Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37832, Obadiah Child, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Child, Obadiah
8,37832
CONTENTS

12,935 R Connecticut
Obadiah Childs of Woodstock in the state of Connecticut who was an Ensign in the regiment commanded by Colonel D. Ward of the Connecticut line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of twenty Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 th of October 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th of July 1819 and sent to David Butler, Esq. Windham, Conn.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 5. 22 / 31 114. 19 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Sept. 1819 120. 00 $234. 19
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Windham Conn.

Rec. 5 Jan.
1819
# free Wm Ward
Nov
There is no evidence in the Pension Office, to shew that Ward's regt. was commissioned by Congreg- -ation though the applicant produces a commission signed by the President; he does not prove that it was given to him as an officer in Col. Ward's regiment.
29 July 1819 Please to notice the deposition of Captain Allen & Nichols accompanying these applications.
Rejected: not being considered continental service

Obadiah Child Ensign.
Col. A. Ward's Conn Regt.
1776. - 1 year -
14. October 1811.
Admitted.
There is no evidence in the Pension Office to show Col. Ward's regt. was comprised in the corps - which the - Free 1819 Pension Rec. of John

To David Bolles Esq. Judge of Windham County Court Obadiah Child of Woodstock in said County applieth an in pursuance of the United States Law entitled "An Act to to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" I Child doth declare under oath that on the 10 th June AD 1776 he was commissioned as an Ensign in the continental Army and served in the war of the revolution from said 10 th June until the 14 th day of May 1777 when he was at Chatham in New Jersey honourably discharged therefrom: he has no written dismission; he served in the Company commanded by Capt. Gether the thinking I Captain's name was Benj. in Col Andrew Ward's regiment in the Connecticut line Cather I Child now for many years past has resided in said Woodstock he owns about 100 acres of land worth about $1600 and owes according to his best recollection just about $1000. — he is 78 years old and through age & infirmity is wholly unable to labour and doth declare that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life in need of assistance from his country for support and doth therefore desire to receive a pension from the United States of twenty Dollars per month during life agreeable to the provisions of said Act Done at Litchfield in said Windham County this fourteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen signed Obad. Child
State of Connecticut Windham ss Litchfield 14 th October AD 1818 Personally appeared Mr Obadiah Child signer of the above and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth before
David Bolles Judge of Windham County Court.

Transellau Child of Woodstock in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut of lawful age testify and say that I am well acquainted with Mr Obediah Child within named I think the within statement true his farm is in my opinion worth no more than $1500. and he is deeply in debt how much precisely that he owes I cannot tell but being a cheseller about 2 miles from him from what I have learnt of his circumstances if his creditors take a course of law with him I fully believe it will reduce him to entire poverty: as he has very little property except his land aforesaid. He has been lame these many years and is wholly unable to labour - I remember that he was an officer in the army but as to the length of time I do not now recollect it with certainty and further the Deponent saith not. Ashford 14 th Oct r 1818
Transellau Child
Windham to Ashford 14 th October 1818
Personally appeared Transellau Child Esq r of Woodstock in said County signer of the foregoing deposition and made oath that the same contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth before David Bolles Judge of Windham County Court
Dec r 14-1818-
State of Connecticut, Windham ss, David Bolles Judge of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas for said Windham County certify that it appears to my satisfaction that Obediah Child of Woodstock in said County signer of the foregoing declaration made on oath, did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in said declaration, against the common enemy; and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his country for support
David Bolles
J. Samuell Gray Clerk of the County Court in & for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that David Bolles Esq r is Judge of said County Court, & that the above signatures are his hand writing that full Faith & Credit ought to be given to his acts as such. I also further certify that Transellau Child and Jonathan Nichols Esq r before whom affidavits have been made respecting Obediah Child an Applicant for a Pension under the Acts of Congress March 18 th AD 1818. are duly enrolled as Justices of the Peace in & for said Windham County & full Faith ought to be given to their acts as such. In Testimony whereof I have subscribed my Name and Affixed the Public Seal of said Court at Windham in said County this 14 th day of Decem r AD 1818.
Sam l Gray

MSA
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
May 18, 1925
Mrs. Mary B. Bishop 142 Grove St. Putnam, Conn.
Madam:
I have to advise you, from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.37832, it appears that OBADIAH CHILD was commissioned Ensign June 16, 1776, in Captain Benoni Cutler's Company, Colonel Andrew Ward's Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged May 14, 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 14, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, aged seventy-eight years.
There is no data on file relative to his family.
Respectfully,
WILDER S. METCALF Commissioner

IN CONGRESS
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a just respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, when, from time to time, the government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of usurpations and usurpations, invariably pursuing the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated usurpations and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
CHILD, OBADIAH (CONN.) S-37832

IN C O N G R E S S.
The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, to
To Obadiah Child Esq m Greeting
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Ensign of a Company
in the Army of the United Colonies raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of an Ensign by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as Ensign And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Dated this tenth Day of June A.D. 1776
By Order of the Congress
Attest. Ch a Thomson Secy
John Hancock
PRESIDENT.

278 32 INVALID.
Rev [signature]
1925 May 18 Hist Mrs Mary B. Bishop see letter in case of Jos. Seagrave W. 12509 ms A
File No. 278 32
Abadiah (Phila) Ensign Rev War
Act: 16 March 18
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 202
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Thomas Chaffe of Thompson in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut of Lawful age testify and say that Mr Obadiah Child of Wood stock in the County served as a soldier in the army of the American Revolutionary war in the Continental service more than nine Months beginning in the fore part of May 1776 and was discharged in the Month of May 1777 in the Town of Chatham in and joined the Company of Capt Benoni Webb of Killingly and Col Andrew Ward Reg iment who lived in Guilford and State of Connec- ticut and that the said Obadiah Child is an aged Man and a cripple and unable to labor for a living and that his real estate in my opinion is not worth more than fifteen hundred Dollars and further the deponent saith not Thomas Chaffe
Windham County ss Thompson Nov 12 to 1818 Then personally came before me Thomas Chaffe and made oath to the facts contained in the fore- going Deposition Russell Child Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that that the above named Thomas Chaffe is a credible Man and may be relied on as a Man of Truth
Russell Child Just Peace

I Aaron Corbin of Woodstock in the County of Wind- ham & State of Connecticut of Lawful age testify and say that I am acquainted with Mr Obadiah Child of P Woodstock and that his debts in debt and his Real Estate is not worth more than fifteen hundred Dollars and has but little Stock and is a cripple and unable to labor and the income of his farm were heret in debt is not more than sufficient for his maintenance and further the Deponent saith not Aaron Corbin
Windham County ss Woodstock Nov. 19 th 1878 Personally appeared Aaron Corbin of P Woodstock and made oath to the facts contained in the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed
Subscribed By Ransellaer Child Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Aaron Corbin is a credible Man and man and may be relied on as a Man of truth
Ransellaer Child Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that Capt Jonathan Nichols the deponent to the foregoing deposition is a credible man and may be relied on as a man of truth
Certified by
Jonathan Nichols for Justice of Peace

I Jonathan Nichols of Thompson in Windham County and State of Connecticut being of lawfull age do testify and say that I was knowing that Obadiah Child now residing in Woodstock in D Windham County did serve as an Ensign in Capt Barona Cullens Company in Col d Andrew Ward's Regiment in the Connecticut line in the Continental Army for more than Nine months during the Revolution- ary War. further the deponent saith not — Jonathan Nichols
Windham County ss Thompson Oct. 21 st 1818 Then Personally came before me Jonathan Nichols and made solemn Oath to the truth of the facts contained in the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed — Jonathan Nichols Justice of the Peace

Depositions of Daniel Allen and Jonathan Nichols taken as applicable to the inclosed cases of Obadiah Chiffl Samuel Whitney & Thos. Chaffee —

I Daniel Allen of Ashford in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut take a Captain in the Continental Army and now a pensioner of the United States under the act of 18 th March 1818. Testify & say that I have this day seen the Disposition of Capt Jonathan Nichols taken yesterday 1 st July 1819 by David Bolles Esq. and am in knowing that the facts therein stated are true except that I had no personal acquaintance or knowledge of Thos Chaffe - I personally knew Obadiah Child an Ensign in Col Andrew Ward's regiment in which I began the year's service I served also as Captain. Ward's Regiment consisted of Connecticut people chiefly, and was raised in Connecticut & myself and the other officers therein received all our Commissions signed by the President & Secretary of Congress and I suppose that this Regiment was the first that Connecticut furnished under Congress. The Commission which I then received as Captain is the same that I sent to the War-Office to obtain my pension. I know that Capt. Stearns company served in 3 d Regiment and also Capt. Cutter whose Ensign 3 d Obadiah Child was; While I belonged to 3 d Regiment, an army was begun for three years or during the war in which I was also appointed a Captain and served therein. This Ward's Regiment was as our Commissions stated "In the army of the United Colonies" I have now seen Ensign Obadiah Child's Commission and it is similar to mine in date and general tenor. I recollect that Stearns, Cutter, Dana, Phelps - Pettibone, Meigs, & myself were Captains in that Regt. Johnson was Lt Col & Cook was Major. I had Connecticut bills to pay bounty money to my soldiers when they enlisted but all our wages was paid in Continental money and came through the hands of Paymaster Royal Flint - Dated Ashford 2 d July 1819 Daniel Allen
State of Connecticut Windham ss. Ashford 2 d July 1819 Personally appeared Capt. Daniel Allen Signer of the above deposition and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth before
David Bolles Judge of the County Court for said County

To the Honorable Secretary of the Department of War The Depositions of Capt s Daniel Allen and Jonathan Nichols (who are credible & respectable persons) are transmitted as applicable to the cases of Ensign Obadiah Child, Thomas Chaffee and Samuel Whitney applicants for pensions under the act of Congress of March 1818 — Two points viz
1 st That Col. Andrew Ward Regiment was in the Connecticut line on the Continental establishment 2 d That the Officers & Soldiers generally in that corps served at one time more than nine months.
It was humbly conceived that it was not necessary to take 3 sets of Depositions for those 3 cases but it is hoped the same will be as acceptable as if so done and be allowed to apply to each case aforesaid
W m D. Boller J.W.C.C.
P.S. Am informed (whether correctly or not the documents in the war office will show) that Zenas Howes of Windham in Conn. is a pensioner by virtue of his service in Andrew Ward's Regiment as on the Continental establishment D Boller

I Jonathan Nichols of Thompson in Windham County and State of Connecticut residing at this time July 1 st 1819 in Ashford in said County and being in the eightieth year of my age testify and say that in May 1776 I enlisted a number of soldiers into the army of the United Colonies and Capt Allen of Ashford & Capt Herman of Hampton in D o County and Ensign Obadiah Child of Woodstock and Capt Benoni Cutler of Killingly all in D o County did the like and when we had got our complements of men we had orders to march and join the Continental army in New York under General Washington Colonel Andrew Ward of Guilford in this State commanded the Regiment in which we served and Lieutenants Col. Johnson of Canterbury in this County and Maj r Cook of Wallingford in Windham County were field officers in that Regiment. all the Officers in D o Regiment received commissions from Congress, as I understood at the time, dated 10 th June 1776 I rec d one of that date as Ensign Daniel Allen was my Captain Lieut Morgan & Lieutenants Bottom were officers in the same company in D o Ward's Regiment with me Col. Ward left the army I think same time in the fall or Winter of 1776 we had a little skirmish and it was said Col Ward did not conduct quite so well as he might have done and I understood there was something done about it and I saw him no more I was at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton and in the battle at Princeton and I do not recollect seeing Col Ward there nor afterwards in the army. but Col Johnson commanded our Regiment. we entered the service for one year on the Continental establishment and I know that Ensign Obadiah Child whose commission is now before me did serve the whole of term. We sailed in the same vessel to New York we were much in each others company and we were discharged together as a regiment I do not recollect that written discharges were given to us generally, perhaps some might have taken them. Capt James Sedgman's company did duty according to my best recollection during the years service in which we were engaged Tho t Chaffe was enlisted in Capt Cutler's company and served as weather Ensign Obadiah Child was the chief of the time

I have the commission now here that I received from Congress as an officer in D r Ward's Regiment it is similar to the one shown me belonging to Obadiah Child which it is said has been sent to the War Department with Ensign Child's application for a pension. We were part of the time in General Sullivan's division and a part of the time in General Stevens' division. I am called on this day by Samuel Whitney of Ashford to say whether I knew him as a soldier in D r Hedman's company. I do not remember him nor probably many other soldiers in that regt. but I know that Hedman's company served in said Regt as aforesaid and further saith not
Jonathan Nichols
State of Connecticut Windham P. Ashford 1 st July A.D. 1870
Personally appeared Capt. Jonathan Nichols signed of the above and foregoing deposition and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth
before David Bolles Judge of the County Court for Windham County