Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12659, James Curtis, Conn Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn- Mass.
Burtis, James
S. 12659
CONTENTS
carded

20319
20. 7/19
New York
James Curtis
of Chenango Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Griswold of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mead in the Conn. line for 9 Years
Conn. and Mass. *
Records completed Jan'y 5/41.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars and 25 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Aug 1833 and Supt. A. K. Maynard Shuburn
Arrears to the 4th of Ma '33 $16 00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Apr '33 4 00 $20 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. C. Stiles Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 4 Page 52
Died July 22, 1835

13.340 James Carruth
adm L
16-06 May 4 - 1833
373
A. H. Maynard Churburn Chenango N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of James Curtis  County of Chenango in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no  3. How old is he? 69.  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.     Vol. In 1779 July not stated. Private. None mentioned.   Drafted 1779 Fall — 2 " Private. Capt. Erwinold, Lt. Gibbs En: Woodruff   Sub. 1780 Feb. " " 35 Private. Col. Mead   Sub. 1780 August about 1 " " Private. None mentioned.   Enlisted 1781 July Continued till Decr. 1783. Private. Capt. Thomas Turner 9th. Mass: regmt. Col. H. Jackson. Col. Brooks. Major L. Prescott  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Litchfield City Conn.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are not attached to the Seal as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk.  March 7. 1833.

BRIEF in the case of James Curtis  County of Chenango in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 69.  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.     Vol. In 1779 July not stated Private None Mentioned   Drafted 1779 Fall — 2 Private Capt. Grinold, Lt. Gible, En: Woodruff   Sub. 1780 Feb. " " 35 Private Col. Mead   Sub. 1780 August about 1 Private None Mentioned   Enlisted 1781 July Continued till Decr 1783 Private Capt. Thomas Turner 9th. Mass: regmt. Col. H. Jackson. Col. Brooks. Major L. Prescott  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Litchfield City. Conn.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are not attached to the Seal as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk.  March 7. 1833.

James Cartwright Esquire Declaration
14340.
On Final settlement
acomd 24 mo. pri 804

State of New York Chautauqua County ss: }
On this sixth day of September 1852. personally appeared in open Court before Robert Mould, Vice Chancellor of the Sixth District in the State of at a Court of Chancery New York, now sitting in the town of Sherburne, County and State aforesaid James Curtis a resident of the town of Sherburne County and State aforesaid, aged sixty nine 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. - And that he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1781, in the month of July for three years, and served in the Regts and Companies as herein after stated.
He was born in the town of Woodbury - Litchfield County Conn. State, in the month of October 1762. he will be seventy years of age next October if he lives - he resided in Litchfield County until he was thirty years of age - excepting what time he was in the service - he then moved to Saratoga County State of New York and resided there four years - he then moved into Chautauqua County where he now resides which was thirty five years ago last Spring.
His first service he went as a volunteer in the month of July 1779. from Litchfield aforesaid, an alarm was given that the British were trying to burn New Haven - he with some others turned out as volunteers and went to New Haven - when he got there the British had left, after burning two or three stores &c and gone on to Fairfield, by water

they followed on by land and got there about as soon as the British did, they fired upon the British as hard as they could, but the British succeeded in burning the town, the British then left for Norwalk by water, and they followed on by land, and arrived at Norwalk just as the British were landing, had a hard skirmish then, think it lasted three hours, the British burnt that place too, and then left it, he then returned home.
His next trip he was drafted for two months in the fall of 1779. went from Litchfield County aforesaid, to Middlesex in Fairfield County to guard the shore - served his time out there under Capt. Griswold. Lieut. Gibbs, & Ensign Woodruff.
His next service, he went as a Substitute five weeks in the months of February and March 1780, for one Solomon Linsley; Solomon Linsley resided in Litchfield County aforesaid and had been drafted and stationed at Horn Neck, and at this time had come down on a furlough, and this deponent went back for said Linsley and served his time out at Horn Neck in Col. Mead's Regt. does not recollect the Capt's name - kept Garrison at Horn Neck -
His next service he commenced in the month of August 1780. as a Substitute for one Wright Woodruff who had been drafted for three months. he went from Litchfield County aforesaid - to Horse Neck - soon after he arrived at Horse Neck, he was sent with a Sergeant, and Corporal, and twelve men, about five miles off, in the town of Stamford to guard a flour mill - did not get acquainted with any of the officers this trip so as to remember them - after he had been down to the mill about one month, orders came from Genl. Arnold to have them dismissed, and he

was then dismissed with the rest of the Drafted Soldiers, (So that Arnold could sell the rest of the Army to the British)
His next service, he enlisted for three years in the month of July 1781. in the town of Woburn about twelve miles north of Boston and went immediately into Boston to pass muster before the Superintendent to pass muster, and was then ordered with about eighteen more who passed muster at the same time, to march up near the White Plains in the State of New York and join the Army - When he came there he joined Col. Henry Jackson's Regt. it being the ninth Massachusetts Regt. Capt. Thomas Turner's Company, it being the fifth Company. - Soon after he joined the Regt. they crossed the French Army over the Hudson River to go and take Lord Cornwallis - then they marched to a place called Gallows Hill, near Peekskill - Soon after they arrived at Gallows Hill and in Oct 1781 he was taken sick and carried to a Hospital near by, and soon after that he was carried to the general Hospital near Newburg - he continued there until the twentieth of February 1782. then left the Hospital and went and joined the Army again, where they were stationed about two miles East of the Hudson River, opposite of West Point, in their winter quarters - Staid there until sometime in the Spring - then moved over two miles onto the bank of the River, opposite of West Point - Staid there a short time, does not recollect how long, then marched down the River to Ver Plank's Point, near King's Ferry. and continued there until sometime in October following - then marched for Snake Hill, West of New Windsor, near Newburg, to take up winter quarters - Soon after they arrived at their winter

Quarters, the ninth and tenth Regt s were dissolved and put into the other eight that were left - it was then put into the seventh Regt. under Capt. Turner, the same Capt. he was under in the ninth Regt. - Col. Brooks had Command of this sixth  seventh Regt. and Majr. Lemuel Prescott - same Majr. Prescott was in the ninth Regt. before the dissolution - they continued at Snake Hill in their winter quarters until June 1783. then the "during of the war men" were discharged, and the eight Regt s were put into four; his lot fell in the fourth Regt. under Col. Brooks again they then marched to West Point, thinks it was the last of June, continued there till fall in the month of Oct. or Nov. then the fourth Regt s marched to New York - soon after they arrived at New York, the British evacuated it, and they took possession, were stationed there about two weeks, then marched back to the Highlands to their winter quarters, two miles East of the River opposite of West Point, and continued there until the last of December 1783. when he received a written discharge by order from Genl. Knox - he sent his discharge to John W. Taylor at Washington, where he was Speaker of the House, about six years since, and he has not seen it since that time - he has no documentary evidence of his services, now does  he but he expects his name is on record at the War Department for this last service - he knows of no person living, whose testimony he can procure  he can procure who can testify to his service

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.
Sworn to, and Subscribed this day and Year aforesaid
James Curtis
Robt. O'Call
Vice Chancellor
We Benjamin Rowland a Clergyman residing in the town of Sherburne County of Chenango and State of New York, and Milo Hyatt, Alexander Holmes, Mills Landon, H. N. Fargo, Jairus Lathrop residing in Sherburne aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Curtis Esq. who has Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is respected, and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we are in that opinion.
Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid.
Benj m Rowland
Jairus Lathrop
Robt. O'Call
Vice Chancellor
And the said Court does hereby declare his 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 him that Benjamin Rowland who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman, resident in the town of Sherburne County and State aforesaid, and that Milo Hunt, Alexander Holmes, H. K. Fugo, Hills Lander, Gains Lathrop who have also signed the same are residents in said town of Sherburne, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Robt. Moore Vice Chancellor
I, Jonathan L. Woods Clerk of the Court of Chancery of the Sixth Circuit of the State of New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Curtis for a pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 6. day of September 1832
Joseph D. P. Fraser Deputy Clerk

Answer to interrogatory first.
He was born in Woodbury, Litchfield Co. State of Conn. in October 1762.
Second.
He has a record of his age in his bible.
Third.
He was living in Litchfield County when he went into the service, and during the whole Revolutionary War except what time he was in the service - he only went to Woburn near Boston to enlist - he has resided in Saratoga County for years since the war after he left Litchfield, and the rest of the time when he now resides.
Fourth.
He went into the service as a volunteer, a substitute, drafted and under an enlistment. He went as a substitute for Solomon Linsley and Wright Woodruff.
Fifth.
The names of the officers where he served were Capt. Griswold; Turner; & Col. Mead; Jackson; Brooks; The service circumstances of his service are the deleted sixth.
He once received a written discharge - by order from Genl. Knox - does not recollect who signed - sent it to John W. Taylor about six years since at Washington, has not seen it since.
Sixth.
Janis Lathrop, Milo Hunt, H. D. Fargo, Rev. Benjamin Rowland, Rev. Lyman S. Nufford.
Robt. Merrill
Fin. Chancellor

August 22, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/REL James Curtis-S.12659
Syrena M. Johnson 41 Franklin Street Lynn, Massachusetts
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of James Curtis and John Dickinson, both Revolutionary War pensioners of Chenango County, New York.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon the service of a John Dickinson, of Chenango County, New York. The pensioner, John Dickinson, recorded in the report of the Secretary of War printed in 1835, as of Chenango County, New York, was a pensioner of Warren County, New York, and misquoted as of Chenango County. The record of James Curtis is furnished herein.
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.12659, based upon the military service of James Curtis in that war.
James Curtis was born in October, 1762, in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The names of his parents are not stated.
While residing in said Litchfield County, James Curtis volunteered in 1779, at the time the British attacked New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk, marched to those towns and was in a skirmish at Norwalk; length of service and names of officers not given: he enlisted in the fall of 1779, served two months in Captain Griswold's Connecticut Company, and guarded the sea coast: in February and March, 1780, he served five weeks under Colonel Mead in the Connecticut Troops, and was stationed at Horse Neck: he enlisted in August, 1780, and served one month as a guard at a flour mill about five miles from Horse Neck; names of officers not shown: in July, 1781, soldier enlisted in Woburn, Massachusetts, served in Captain Thomas Turner's Company, Colonel Henry Jackson's 9 th Massachusetts Regiment, was transferred with his captain and served in Colonel Brooks' 7 th Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged the last of December, 1783.
New Haven July 5, 1779 Fairfield July 5, 1779 Norwalk July 5, 1779
Identified as in Mass JH. VOL 4 pages
probably Capt. New York Griswold as he was Capt. in Conn. in 1779.

After the Revolution, James Curtis lived in Litchfield County, Connecticut, until he was thirty years of age; then moved to Galway, Saratoga County, New York, and lived four years; then moved to Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed September 6, 1832.
He died July 22, 1835, place not shown.
AB. There are no data as to soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLIER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Crane
Rev. h. m.
12659 INVALID.
File No. 12659
James Curtis Pr. New War.
Act: June 7th 82
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Mar. 12, 1906. History to Mrs. E. Curtis Board. — MR. 1911 May 12 Hist. to F. H. Tillotson. Letter sent to Record Div. for answer to civil war inquiry. V.L. 1921 May 9 Hist. to Mrs. D. R. Amidon.

James Carlin N.Y.
13633-15647
32510-40902
16-
A. H. Maynard Shirburn Chemung N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
James Curtis 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes 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? yes 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? no — no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
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.

41 Franklin St. Lynn, Mass. June 3, 1935
Veteran's Administration, Washington, D.C., Dear Sirs,
I would like the Revolutionary war service and any family data of the soldiers James Curtis and John Dickinson. These Revolutionary soldiers received pensions in Chenango County, New York.
N 1830-74 A. G. Cont May 2, 1833

Syrena M. Johnson 41 Franklin St. Lynn, Massachusetts

61 Rossmore Pl., Belleville, N.J. April 15, 1921.
Dept. of the Interior. Bureau of Pensions.
Dear Sirs:
Would very much like to know if you can give me a statement of the military history during the Revolutionary War of James Curtis who lived in Litchfield Co., Conn. at time of the war I think

received a pension after the War.
Also Francis M. Weldon who was an officer in the War and lived in New York State. Chenango Co., I think.
Any information you can give me will be very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely, (Mrs. D. E.) Melissa Amidon.

11 E. Smith St., Corry, Pa. O.M.H. Feb. 25, 1906.
The Pension Department, Washington, D.C.
Data taken from card.
Gentlemen:—
Will you kindly send me what data there is in the Pension Depart- ment in regard to my great-grandfather, James Curtis. He was the son of James Curtis & Sybil Chevoix (spelled also Sherr and Shervey and Sherroix) and was born in Litch- field, Conn. in 1762 and died in Sherburne, N.Y. in

1835. His wife was born June 7, 1761 Amy Dugmore, and they were married in 1785. James Curtis, his son, served in the Rev- olutionary war and received a pension for many years. By sending the record you will greatly oblige
Sincerely
Elmer Curtis Hart
Mrs. Elmer Curtis Hart 11 E. Smith St. Corry, Erie Co., Pa.

Hot.
3-871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A. Nue D. 10/5/11
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier James Curtis
Service Conn.
Additional Service Rev.
No _____ claim, State records _____, 191 _____
No claim, combination records _____, 191 _____
REMARKS:
No Wis. any service from 20,000 " Ref. stat Only 2 from Conn below N 2000. please draw them

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. James Curtis I.F. 12659
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1779 Alarm at New Haven no officers stated. Conn.   Fall 1779 2 mos Griswold   Sept. 1780 5 weeks Wadsworth   Aug. 1780 1 mo. as a guard at Stamford   July 1781 Dec. 1780 Thomas Turner Henry Jackson Brooks Mass.  
Battles engaged in, Fairfield and Norwalk.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Pittsfield Co. Conn.
Date of application for pension, Sept 6 1832 Recd. at
Residence at date of application, Durham, Chenango Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, born at Woodbury Pittsfield Co. Conn. Oct. 1762
Remarks: Recd. July 22 1832*
*from agency book
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.