Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L. Wt. 56948-160-55, Samuel Crafts, Conn.

SERVICE
born.
Crafts, Samuel Lucy.
NUMBER
B.L.Ut 56948-160-55.
CONTENTS

289. 680 Oct. Mar. 3. 10 Oct. 16. 16
Lucy Crafts. mil. Samuel Crafts. fri.
March 16. 1848 Oct. 16. 1848 Butter barn.
100 160 1848 very warm
Special Coli C.C.
Willard Crafts. Utica, N.Y.
Oct. 16. 1857 " " " 28 " " " 15 Oct. 9.
Vol 62. Page 118.

9. 680
LAND ACT-1855.
Lucy Crafts widow of Samuel Crafts
A private
Captain Pinckney
Col. Titulus Butler
2 Reg t Connecticut Militia
Willard Crafts
Forwarded by of the City of Utica New York
Lucy Crafts by her son and atty Willard Crafts
Pray to forward my Land War- rant to XXXXX Willard Crafts of the City of Utica New York
Lucy Crafts by her son and atty Willard Crafts
Agent

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office Hartford Oct. 2 d 1856
I certify, that on application for evidence of the service of Samuel Crafts in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this office and find the name of Samuel Crafts on a Pay Roll, under the following heading viz. "Pay Roll of the Levies in the 1 st Company 1 st Connecticut Regt. commanded by Zebulon Butler Colonel," where he is credited with service as a private from July 18 th to Dec 3 rd 1780 - 4 mos. 15 days. Said 1 st Co. was commanded by Lieut. Patrick Murphy. Edward Prentiss Compt. by Geo Robinson Clerk

State of New York COUNTY OF Otsego
On this eighth — day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty Six personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State aforesaid Lucy Crafts — aged Eighty Nine years, a resident of Cooperstown in the county of Otsego — and State of New York —, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Samuel Crafts deceased, who was a private soldier in the first company commanded by Captain Hinckley — in the 2 regiment of Connecticut Militia commanded by Zebulon Butler — in the war with Great Britain, the Revolutionary War — that her said husband entered the service of the United States at Pomfret in the county of Windham — and State of Connecticut on or about the 18 th — day of July 1780 for four months — and continued in actual service in said war for four months & 15 days and was honorably discharged at Newport — in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island on the third day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty —
She further states that she was married to the said Samuel Crafts — in Pomfret — county of Windham — in the State of Connecticut on the thirty first day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty five by the Rev Wm Lyon a minister of the congregational church and that her name before said marriage was Lucy Sumner — that her said husband died at Hartwick — in the county of Otsego and State of New York on the twenty seventh day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty eight , and that she is now a widow.
I, Lucy Crafts 8 th day of October 1856 before me. Mr S. Corbley Justice Peace
Lucy Crafts
She further declares that neither she nor her said husband has applied for or received Bounty Land from the United States, or either of the States, on account of military services rendered by her said husband.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the "Act approved March 3, 1855."
S. Corbley Justice Peace Lucy Crafts

State of New York Otsago County
We, John J. Crafts and James Cookett — residents of Cooperstown , county of Otsago — in the State of New York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Lucy Crafts — in our presence, and that we believe, from the appear- ance and statement of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be. And these deponents further say that the said Lucy Crafts — is a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20 th 21 st day of Oct 1856
S. H. Southwick Justice Peace
John J. Crafts James Cookett
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
S. H. Southwick Justice Peace

Letter of the Town Clerk of Connecticut

Pomfret Feb 3 rd 1857
Mr Willard Crafts, Sir
Yours of Jan y 27/57 has been rec d and agreeable to your request I have examined the records of this town in regard to the subjects of enquiry contained in your letter. and would say, I find a record of the marriage of "Samuel Crafts 2 nd & Lucy Sumner March 30 th 1785" Also a record of "Geo. Sumner Crafts son of Sam l Crafts, by Lucy his wife born January 3 rd 1786 - and Willard Crafts son of Sam l Crafts 2 nd by Lucy his wife born Jan y 12, 1788 -
The above I presume are the records of your mother's marriage & of your own birth -
I do not find, nor do I believe the records of this town will show any service of your father or of others who served in the war of the Revolution but if he did serve for several months in the Militia of this state, at that time, it is possible that his name might be found on the Military rolls of those who served - which I suppose are now in Hartford Conn. - From recent enquiries, with the same object in view, I do not think there are any men now in this town or region, that would be likely to have any knowledge of such a fact if it were so - Should you wish me to make further enquiries, or give any further statement, from the records of this town, I will attend to the matter - but being just at this time much occupied in other matters, I thought I would drop you a few lines lest you might think your request was unreasonably neglected - Very Respectfully
Yours &c
Job Williams
Town Clerk
Pomfret Conn.

State of Ohio } Van Wert County }
on this 5 th day of March 1857 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in the County of Van Wert and State aforesaid George S. Crafts aged seventy years a resident of the Town of Van Wert in the County of Van Wert and State of Ohio who being duly sworn according to Law deposes and says that he is the eldest child of Samuel and Lucy Crafts and was born in Pomfret in the State of Connecticut in the year 1786, and that he resided with his said father & mother till he was twenty one years old and upwards, and that he has often heard his said father say that he served in the Revolutionary War about four months or about that time, and that he has seen in his possession a Continental bill which he heard his father say he received whilst he so served in the Revolutionary War, and that he used to show it to his neighbors, as a curiosity - This deponent further says that he was well acquainted with Joseph Crafts an uncle of this deponent who was older than the said Samuel Crafts, say that his brother Samuel served in the Revolutionary War, and he knows that his said Uncle Joseph Crafts received a pension for his services down to the time of his death as the records will show - This deponent has no doubt but that his said father served in the Revolutionary War as above stated, and that his mother Lucy Crafts the widow who made application for a Land Warrant now resides at Cooperstown in the State of New York -
Geo. S. Crafts
Sworn & subscribed this 5 th day of March of March 1857 before me
Caleb Roberts J.P.

The foregoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written - and I certify that I know the said George L. Crafts to be a credible person, and that I have no interest in the claim of said Lucy Crafts - Caleb Roberts J.P.
State of Ohio Vancour County ss
I William Anderson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County. Said Court being a Court of Record having a seal hereby certify that Caleb Roberts, before whom the foregoing Declaration and affidavit was taken, was at the date thereof and now is an acting justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and to all whose official acts full faith and credit are and of right ought to be given in judicature and thereout, and which is executed in accordance with the laws of Ohio and whose signature thereto I believe to be genuine, commission bear date April 12 th 1855 and will expire April 12 th 1858.
Witness my hand officially and the seal of said Court this 5 th day of March A D 1859.
William Anderson Clerk Court Common Pleas T. W. G. duc

State of New York Onida County ss 1
On this 10 th day of January 1857 personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly authorized to administer oaths, Willard Crafts of the City of Utica in the County aforesaid aged Sixty five years to me well known as a resident of the City of Utica and a credible witness, and who being by me first duly sworn deposes and says that he is the son of Samuel and Lucy Crafts and was born in Pomfret in the State of Connecticut. That Samuel Crafts and said Lucy Crafts were born there, and this deponent has often seen in the Family Bible the Record of the marriage of said Samuel and Lucy Crafts. That by the record it appears they were married at Pomfret Windham County on the 31 st day of March 1785 by the Rev William Lyon - That this deponent has often heard his said father say that he served in the Revolutionary War as is stated in the declaration made by my mother for the bounty Lands. and this deponent sincerely believes and has no doubt but that his father Samuel Crafts was the Identical Soldier whose services are described in the Certificate of the Comptroller of the State of Connecticut. And this deponent further says that his said father died at Hartwick Otsego Co and State of New York on the 27 th day of December 1848, that he was present and saw him die, and attended the funeral. That his said father and mother lived together as man and wife over fifty years and had eight children. And that neither of them were ever married more than once and that his said mother Lucy Crafts is now a widow aged 89 Sworn & subscribed before me this 10 th day of January 1857 D. Gilmore Justice of the Peace Willard Crafts

State of New York County of Onida } ss
I Zenas M. Hawes Clerk of the Court of Onida County do hereby certify that D. Pillsbury before whom the foregoing affidavit of Willard Crafts was made was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature was genuine - and further that I am not interested in said claim as attorney or otherwise -
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this Tenth day of January 1857
Z. M. Hawes Clerk by R. C. Enright sub

STATE OF NEW YORK.
OTSEGO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
I, GEORGE W. ERNST, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that Leigh D. Phelps Esquire, was, on the 9 th day of October 1856 a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Otsego, duly authorized to act as such, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said County, at Cooperstown, this 9 th day of October 1856
G. W. Ernst CLERK.

Utica March 11 th 1857
Dear George C Whiting
Dear Sir
Since I sent you some papers the other day, in the case of Lucy Crafts bounty lands I have recd the deposition of my eldest brother George S Crafts who resides in the State of Ohio as to the services of my father which I send you -
I think now you will have proof enough - and if you have you will please send the Land Warrant to me or to my mother Lucy Crafts Cooperstown Otsego County N.Y.
Yours truly Willard Crafts

Utica N.Y. Feby. 7 th 1857
Dear Sir
Your letter of Jan'y 20 last was recd in which you say "proof is required that your father was in the service of the Revolutionary War. If no one is living who has personal knowledge of his service, then the proof of aged persons that he was generally reputed a soldier will be admitted. Perhaps the Records of the Town from which he entered the service will establish the fact"
I have sent to the Town Clerk of Pomfret to examine the records and have recd the answer which I now enclose to you - all the old persons are dead who would know that he served. I supposed that the Certificate of the Comptroller of the

State of Connecticut which I sent you dated Oct 2 d 1857 in which he says "I find the name of Samuel Crafts on the pay roll of the services in the 1 st Company 2 d Connecticut Reg't com- manded by Colonel Butler Colonel where he is credited with service as a private from July 15 th to Dec 31 st 1780 4 months 15 days said first Co was commanded by Capt Hinckley." Then my mother who claims the country made a deposition "stating that my father was the identical Samuel Crafts who did serve - this deposition you have in your office - I wish you would write me whether the Records duly authenticated by the Town Clerk of Pomfret will be of any use - If so I will get them - The letter from the Town Clerk which I send will show what he can certify Yours &c Willard Crafts

another application
P.S.
see R. 10311
My mother has sent me the enclosed deposition by which she claims a pension for the services of her father who served two or three years in the Revolutionary War and died in the service. His name was George Sumner. I wrote to the Comptroller of Connecticut for proof and he answered that he could not find his name on the Pay Rolls for the reason that the Pay Rolls of Col. Hooker's Regiment are lost having been sent to Washington and destroyed by fire when the Treasury buildings were burned. Is there any Law of Congress which would allow my mother who was the only child of George Sumner to get a pension from that source.
Please inform me and oblige your humble Servt
Willard Crafts

Comptroller's Office Hartford Conn.
October 25 th 1856
Dear Sir,
I have received your letter of the 23 d inst.
I have made a further examination for evidence of the service of George Sumner, in the war of the Revolution, but have not been able to find his name on any of our rolls.
The Pay Rolls for the service of Col. Hooker's Regiment in 1777 and 1778 are lost, having been sent to Washington some time after the war, in order to obtain a settlement with the General Government, and they are said to have been

destroyed, when the Treasury Building at Washington was burned many years since. This will account for the absence of evidence in this case, among our documents. I am very sorry that I cannot furnish you with the evidence of Mr. Sumner's service.
I am, very respectfully your obedient servant, Geo. Robinson For Leavitt,

J. Micoat Esq Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington

Utica N.Y. Oct 13 th 1856
J Minot Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
I send you papers for my mother who resides in Cooperstown Otsego County State of N.Y. for County Lands to which she is entitled under the act of March 1855
You will please to forward the Land Warrant to me by Mail directed to Utica Onida County N.Y.
If you want any reference as my character, I would refer you to Hon Wm L Macey who knows me.
If the papers are not right please send them back, and I will try to make them right
your humble Servt
Willard Crafts

Department of the Interior Pension office-Official business
George L Whiting Esq Commissioner Washington
Official Business
George L Whiting Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Crabtree and Mrs. of the Commissioner
Boylston

56.948
Flu Ans
Eng Brd 220 Jan 18
Boston
George L Whiting Esq
Commissioner Pension Office
Washington
D.C.

John Minott Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington
D.C.

Ullica Jan'y 10 th 1856
Geo C Whiting Commissioner of the Pension Office
Dear Sir
Your letter was recd respecting the claim of my mother Lucy Crafts widow of Samuel Crafts I send you my deposition as to the identity of my father - Also of the marriage and death of my father. Almost every one who knew my father's service are dead - He lived to be about ninety years of age - If this is not satisfactory - If you will suggest any other way, you will much oblige your friend & humble Servt -
Willard Crafts