Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17367, Lysander Curtiss, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Curtiss, Lysander
S. 17367
CONTENTS
carded

17.861 Connecticut
Lysander Curtis
of Warren in the State of Conn who was a Pvt — in the Conn commanded by Captain — of the Regt commanded by Col Lins — in the Conn Troops time for 8 mos —
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Decem ber 1833. and Int O S Milford Ct
Arrears to the 14th of Septs 1833 $ 66 66 2/3 Semi-ann. allowance ending 13 33
$79 98
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S D Doolittle Clerk
Book Vol. 2 Page
30

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832,
State of Connecticut } p Court of Probate for the County of Litchfield. } District of in the County of Litchfield —
On this 7 th day of Aug t 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before the Hon Court of Probate for the District of in the County of Litchfield now sitting Lyndon Curtis a resident in Warren in said County, aged 69 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 & served as herein stated (v)
I was born in Kent (that part of it now made into the town of Warren) County of Litchfield State of Conn. 24 May 1763 and my age is recorded in the town Records of said town of Kent. I resided in said Kent when I entered the service of the United States as herein after specified and have always & still do reside in the same place tho' now called as aforesaid Warren. — In March 1778 I enlisted for one year under my father Major Curtis in Col Ennis's Reg t Conn t State Troops, it was first intended that field Officers should command Companies but that being abandoned I was placed in Capt Olmsted's Company — July 1778 I enlisted into a company commanded by Capt Olmsted's Company in Col Ennis's Reg t Connecticut State Troops for the remainder of the year for which that reg t was raised. Our Officers were Lieut Col Smith — Lieut Lewis Mills of Kent was Lieut; Ensign Hubbell. My father Eleazer

Curtis was Major of the Reg t after my enlistment I was taken by him as his waiter and continued such through the term of my enlistment my father was detailed at Hartford in the service of the Reg t so as not to join it when it first formed. I joined it at the time he left in July — at the time I enlisted the Reg t was young, and
at White Plains, from White Plains, we went to West Point where the Reg t were employed, about three months, in the fortification of that place. Col Malcomb was at the time Com d . I shall recollect the firing of cannon when Genl Washington visited the post. I returned home from West Point in the latter part
of September, and Early in October went to Horse neck where the Reg t was then collected, my father was there for a short time Com d ., until the Col arrived, We continued at Horse neck according to best of my recollection between three & four months. We were engaged in no battles of importance but were engaged in small parties as scouts; while we were at Horse neck the house of a Genl Thomas, who lived near that place was surrounded by a body of refugee troops & Genl Thomas was made prisoner & carried off. Genl Parsons who was then accidentally with us took command of our troops and pursued the Enemy but we did not reach them in season to prevent their escaping. We were dismissed when our times expired without written dischar- ges. I was in this Reg t in the actual service of the United States eight months according to my best recollection — I have no documentary evidence of this service but rely on the affidavit of W. Benj s Sackett herewith sent —
The conditions of our enlistment were that we should receive half pay when not engaged in actual service —

Sub for Ira Mudge
In July 1781 one Isaac Wedge was drafted to go and serve two months at Hore Neck & I volunteered to take his place as his substitute and marched in July to Hore Neck I was there placed in the company of Capt Porter of Woodbury in Col Mead's Regt. Genl Waterbury was Commandant. Our Regt was named Frisbie. We were first stationed at Hore Neck but afterwards all our troops abandoned that place in the night & fell back to Palmer's Hill 8 or 9 miles distant where we continued till I came away we were engaged in frequent scouting parties in one of which three of our company men Little - Gilbert, and an Irishman were killed. We had a number of prisoners and in April I with a number of others whose times were nearly out were detached to take the prisoners to Hartford and the Sergt was ordered by Genl Waterbury to discharge us at Hartford which he did & I returned home with Corporal Beeman after having been at this time full two months in the service of the United States. Of which I have no direct evidence but to corroborate my own statement I send the affidavit of my brother Milton Curtis —
over

I am known to the Rev d M c Talcott. Geo: Stan d Eng and others, who can testify to my character & to their belief of my services, &c —
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state —
Sworn to & subscribed } the day & year aforesaid }
before me
Lysander Curtis
Frederick Wolcott,
Judge of Probate District of
Richfield, State of Connecticut

17.367 INVALID.
File No. 17.367
Lysander Curtis
Pr. Rev. Wm.
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 86
[Arrangement of 1870.]

70.65 13.32 73.32
Swi pinate $26.66
O'Leary Lilchfield 62

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 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? No Vide June 6 last Clause VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? 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?
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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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? Mr Vide quere 16
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.
He did not say that he was 15 years of age when at the time of entering the service he was liable to the performance of military duty — As a writer who would not for such service be entitled to a pension unless it could be clearly shown that he was enlisted & detailed from the ranks for that purpose.

Lysander Curtis Affidavit to accompany his declaration.
6.221.

State of Connecticut } County of Litchfield } Litchfield July 22 d 1833.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Lyndon Curtis of Warren — in said County of Litchfield, 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 in the following grades; —
In Capt Olmsted's company Col Enn's Regiment I was in the actual service of the United States, as a private, for the full period of six months; as detailed in my declaration made before the Hon Court of Probate on the 7 th day of Aug t 1832.
And in Capt Porter's company I served, as private, the full period of two months.
In the whole then for the full period of eight months I served as a private, & for this service I claim a pension —
I only believe that I served eight months , in Capt
Am

Olmsted's company, but am not willing to swear positively to a service in it of more than the six months. — That I enlisted with my Father, in the manner stated in my declaration, in March, 1778, to serve as a soldier & not as a waiter , I fully recollect & positively state, My brother Augustin first enlisted and after he had enlisted, my Father thought it better for me to go than for my brother ; my brother's name was therefore erased, and mine entered in its place. It was not till after my enlistment that I was thought of as waiter, I was fully armed & equipped, and felt an interest in the service, & tho' I acted as waiter yet in all cases of alarm I was with the company & in the ranks. I remember distinctly that I was at West Point mustered by the Continental muster-master with the rest of the company, on which occasion each soldier was separately marched out & examined. in front
Sworn to before the day
a year aforesaid.
Before me
Origen S. Seymour. Justice of the Peace. —
I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court in & for the County of Litchfield hereby certify that Origen S. Seymour before whom the foregoing affidavit is made is & for more than a year last past has been a Justice of the Peace for said County duly authorized to administer oaths, & that the signature above purporting to be the signature of said Justice is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 22 d day of July 1833. Frederick Wolcott, Clerk.

I Benjamin Sackett of Warren in the County of Litchfield aged 70 years being duly sworn do depose & say that in 1778-9 I belonged to Capt Olmsted's company Col Eno's Regt Conn t State troops I was then and still am well acquainted with Lyander Curtiss of said Warren he joined the afores d company of Capt Olmsted at White Plains in June or July 1778 and continued in the company at White Plains and at West Point until the Reg t left West Point in Sept r 1778 when the said Curtiss still remained. he was master to his father Major Curtiss of our Reg t and continued in that situation during the term of our enlistment, he however mustered with the company, and served in it in all alarms. in October 1778 the Reg t was ordered to Horse Neck, where we continued till we were discharged, after a service there of between three & four months; I will remember that the said Curtiss was with us during our service at Horse Neck. — The terms of the enlistment in Col Eno's Reg t were that we would not be compelled to serve more than three months at one time, but were immediately liable to be again called out. We were entitled to half pay when not in actual service — — Benjamin Sackett
Litchfield County p r Litchfield Aug t 7. 1832 then personally appeared Benjamin Sackett known to me as a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed. Before me
Origen S. Sisson, Justice of the Peace

I Milton Curtis of Warren in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut aged 68 years being duly sworn depose & say that Lyman Curtis of said Warren is my brother in 1781 he and I both lived in the house of our father in said Warren (the Keyes) well remember that in the Winter & Spring of 1781 my said brother was gone from home, I have no personal knowledge concerning the place where he was gone, but it was the frequent subject of conversation in the family that he had gone as a soldier, I also fully recollect that in the Spring, he & a corporal Beman of said Warren then Kent returned together & came together to my father's house; they there talked over the events which had occurred during their absence, they told of having been at Horse Neck, & of having been detached to guard prisoners to Hartford, and of being there discharged -
Milton Curtis
State of Connecticut County of Litchfield. ss Litchfield Aug. 7. 1832. Then personally appeared Milton Curtis to me known as a credible person & made solemn oath to the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed.
Before me
Origen S. Seymour Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut County of Litchfield
I Frederick Wolcott Clerk of the County Court for said County of Litchfield hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit Origen S. Seymour Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit of Benjamin Sackett & Milton Curtis were taken was on the 7th of August A.D. 1832 and still is a Justice of the Peace for said County duly qualified to administer oaths and that his signature to said affidavit, are genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 8th day of August A.D. 1832.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk.
26.
Ms 6221.

Rev. Hart Talcott _____ a clergyman residing in the town of Warren in said County of Litchfield and George Starr _____ residing in said town of Warren _____ hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Lyander Curtis _____ who has subscribed hereto to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 69 years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighbor- hood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and that we concur in that opinion. We also certify that the said Lyander Curtis is a gentleman of undoubted character for veracity _____ sworn & subscribed the day _____ Hart Talcott _____ George Starr By Frederick W. Wolcott, Judge of Probate, Litchfield District, Conn. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented 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 the Rev. Hart Talcott _____ who has signed the preceding certifi- cate is a Clergyman resident in said town of Warren _____ and that Geo: Starr Esquire _____ who has also signed the same is a res- ident in said town of Warren _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Frederick W. Wolcott, Judge of Probate, Litchfield District, Conn.

I, Thomas Miner, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the the District of Stillfield, in the County of Stillfield, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings of the said Court in the matter of the application of W. Lyander Curtis — for a pension —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & the said Court this eighth — day of August A.D. 1832.
Thomas Miner Clerk

Litchfield July 22 d 1833.
To the Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir, I again send on the app. a of
Lysander Curtis for a pension, as to the suggestion that he may have entered the service merely as waiter , I beg your attention to the facts detailed by him in his supplementary affidavit and also to the certificate concerning his character . He is a man who / tho' not in the highest rank in point of property / whose statements would be received with implicit faith by all acquainted with him.
Very Respectfully
your obedt. servt.
O. S. Seymour