Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 43436, Silas Curtis, Continental (Conn.) War Of 1812

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Conn.)
Curtis Silas Curtiss or
8 43436
War of 1812.
CONTENTS

Dead. Paid at the Treasury under the Act of April 6 th 1833 from 4 th March to 3 rd July 1841. Agent notified Aug 2 15 th 1842
The Joint Select Comtee on Revolutionary Claims, 6 June 1842
to N. 915 R 16. 615 R from  Connecticut Silas Curtis to N. York.
of Washington in the state of Conn y who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Sheldon of the Conn y line, for the term of 1781 war
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn y at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 22 nd of July 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th of March 1820 to H. R. J. Tomlinson, H. R.
Arrears to 4 th of Mar 1820 155.61 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 st Sep r 1820 48
  198  14 3/4  $ 203.61    152     3.61     155.61   
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. }
1842

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
August 6 th 1842.
Sir:
Under the Act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The Administrator of Silas Curtis, deceased, late _____ a Pensioner on the Roll of the New York City Agency, at the rate of Eight _____ Dollars and _____ Cents per month  annum , under the law of the 18 th March, 1818, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March to the 3 rd July 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
J. Wood B. Carrington
Comptroller
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.

District of Connecticut ss. County of Litchfield, County Court.
On this 27 th day of March 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a court of RECORD for said county in said district Silas Curtis aged 56 years resident in said county, who
being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: That he enlisted into the Light Dragoons, commanded by Capt. John Webb, it being the first Troop or Company of Horse in the second Regiment, commanded by Col. Elisha Sheldon, in the Spring of the year 1781 & faithfully served during the War, for which term he enlisted & served before he was finally discharged until the fall of the year 1783. My service was on the Continental Establishment Connecticut Line. I am now on the Pension Roll & have received my Certificate for the same, bearing date the 29 th day of March 1820, - My original Declaration was dated the 22 nd day of July 1818, - The number of my Pension Certificate is 16,615.
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, so as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed, as follows, vizt.
  One Acre - $1.  Four Share Pension $1.  $2.00    8 Bush 50 Cents - Wanner 50 Cents.   1.00    20 old Lats.   3.00    Shoe Making Bench, Tools &c.   2.00    I am by occupation a Shoe Maker, & have my  $7.50     Rev.  

property but my small balance of Tools, before mentioned. I have no Family & am much out of health. > Silas Curtis

Silas Burtis
16615
Sep 1890
W
S.P. Burtis - Agent Litchf. Court
Sworn to and declared on the 27 th day of March A.D. 1821. before me the said Court.
Certified by Frederick Wolcott, Clerk
I, Frederick Wolcott - Clerk of the County Court, within the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut
do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is Seven dollars and fifty cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 27 th day of March 1821.
Frederick Wolcott
Clerk of the County Court for the County of Litchfield

Silas Curtis
Col Sheldon's Regt Connecticut Line 1781- - 2 years - dec 22 a July 1818
Not on Roll.
Rejected.
X

District of Connecticut
On the 22 day of July A.D. 1818 before the Hon. Pierpont Bondars Judge of the District Court within & for the District aforesaid, Silas Curtis, of the Town of Washington, County of Litchfield & District aforesaid, for the purpose of obtaining the provision of the act of Congress entitled, "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war", on oath, declares that he enlisted into the service of the the United States, in the month of June or July 1781, at Farmington, in the State of Connecticut, in the company of Capt. John Webb, in the 2 d Regiment of light infantry  dragoons , under the command of Col. Elisha Sheldon, in the Con- necticut lines, in the continental establishment. to serve  to serve during the war, that he served his country faithfully in said regiment until he was discharged therefrom at the termination of said war, when

said Regiment was disbanded, that after he left the Army he lost his right to a military Land-Warrant, & delivered his discharge, to the person who purchased his said right in order to enable him to procure said land-warrant, & has never been able since to obtain the same & does not know what has become of said discharge or where it may be found; and he further declares that he is in very destitute cir- -cumstances & of the age of fifty two years & that by reason of his reduced circumstances he needs assistance from his country for support. Silas Curtis 
D o H o Connecticut on the 22 d day of July AD 1818 came the above named Silas Curtis and made oath and fulfilled her above declaration on oath before me made on the that the same is true Richard Brown D o H o D o H o D o H o 

I Purvis Edwards District Judge of the District of Connecticut do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that Silas Curtis who made & subscribed the declaration contained in the annexed Schedule did serve in the Revolutionary War against the common Enemy as stated in his said declaration & I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me in his case to the Secretary of the department of War pursuant to an Act of Congress in such case made & provided said proceedings & testimony are contained in the annexed Schedule August 12 th 1818
Purvis Edwards

His having some relation to the recipi- ent colk of Col. Tull- magre — is to be given to Mr. Edwards by the person who examines this case —

Litchfield Jan y 11 th 1820
To the Hon ble J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War,
Sir,
On the Application of Silas Carlisle, I have examined my papers & especially my Regimental Roll of the 2 d Reg t L t Dragoons, but do not find his name in the list; Nevertheless I am fully satisfied that he served in the 2 d . Regiment of L t Dragoons on the Continental Establishment in the Revolutionary War. My reasons for this opinion shall be stated. In the first place Doctor Isaac Morrison, whose cha- racter for truth & probity, is unimpeached, declares that S d Carlisle served in his family as a Waiter for more than a year prior to the conclusion of the revolutionary War, he being Surgeon Mate, & S d Carlisle a soldier in 3 d Regiment.
In the second place, Elkanah Smith, one of the Surgeons in said Regiment, testifies that he knows the S d Carlisle enlisted into S d Reg t in the year 1781 & that he served in it until the close of the Revolutionary war.
Thirdly - In a lengthy conversation recently held with S d Silas Carlisle at my House, relative to the events of the war,

& the movements of P. Regiment after he enlisted into the same, I am persuaded that he could not have known & related the minute circumstances to which his attention was called, if he had not been a Member of said Regiment.
It now remains that I reconcile the fact of his having served in said Reg t with the circumstance of his Name being omitted in my regimental Roll, of which I furnished a copy for the War Office. This is satisfactorily accounted for from the circumstance of his being a Substitute for his Brother Clark Custis . This I fully believe was the fact, from circumstances now best to my recollection, & especially from the affidavit of Capt. John Webb, who was an Officer in P. Reg t , which Affidavit shall be enclosed. I would further remark that in cases of Substitution it was not always the case that the name of the original Soldier was erased from the Rolls, as we sometimes kept the Substitute on Probation, & if he did not prove acceptable, the Original was liable to be called for.
In the present case, by turning to the first Troop, in the Roll which I furnished, You will find that Clark Custis stands as having served to the close of the war, without any remark of having been discharged, under

the head of Casualties. If Clark Carlisle had been entered discharged, Silas Carlisle would have been entered in his place. I am now satisfied that Clark Carlisle died before the revolutionary war ended, & that Silas Carlisle was his Substitute in the 2 nd Reg. t L.D. & comes fairly within the purview of the Law of March 18. 1818, & entitled to a pension.
I shall now enter against the name of Clark Carlisle, in my Regimental Roll, under the Column "Casualties", Discharged in 1781 for his Substitute Silas Carlisle, & wish the same remark may be noted on the copy in your Office.
I am very respectfully Your most Obedt. Servt. Benj. Saltonstall Col. R. M.
P.S. I have not deemed it necessary to swear to the foregoing Statement, it being designed to explain & amend my Regimental Roll. — If it should be necessary, I will do it at any time.
B. S.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Silas Curtis 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.
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Evil. at Farmington, Maine
Date of application for pension, July 22, 1818. His claim was also,
Residence at date of application, Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn.
Age at date of application, fifty-two years.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1915 Dec. 13. Hist. to Nellie A. Curtis. f.
43 436
INVALID.
Rev.
File No. 43, 436
Silas Curtiss
Rev. Rev. had
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 120
[Arrangement of 1870.]

V Vermont
4
Silas Curtis. 200.
Private
Cop. M c Binney's 6 th 4 th Regt. N.S. Infantry. 4
Ratio of Dis. old age & infirmity one half. Date of Disch - 28 May 1814.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at $2.50 per month to commence the 29 May 1814
Certificate of Pension issued 17 Jan y 1816 & delivered to Capt. Salubel Clarke.
Dec. 1 st 1815.

May 25 th 1832. See letter to Miss Tilton of Dr. Dorr M.D. on the subject of the inviolable person.
* Letter not found under either date.
File Sept. 20 th

War Department Pension Office July 19. 1872
Sir
As the name of Zachariah Dodd is not to be found upon any of the N.Y. Rolls in the Office, and as the proof of service, is exhibited to the Department

Silas Curtis's Certificate from Lock Day
Silas Curtis

Silas Curtis's Certificate from Lock Day
Silas Curtis

I certify on honor, that Silas Curtis of Captain John Binney's company in the fourth Regiment U.S. Infantry is disqualified for performing the duty of a soldier, in consequence of Old Age and infirmity, which have fallen to his lot while in the service of the United States, which occasion the loss of the half of his manual labor, and he is in my opinion, entitled to a discharge from the service, and a subject for a pension.
Signed duplicates.
Sylv. Day M.D. Surgt. 4. Reg. Infy.
Cantonment, Plattsburgh, May 17 th 1814.

Silas Curts

Know all men by these presents
That I Silas Curtis of Pawlet County of Rutland and State of Vermont, late a Soldier in Capt Binney's Company in the fourth Reg- iment of Infantry, have and by these presents do nominate constitute and appoint May Satterlee Clark of the City of Washington my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to apply at the War office and have my name entered on the list of Pensions also to take out a Certificate in my name showing the rate of pension allowed me and where to apply for the same.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19 th day of Oct 1875 in presence of
Silas Curtis
Isaac Clark
Henry Dickenson

State of Connecticut Fairfield County of Fairfield July 1818
I Isaac Bronson of the Town & County of Fairfield, in the State aforesaid do testify & say that during the revolutionary War, I was Surgeon's Mate, in the 2 d Regiment of light Dragoons, under the command of Col. Blish Sheldon, in the Connieticut line, on the continental establishment; and I will recollect that a boy by the name of Silas Curtis, who was a private soldier previously enlisted into & belonging to said Regiment, came into my service as a Waiter, while I was in the service of the United States, & served me in that capacity, for more than one year immediately preceding the termination of said War, and I have no doubt that at the conclusion of the said War

he was regularly & honorably discharged, as while he was in my service he was trusty & faithful; and I do further testify that a man calling himself by the name of Silas Curtis who has signed the declaration to which this affidavit is annexed, has applied to me to state his services in the Army of the United States in the war aforesaid, and although I am unable from a view of his features to identify him, as since he left my service & that of the United States, he has been absent from me, & has passed from a youth of about fifteen, to a man of grey hairs, yet a general resemblance of his form to that of the youth in my service, and his having stated to me the names of places where I was, & of the persons

with whom I boarded, the meals & stations of said Regiment and generally the circumstances & occurrences attending his said employment, during the last eighteen months of the war proves beyond the possibility of a doubt in my mind that he is the same person who served in the Regiment aforesaid, & I have no doubt but that he is a natural citizen of the United States
Isaac Bronson
State of Connecticut Fairfield County Nov. 2. 1818
Personally appeared Isaac Bronson Esq. to me well known, & a Gentleman highly respectable, & made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit before me.
William Smithson Jus. of Peace

District of Columbia July 1889 To Jonathan Smith of Washington said District having been duly sworn do depose and say that I was a sergeant in the 6th Maryland Regiment for four years and four months, in my discharge and with your office will coincide - I will further with the last battle and I do know that he enlisted into Col. John W. Foster's company in said Regiment in the year 1878 and do know that he was taken to the western named near Brandy and that he joined said Regiment until the end of the Revolutionary War and until he was discharged
John Brandy
Jonathan Smith
sworn before me Richard Edward District Clerk of said District

rec d . May 30. 1826
Silas Curtis, for transfer.
Pensioner, South Dover, N.Y.

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Dutchess ss. at Dover
On this Sixth day of May 1826, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Dutchess personally appeared Silas Curtis who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Webb in the regiment commanded by Colonel Elisha Sheldon in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Connecticut from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of Newyork where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future; and that his reasons for removing to the State of Newyork are that he can there support himself cheaper and better and improve his health which was impaired Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid. } Silas Curtis
William Rapp , Justice of the Peace
NOTES.—The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose official character and signature must be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, setting forth that the person taking the testimony is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also have the authentication as above required.

Duchop County
Be it remembered that on the eighth day of may in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six before me William Rof one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County - Personally appeared William Fry of the Town of Dover in the County aforesaid Farmer - & I do hereby certify that he hath been acquainted with Silas Curtis about six years - and the Deponent went with said Silas Curtis to the United States agency at Hartford and applied said Silas Curtis there applied for his pension money by showing his papers at said agency and that the said Silas Curtis did then and there receive forty eight Dollars as pension money of said agency & this Deponent saw said Silas keep the same from the agency books at said agency - & this Deponent further saith that the aforesaid Silas Curtis received the above forty eight Dollars at said office in the month of September 1824 & further this Deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 8th day of May 1826 William Rof Justice of the Peace
William Fry
I do hereby certify that the above named William Fry the deponent is a man of Truth & Veracity William Rof Justice

many of said agency & this Defendant saw said Silas kept the same for the agency books at said agency & this Defendant further saith that the aforesaid Silas kept the said office at the
State of New-York.
DUTCHESS COUNTY, ss.
I, Clapp Raymond Clerk of the County of Dutchess, do hereby Certify, That William Poffs has been duly Commissioned, as a Justice of the Peace, for the county of Dutchess, and has taken and subscribed the Oath of Office, and the Oaths by Law required, and that he was on the nineteenth day of February , one thousand eight hundred and twenty three and continued to be until after the sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty six a Justice of the peace of said county, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said William Poffs and believe the signature of the said William Poffs to the annexed certificate to be the proper hand writing of the said William Poffs
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County this tenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty six
Clapp Raymond

Silas Curtis Washington
22. July 1878
admitted

John Webb of lawful age testifies and says, that according to his belief and knowledge Silas Burts enlisted in his troop then under his command as a substitute for Silas Bur- ts in 1781. And the deponent further says that the said Silas Burts served under him in his troop for some time. And And the de- ponent further saith not.
John Webb
Litchfield County ss Canada January 10th 1820. Personally appeared John Webb late Captain of the second Regiment of light Dragoons commanded by Col. Elisha Sheldon and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed before me —
Joshua Carmwell Justice of the Peace

The testimony of William Cogswell Esq. & Stephen Cogswell Jr. & Noah Baughton of Washington in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut being duly sworn is as follows. That we are acquainted with Silas Curtis formerly from Farmington who now lives & resides in the Town of Washington in the County & State aforesaid & we further testify that said Silas Curtis is a very poor man has no property whatever but a few Shoemakers tools & his clothes on his back that he is in ready Circumstances a feeble man much out of health and needs the assistance of his Country for — Support & have often heard him relate of being in the Revolutionary War as a light Dragoon in Col. Sheldon Regiment & one year at one time as Nights to D r Isaac Bronson & was Discharged at Danbury at the close of the war and further say not
W m Cogswell
Noah Baughton
Stephen Cogswell Jr.
Litchfield County ss. Witnesseth that on this 24 th July 1818.
Personally appeared William Cogswell Esq. Noah Boston & Stephen Cogswell Jr. whose names are subscribed to the foregoing Affidavit and acknowledged to the truth of the same. Before me David S. Boadman J d P. Clerk

Difficult to convince him of the fraud any of the part 1818 I part part Edward Difficult to get of said Deputys do witness that I am well acquainted with William the Coyswell the one of the within deponeth that he is a very respectable man and faithful - and under may be given to his declaration I am also well acquainted with David J. Boardman the prison before whom the within deponeth of said William Coyswell, Noah Borden & Stephen Coyswell was taken and with the hand writing of said David J. Boardman and I testify that said Boardman is a Justice of the peace for the County of Sedgwick and that the signature to the certificate of said Deponeth is the proper hand writing of said David J. Boardman and that I am satisfied that the said John Boardman the place at present is by read for of his redend arm flame in his

in middle of the country for further the  the and Edward

per g/s/
Gilbertville, N.Y.
Dec. 2, 1915
Dept. Of Interior
G.M. Saltzgaber Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I desire to join the "Daughters of the Revolution" I have not been able to find all the statistics it is necessary for me to have. Therefore, I am asking you if you have any record as to the birth, marriage or death of Silas Curtis.
I have obtained from the "Record of Conn. Men in War of Revolution" under the heading of "Col. Canfield's Militia Regiment at West Point, Sept. 1781" Silas Curtis, "Farmington", thus showing that he was in the Regiment of Lieut - Colonel Samuel Canfield of New Milford, Conn.
His widow's name was Ruth
RECEIVED DEC 4 1915

Bindsey Curtis. I have no farther record of him.
Can you give me any of this information which I need?
Very respectfully,
Nellie A. Curtis