Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,634, Aron Betts, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bette Aron
S 16634
or
Aaron
Carded.
CONTENTS

Connecticut - N o 28.151
Aaron Betts
Wilton in the State of Connecticut he was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Parsons of the Reg t commanded by Genl. Thomas in the Cont nt Army line for 5 mos 7 days Mass.
died 3 April 1833.
his widow Lavinia
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20 Dollars 77 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of March 1834 - and Hon. G. Tomlinson
Arrears to the 3 rd of April 1833 44.84 Semi-ant. allowance ending . . . . .
7 44.84
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk, Book E 2. Vol. Page 3.
41.54 3.30 44.84

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } ss
On this 18 th day of August 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Southwick in said County now sitting Aaron Bitts, a resident of Wilton in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut aged seventy 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 Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 that he entitled the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
That in the fall of the year 1775 I enlisted in the town of Richmond County of Berkshire State of Massachusetts into Capt. Jacob Parsons Company Regt. Dean and marched through the County to Leeback under Genl. Thomas and was stationed on the plains near Leeback all Winter and in Summer returned to said town of Richmond and was there discharged after serving over five Months
In the fall of the year 1776 I was drafted in said Richmond into Capt. Aaron Rowley Company and was marched to Fort Ann in State of New York and was stationed in said fort when the enemy made a severe attack and we succeeded in repulsing them and served in said expedition over two weeks and was then discharged at said fort Ann
In the summer of the year 1777 I was drafted in said Richmond into Capt. Aaron Rathbone Company was marched to Fort Edward in the State of New York and served there two weeks & was then discharged
After which I served one week in guarding the Prisoners & Pittsfield taken at the Battle of Bennington After which I spent two days in pursuit of the Tories making my whole service six Months 7 days -
I was born in the said town of Wilton in the

Last Will
9390
This may certify that I was well acquainted with the within named Aaron Pitts and that at the time of his death on the 3 rd April 1833 he left a widow and but one surviving child viz. Louisa Pitts of said Wilson Doyl: as as Judge
6 mo. 7 d. per

State of Connecticut } To Probate Court being Court of County of Fairfield } Records within and for the District of Norwalk in said County and State
This may certify that satisfactory Proof was adduced before said Court by the testimony of Abigail Williams and Leavitt Pitts both of Wilton in said County and credible and rebuttable. Persons v. Metcalf That the witness named Leavitt Pitts died in said Wilton on the 3 day of April 1833 at about ten o'clock forenoon and that he has not left any widow and has left one daughter living in said Wilton. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal of said Court this 8. day of August 1833 Dwight D. Dyer Judge

16 day of September 1757. Recorded in the family Bible and lived in said Milton until I was ten years of age I then moved with my Father to the aforesaid town of Rich- -mond and there lived until the year 1802. I then removed to the town of New Sebago in State of New York where I lived until the year 1827. I then removed into the aforesaid town of Milton where I have lived ever since and now live. I never rec d any Written discharge nor have any documentary evidence of my services and that I do not know of any person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my services the hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declare that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - Subscribed to Sworn the day and year of our said
Aaron Batts
We Samuel Merriam a Congregan minister in the town of Milton and George Mead minister in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Aaron Batts who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion - Sworn and Subscribed the day and year of our said
Samuel Merriam George Mead
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 under the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that Samuel Merriam who has signed the preceding certificate is a

the y rs m rs residing in the town of Milton and that George Mead Esq r who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Milton and is a credible person and that this statement is entitled to credit Benoj. Isaac Judge
I Charles Isaac Clerk of the said Probate Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Aaron Butts for a Pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Probate Office this 18 day August 1832
Chas. Isaac Clerk

Mr Benjamin D. [unclear] 10
Mrs. Lavinia Betts
✓ Milton Conn: -

United States of America
Southern District of New York ss. Ulrich Betts of New Lebanon, County of Columbia and State of New York aged seventy two years and upwards, being duly sworn deposeth that Aaron Betts late of Milton Connecticut was an older brother of the deponent: That in the fall or latter part of the year 1776, (according to the best of his recollection as to dates) his said brother Aaron went out with the Militia, from Richmond in Massachusetts, to reinforce the Northern Conti- nental Army which deponent then understood was in Canada; That deponent resided in Richmond that Winter and removed to Connecticut the Spring after, but deponent has now no other certain recollection whether his said brother had then returned from the Army when he removed to Connecticut but it is the impression on his mind that his brother has not returned at that time: This deponent cannot say from his own recollection the length of time his said brother was gone,

on that service, but has understood from his brother that it was five months:-
This deponent has understood that his said brother was afterwards out at other times with the militia in the continental service during the Revolutionary war, but cannot now state whether he understood it from the family generally, or from what his brother has told him of late years, and deponent not residing near his parents or brother at the time, had no personal knowledge of his service; and this deponent further says, that his parents have both been dead several years, and that there is now no member of his family living older than himself, and no one who can testify to the fact of his said brother's service, or the term of it.
This deponent made an affidavit in this matter some time the last year, but not now having a copy of that affidavit, he cannot state whether he was then able to give dates and circumstances respecting his brother's service with more particularity than he does now; - He has understood that affidavit was forwarded to the War Department, and presumes that it can be now obtained from the files of that department.

And this deponent says that his brother has recently died, as this deponent is informed and believes, on or about the fifth day of this month. —
Uriah Betts
Given this 23 rd day of April 1833 before me
Sam d R d Betts Judge of the United States for the Southern District of New York —
I certify that the above named witness Uriah Bell, is well known to me, and that he is a credible witness. New York February, 25. 1834.
Sam d R d Betts
U. S. Dist. Judge
Southern District of New York ss: I Frederick J Bleecker Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York do hereby certify that Samuel R d Betts whose name in his own proper hand written is subscribed to the foregoing certificate and depositions was at the time of signing the same Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York
In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- scribed my name and affixed the seal of the said District Court this twenty seventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Frederick J Bleecker
Clerk

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
Recd Plent
July 17, 1928.
Charles R. Hale 33 Capitol Ave. Hartford, Conn.
Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 16634 , it appears that Aron or Aaron Betts was born September 16, 1757 at Wilton, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
While a resident of Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts , he served as a private with the Massachusetts Troops , as follows-
From in the fall of 1775, five months in Captain Jacob Parsons' Company ; in the fall of 1776, two weeks in Captain Aaron Rowley's Company , and was in an engagement at Fort Ann ; in the summer of 1777, two weeks in Captain Aaron Rathbone's Company ; also served one week guarding prisoners taken at the battle of Bennington , and two days in pursuit of Tories.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1832 , at which time he was a resident of Wilton, Connecticut . He died there April 3, 1833 .
*****
Doubtless false

16.631 INVALID.
File No. 16.631
Stearns Bitter
Pr. New York
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 422
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Mrs. 193 Miss. to Mrs. Chas. L., Rockwell, 7/1 Nat. Bank, Meriden, Conn. M.E.
1928 July 17- Sandstone data in Chas. R. Hale - see letter in Joseph Skelton's R. 18144 aug

Aaron Bells C o
ref d died 3 rd April 1833
certificate D
6/13 Levinia Bells of Milton
$20.77.
Page 191.
Hon G. Tomlinson

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Claxon Bales which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
not the regimental & general Army. The details are not satisfactory if the claim is based on the declaration alone
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?

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? 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? It does not appear but there are survivors by whom the services might be proven. The statement on this point is altogether too loose and indefinite. 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? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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.

Meriden, Conn.
1 st Nov. 1895.
Hon. W m Lockren, Commissioner, Dear Sir.
B 48
Will you kindly send me the military histories of Aaron Betts and Benjamin Smith, who are in the list of Conn. Pensioners, Act of 1832 approved June 7 th . Which appears in Senate Documents, 1 st Sess. 23 rd Congress 1833-34.
Very Truly Yours,
M. E. Rockwell
307 Colony St.
Meriden, Conn.
(Mrs. Adams) Mrs. Chas. Lee Rockwell % 1 st National Bank Meriden, Conn.