terminating in the spring of 1779. the exact time the deponent cannot now say. but believes it was after 10 April
Horner Hubbard
Matthew Reeder
before me
Jesse J. Bradley Justice of Peace & Associate Judge of the County Court for Fairfield County

State of Connecticut } Fairfield County } So I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in said State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that Joseph Bradley Egle, whose own proper signature known to me to be genuine is annexed to the Certificate on the other side hereof, is now & was on the 8 th day of August 1832, a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned & also an associate Judge of said County Court & in both said official capacities duly authorized to administer oaths & take Depositions &c - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 6 th day of September A 1832.
Thomas B Osborne Clerk of said County Court for Fairfield County

I Edward M Phelps, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Woodbury do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original and supplementary proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Botsford for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Probate Office. This 12 th day of October 1833-
Edw. M. Phelps - Clerk

Sam l Botsford No 14098
14
Un o Journal
Reply to H. B. Phelps Esq
Woodbury Conn
Vatheia Pastor Woodbury Conn

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Buttsford 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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
Isaac Branson not certified to be a Justice of the Peace 17 June 1857 certificate
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
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, 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 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 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
The statement of service in Col Enn Reg t in 1778 contra outs various declarations showed half pay rolls in this office. Two terms of 3 mo s each were all the actual service performed during the year, or that the Reg t was held to perform under its enlistment
Claimant's trustee must set forth the facts as they actually occurred

MRS. CHARLOTTE TAYLOR LUCKHURST REGISTERED GENEALOGIST 156 WESTERN AVENUE ALBANY, NEW YORK
Nov. 21. 1933
Pension Bureau, Revolutionary War Div. Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen-;
Samuel Botsford born 1733. married Elizabeth Watkins, he lived in the vicinity of Seymour, Conn,
The tradition in the family is that he was a soldier in the Revolution, and died with a bullet still in his body,
I find in a published list of Pensioners the name of Samuel Botsford, aged 79 in 1832, if this published age is correct then this is not the Samuel born in 1733, but I find but one man of the name as having served, so think it might be an error in the published age,
Will you please look at the pension papers of Samuel Botsford, and see where he lived, and if he had wife Elizabeth Watkins, I find no other Samuel Botsford of an age to have served,
I thank you, Very truly yours,
Charlotte T. Luckhurst