Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17334, Calvin Chittenden, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Chittenden, Calvin
S. 17334
CONTENTS
carded

See letter to P. agt. ap l 5. 1833
Dead
79
Berkshire
21.618
Massachusetts
Calvin Chittenden
Deceased in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Howler of the Regt. commanded by Col. Ward in the Mass. line for 19 mos.
at Mil- Station
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of Oct. 1833 and Datto H. M. Bishop
Arrears to the 4th of Sep r 71 158 33 Semi-ant. allowance ending A.M. 24 31 66
$189 99
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. A. Stiles Clerk, Book E, Vol. 2, Page 11.

Calvin Chittenden
Application for Pension -
Richmond Md
Sept 27 1832
12.683.

Noah Rosseter of Richmond in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify & say that I am twenty three years of age, that I was knew the Col. Benjamin Black as am acquainted with Col. Benjamin of said Richmond, & know of his going into the service of the United States as a soldier of in the Connecticut Militia in the winter of 1775 & 6, as stated in the commencement of his declaration hereto annexed - and also that he served as a soldier in said Militia in September 1776 when the said Militia marched for New York - that I marched in the same Regiment with him - the Regiment while I continued with it marched as far to or near to East Chester, New York, and that said Col. Chittenden was in service in said Regiment when I left - I remained with said Regiment about six weeks - I have seen his declaration of his services at this time, which is substantially correct for the period I remained in the Regiment - Further I say not -
S.
Noah Rosseter
Berkshire ss On the twenty seventh day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before me the Subscribed Judge of the Court of Probate in & for said County the aforesaid Noah Rosseter Esq. & made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed & I certify that the said Noah Rosseter is a credible witness who should receive the credit of
William P. Walker

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this twenty Seventh day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, Calvin  Chittenden a resident of the town of Richmond in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the winter of 1775 & 76 the State of Connecticut raised two Regiments by voluntary Enlistment, with a view to fortify New York and Brooklyn; Col. Waterbury commanded one of the Regiments, and Col. Andrew Ward of Guilford the other - On the 20 th day of January 1776 he Enlisted into the Regiment commanded by Col. Ward; the officers of the company to which he belonged were Capt. Isaac Fowler, 1 st Lieut. Stephen Hall - 2 nd Lieut. Ezekiel Briggs - Ensign Ebenezer Fowler - He served at this time in Guilford, Connecticut, and the Enlistment was for two months after leaving Fairfield - The Regiment first marched to Stamford, Connecticut, where it was received by General Lee, and was ordered to return - He about ten days afterwards then he was ordered to march with this Regiment to New York - they were then stationed at Brooklyn, where they erected a Fort - The whole Regiment was discharged one of the last days in March, making ten weeks from the time of his Enlistment - In the course of this term of service the company to which he belonged was detached to march through Kings & Queens Counties in search of persons unfriendly to the United States, under the direction of Isaac Lee, Deputy Adjutant General

 at  the whole  on half or the whole Early in September 1776 the whole of the Connecticut Militia were ordered to march for New York - He then belonged to Capt. Fowles Company & to the Regiment commanded by Major Sylvanus Grays - They joined the Army on York Island, encamped near Fort Washington - Col. Storrs Regiment of Militia were encamped near by - If he recollects right Genl. Putnam commanded the Army at this Station at this time - He marched with the Army on the retreat to White Plains, & from thence his company proceeded to North Castle where it was dischar- ged sometime in November - He served at this time eleven weeks as near as he can recollect, and as appears by Abraham Fowles certificate has allowed - The field officers were when he served  xxxix  the  time , Capt. Major Grays, belonged to the regular army -
In January or February 1777 he enlisted rate  rate an company as a volunteer into a company called an independent company  under under Capt. Peter Rail & Lieut. John Habbad - the name  of the  of the  Regiment he does not recollect - according to his recollec- tion the company was ordered to choose officers - other compa- nies were raised & officered in like manner, two of which were com- manded by clergymen, one by the Rev. Dr. Tumbull of North Haven & the other by the Rev. Mr. Ellis of Branford - These companies marched to East-Chester or New Rochelle - were stationed part of the time at Horsneck - were attached to no particular Regiment, but did duty and drew rations - The object for which these companies were raised, was to aid in the  the defense guarding & defending our Posts near New York - He was in service at this time about four weeks -

4
In April 1777 when the British burnt the Store at Danbury in Connecticut he marched with a company of Militia commanded by Capt. Noah Fowler, for the defence of that place - When the company had proceeded as far as Danbury Fairfield, news was received that the British had left Danbury and the company then returned - He was in service at this time four days as appears by the certificate of Abraham Fowler.
5
In September or October 1777 one half of the Militia of Connecticut were again called out - This was the time when the fleet & army were going up the Hudson to meet Burgoyne - He marched to Fishkill & Red Hook - Brigadier General Sage, Col. Andrew Ward, Capt. Noah Fowler & Lieut. Dan Collins, were the officers - He served at this time, as appears by the certificate, which conforms to his own recollection, four weeks -
6
He was also in service in New Haven in July 1779 when the British plundered that place - He served at this time according to his recollection three days, which also appears from the certificate -
In August 1776 the British took possession of Long Island, and from that time to the close of the War were almost continually crossing the Sound for plunder, driving or stealing, or capturing coasting vessels - There was an illicit trade carried on to a great extent with the British & Tories, which made it necessary to guard the sea coast - For this purpose

a guard was raised for the defence of the coast, but whether by any higher authority than the Town he is unable to state - To this guard he belonged till he returned to Richmond in March through the whole of the war, except when engaged in actual service in the Connecticut - (Militia) as above stated - This guard was required to hold themselves in constant readiness to march at a moment's warning for the defence of the sea coast, and also to perform regular guard, at different places, from one to three or four miles from the Town - This guard was required as often as once or more a week, during that season of the year when the sound was open - When the guard was required to go three or four miles from town, it usually occupied as much as twenty four hours; when one mile, it occupied only the night - In addition to this the guard was frequently required to leave their business and go to the protection of coasting vessels which were driven on shore by the British vessels, which very frequently occupied twenty four hours - The British landed several times in considerable force, and burnt a number of buildings, killed two of the inhabitants of the town and wounded others - Through the exertions of this guard property was saved to a considerable amount, and probably many lives - Guilford is a seaport town, opposite Long Island and distant about twenty miles, and during the whole of this period the British were in possession of the Island - During the War the principal seaports in Connecticut were guarded by State troops, but no State troops are sent to the defence of this coast, with the

ception of a very short period in the latter part of the War - This applicant believes that while he was in service as a member of this guard, he was, in as important a sense, in the service of the County, as when in service as a soldier in the Militia, if this could not be considered such service -
He was born in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1755 - he believes there is a record of his age in the Clerk's office in that town -
He was a resident of S d Guilford during the War of the Revo- lution & till 1794 - since that time he has lived in Richmond in the State of New York - He rec d a the written discharge at South Castle, but can- not state the name of the officer who gave it - has no doubt it has been destroyed as he has no recollection of seeing it for thirty years or more
He has no hesitation in saying that he was in actual service as a member of the guard for the defence of the sea coast at Guilford as above stated, not less than twelve months in the whole -
He has no documentary evidence of, & knows of no person who can testify to his service, other than those whose affidavits are annexed, Expt Ebenezer Lord of S d Guilford whose affidavit he has made efforts to get but has as yet failed - Ebenezer Hotchkiss, John Bacon, Abraham Ropeter and
Josiah Pierson are well acquainted with this applicant, part of them having lived in the same neighborhood & all in the same town with him for many years past, and can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution -

He 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
S.
Calvin Chittenden
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker I. Probate
We Edwin M. Dwight a Clergyman, residing in the town of Richmond and Nathaniel Redington residing in Richmond hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Calvin Chittenden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 - 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.
S.
Edwin M. Dwight Nath. Redington
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker I. Probate
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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Edwin M. Dwight who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Richmond in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Nathaniel Redington who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Richmond in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker I. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Calvin Chittenden for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Henry W. Bishop - Register of Probate -

12683
Calvin Chittenden
Paid 19 3/4
5. 14. 16 06
May 17 1833
P. 407
H. W. Bishop Esq Lenox Mass

BRIEF in the case of Calvin Chittenden of Richmond in the State of Vermont (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     20 th Jan y In 1776 2 10 Private Gen. Putnam Col. Fowler   Sept 1776 2 17 " Col. Fowler   Feb 1777 28 " Col. Vail   June 1777 4 " Col. Fowler   Oct 1777 28 " Col. Fowler   July 1779 10 "   12 militia service  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Grafton Connecticut  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers not attached as reg d 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
The applicant thinks he is entitled to pay Richard Cloutier for his services as a Militiaman for Examining Clerk. In line 11 in the —

17. 334 INVALID.
File No. 17. 334
Calvin Chittenden
Pre Civil War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 427
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth Bank Pension Office Boston 26 th March 1836
Sir,
At the request of James W. Beebe Esq r . I herewith transmit to you the several powers of attorney given by the heirs of Calvin Chittenden to receive the annuities due him at his decease. —
He wishes to be informed if the one that is over 90 days old can be admitted & also if the deposition of James Chittenden is sufficient to justify the payment of the whole amount. If not, what further evidence is required. —
I am, very respectfully yours Ob t Servt L. M. Stone for John K. Simpson Agent
James L. Edwards Esq r Com d Pensions Washington (D.C.)

12683 Calvin Chittenden
185 14-16 objects
H. M. Burhok Esq Lent Mr

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Calvin Chittenden Richmond Wofe 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? no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no 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? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
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 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 shewn 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.

State of Connecticut County of New Haven ss Guilford June 28 1833 Personally appeared before me Nuben Elliott Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Guilford Abraham Fowler to me known and who I certify to be a credible witness who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was in the service of the United States in the year 1776 in Capt Noah Fowler Company of Militia Col Andrew Ward's Regt were marched through New Haven Stratford Fairfield & to York Island from there to Salisbury Hill from there to White Plains where they had an engagement with the enemy from there were marched to North Castle and were verbally discharged entered the service in the month of September and was in service about two months and twenty one days and that Col Chittenden then of Guilford now of Richmond in Massachusetts was then a soldier in said Company and served therein through the whole of that tour of duty till they were discharged That in the year 1777 in the month of October said Chittenden served in said Company of Militia Capt Noah Fowler in Col Worthington's Regt at Fishkill from there to Redhook on the North River and back to Fishkill where they were discharged over

and he said Fowler belonged to the same Company & Regiment and was in service with said Calvin Chittenden through the whole of that tour of Duty were in service at that time about one month - and further that when the Enemy landed at New Haven said Chittenden belonged to and served in said Company with him the said Fowler and was in service three days and also when the British burnt the Public Stores at Danbury said Chittenden was in the service with him the said Fowler in the same Company as before and gone from home four days and further the Defendant saith not
Abraham Fowler
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year.
aforesaid before me
Reuben Elliott Judge of Probate

State of Connecticut New Haven County ss Guilford —
I George Griswold Clerk of the Court of Probate for District of Guilford Do certify that Reuben Elliott Esq. Who has Taken & Signed the foregoing deposition was at the date thereof, the Judge of the Court of Probate for Guilford District, Duly Commis- sioned & acting under the authority of this State - and that full faith & credit is and ought to be given to his acts & attestations done in that capacity And that I am well ac- quainted with the Hand writing of the said Reuben Elliott & know his signature to the foregoing to be genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office of this Court of Probate for said District this Twenty first day of June 1833 —
George Griswold Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Bukshun p - On this second day of July, A D 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable William P. Walker, Judge of the Court of Probate within & for said County, now sitting, Celestin Chittenden named in the annexed declaration, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following additional declaration and for the purposes aforesaid - viz -
That at the period of his service first mentioned in said declaration annexed, he states in addition to the officers therein named, that a man by the name of Lewis (his christian name he does not remember) was Lt. Colonel of the Regiment; the name of the Major of said Regiment he has forgotten - The Lt. Col. & Major were known neither of them in service at this time -
At the second period of his service mentioned in said declaration he states that Col. Andrew Maw, in whose Regiment he was then in service, & the Lt. Col., whose name he does not remember, were then in service in the regular Army, Major Sylvanus Brown being at the time in command of the Regiment - the other officers of the company were Lt. Ebenezer Hopsen & Ensign Increase Purdie, neither of whom were in service at the time, being absent on account of sickness.
At the fourth period of his service mentioned in said declaration he was in Col. Maw's Regiment aforesaid who was in actual service & in command at the time - the Lt. Col. & Major were not in service at this time - Lt. Hopsen & Ensign Purdie were the other officers of the company being absent on account of sickness neither of whom were in service at this time.

At the fifth period of his service mentioned in said declaration he cannot state the names of the officers more fully than he has already done in said declaration - those therein named are all that were in service at the time
At his sixth period of service the officers were the same as those under whom he served at his fifth period of service as mentioned in said declaration annexed - He recollects no others - He thinks however that Brigadier General Sage was not in service at this time
While he was in service as a member of the Guard in Guilford as stated in said declaration annexed, he was generally under the command of a Sergeant, though he cannot give the names of any of the Sergeants under whom he so served & his recollection is equally imperfect in regard to the commissioned officers of the Guard -
He knows of no person living by whom he can prove the names of the officers under whom he served at the different periods of his service, any further than they appear from the above declarations, and knows of no way by which such officers can be ascertained -
He further states that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise lengths of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not up than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades viz - For the year 1775 & in the winter of these years 76 he served as a private two months and nineteen days. For the year 1776 in the fall of that year he served as a private two months and ten days

For the year 1777 he served as a private (including three different terms in that year) two months - For the year 1779 he served as a private three days - For the years 1776-77-78-79-80-81-82 & 83 he served as a private in the Town Guard in Guilford as stated in said declaration on year -
Calvin Chittenden
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above said.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I - Henry W. Bishop. Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original supplementary proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Calvin Chittenden for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of office of said Court of Probate this second day of July, A D 1833
Henry W. Bishop, Register of Probate.