Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10862, Phinehas Holcomb, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Holcomb, Phinehas
S. 10862
buried
CONTENTS

9069 Connecticut
Phinehas Holcomb of New Hartford in the State of Connecticut who was a Pri. in the Conn. commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg. commanded by Col. Swift in the Conn. line for
16 mo —
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of March 1833 — and sent W. G. Williams, New Hartford, Ct
Arrears to 4th of March. $ 106 66 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 4, 33 — 26 66 $133,32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk, Book 6 — Vol. 3 — Page 17

State of Connecticut, Probate District of New Hartford ss. On the 9 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court before Isaac Kellogg Esq. Judge of Probate for said District, Phineas Holcomb of New Hartford in said District, aged 73 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 th 1832 - viz.
That in the fall of 1775 or 1776 he was enlisted by Lieut. Joel Higley for 3 or 4 months in the Connecticut State Troops - He thinks he enlisted & went in Sept. & returned was discharged the 15 th of January - Thinks his Capt.'s name was Johnson but is not certain, & that the orderly Serj't's name was Bissell - Knows that his brother Seth Holcomb was a corporal, & one Andrews a Serjeant - That he was conducted to East Chester by Lieut. Higley & served as a guard at E. Chester, W. Chester & New Rochelle While at one of those places was quartered at a large well finished House, called Old Jay's House - That there was also a large barn well filled, he should think it was not a mile from the water side - The owner of the house, who he supposed was a Tory, had left it, as it was said - That in the fall of 1777 he was enlisted, or was drafted, & he thinks the latter, for nine months & was sent on to Nelson's point, opposite West point on the north river - was conducted by serj't. Joseph Holcomb

& joined the army at that place - He does not recollect the Captain's name - thinks the Regt was commanded by Col. Swift, Bradley, or Beebe & thinks it was Beebe , but is not certain which - & does not know but more than one of them belonged to the Regt - That Nathl. Bacon, Elisha Hayer, Absalom Griffin, Amos or Sim n Holliday, Leont. Messenger, Ezekiel Hayer & a man by the name of Pratt from Symsbury were with him - does not know that any of them are living except Ezekiel Hayer & Leont. Messenger - That while he remained at Nelson's point Genl. Washington came there, (being the only time he ever saw him) - many of the soldiers were employed in making fascines - Heard while there of the capture of Burgoyne - That he remained at Nelson's point until it was too cold to live in tents, & then removed to Morris town, New Jersey, & built Barracks on what was called Bear skin ridge - was discharged at Morris town in the Spring - That the next year he enlisted for three months in Capt. Jon t . Humphrey's company, Martin Humphrey Lieut. Col l 's name not remembered - Charles Wolf & Eben t Holcomb of Granby & David Phelps, George Cornish, & David Thomas of Symsbury were in the same company - does not know that any of them are living except David Phelps - nor does he know of any person living except said Phelps by whom he can prove his service - marched to Tiverton in Rhode Island & was there ordered to Providence to guard some British prisoners who were kept in the College, where he remained until discharged at the end of his term - That the next fall he was drafted to go to Danbury

or in that vicinity to guard adrove of fat cattle belonging to the army & went with Serjeant Dedediah Holcomb, & was in that service about one month.
He further states that he was born in the Town of Simsbury in the County of Hartford in that part which is now within the Town of Granby in the year 1759, of which there is a record, as he has been informed, on the Town Records of said Simsbury. That he lived in said Granby when called into the service where he lived until the close of the war, that he removed to Watland in Hartford County & lived six years, then removed to said New Hartford where he has lived 33 years. He does not remember that he ever received a written discharge at any time.
That the persons who live in his present neighbo- hood who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution are Chauncy Seymour Esqr. Capt. Jonathan Marsh & Elijah Strong.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn & subscribed the day
& year aforesaid before me, Shincha Holcomb
Isaac Kellogg Judge of Probate for the District of New Hartford
And the said Court does hereby declare its opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier.

as he states - And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Phineas Holcomb & know that he is a respectable inhabitant of said Town of New Hartford & sustains a fair & irreproachable character for veracity. I also certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phineas Holcomb for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 9 th day of August A.D. 1832 -
Isaac Kellogg Judge of Probate
for the District of New Hartford I James H. Holcomb Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Phineas Holcomb for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 24 th day of December 1832.
James H. Holcomb, Clerk.
Phineas Holcomb Declaration No 4285
State of Connecticut, Probate District of New Hartford ss. On the 24 th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Isaac Kellogg Esqr. Judge of Probate for said District Phineas Holcomb of New Hartford in said District aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of

Beckham
10.862 INVALID.
File No. 10.862
Phinehas Holcomb
Pr. New War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. a , Page 179
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4285
Phineas Adecomb
56 10 11 12 16
private
66 nd
$53.33
Wm G. Williams
New Hartford
CT
159

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Phineas Hoolcomb — 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 Has now done it with as much precision as he is capable VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Has given all he can recollect — No 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? No Is now affixed

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? NO
Is now forwarded
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? None
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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
Now believed to be
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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.

Congreg paper June 7 th 1832
That he now recollects that during the first term of service mentioned in the preceding declaration his Captain's name was Bray - that they used to have meets upon the Sabbath, & Capt. Bray being a good singer used to take the lead in singing. He thinks that this term of service commenced in the fall of 1776, but might have been in 1775. That he knows he served at that time three months or more, he should think 4 months, but would not say positively that it was more than 3 months.
He also says that he served nine months commencing in the fall of 1777 in the Connecticut State Troops as stated in his said declaration & is confident that he was drafted from the militia. Is also quite confident that Col. Beebe commanded the Regiment. That he & those who went on with him were distributed into different companies to fill them up - that he cannot recollect the name of his Captain or other company officers, & is not certain that he was kept in the same company during the said term - he recollects that the Drum-Major's name was Field - that the militia men were taken out almost every day & drilled by a sergeant. That one old man by the name of Elisha Hayer in the same company was told by the sergeant (who always called him "old man") he must learn to stand straighter & keep down his elbows but being an awkward man, & finding they could do nothing with him, he was soon dismissed. The applicant says he was employed a considerable part of the time in cutting timber & fascines.
That in the year 1778 he served three months in Rhode Island in Capt. Don. Humphrey's company of Connecticut State Troops - that he entered this service in September or forepart of October - does not remember the other officers names except those mentioned in his preceding declaration.
He also says that in the fall of 1779 he was drafted from the militia to go to Danbury as stated in said declaration & that he served at that time one month that there was no officer with him except sergeant Holcomb unless it was a corporal. He further states that in all his terms of service

he was a private soldier - Phineas Holcomb sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Isaac Kellogg Judge of Probate for the District of New Hartford
State of Connecticut, Probate District of New Hartford ss. on the 24 th day of December 1832, personally appeared before me Isaac Kellogg Esq. Judge of Probate for said District, Rev. Cyrus Yale an ordained Congregational Minister of New Hartford in said District, aged 46 years & Deacon John Brown of said New Hartford aged 65 years, who being duly sworn according to law testify & say that they are well acquainted with the above named Phineas Holcomb & have been virgins the said Cyrus Yale for 18 years & the said Brown for more than 30 years - that the said Holcomb is a respectable citizen of said Town of New Hartford & universally considered as far as their knowledge extends as a man of strict veracity. That they know nothing regarding his revolutionary service, or with regard to the general belief respecting it but have full confidence that he would state nothing upon that subject which was not true.
Cyrus Yale John Brown
Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Isaac Kellogg Judge of Probate for the District of New Hartford
I certify that Cyrus Yale who has signed the preceding Affidavit is a clergyman resident in said Town of New Hartford & that John Brown who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Town & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Isaac Kellogg Judge of Probate for the District of New Hartford
I James H. Holcomb, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the further proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Phineas Holcomb for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 24 th day of December 1832.
James H. Holcomb, Clerk.

1832,
State of Connecticut Hartford County, ss.
On the 7th day of August 1832 personally appeared before me Asaph Fuller Esq. one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, David Phelps, aged 73 years, of Simsbury, in Hartford County, & being duly sworn do testify & say that I am well acquainted with Phineas Holcomb formerly of Granby in said County, now of New Britain in the County of Litchfield & was acquainted with him during the Revolutionary war, & remember that the said Phineas Holcomb in the year 1778 performed a term of three month's service in the Revolutionary army in a company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Humphrey of Simsbury, & in Col. Noah Phelps' regiment. This service was performed at Westerstown Rhode Island & at Providence, at which latter place we were discharged. I was in the same service & well know that the said Phineas Holcomb performed the above named service.
David Phelps.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Asaph Fuller justice of the Peace
I certify that I am well acquainted with Mr. David Phelps, signer of the foregoing declaration & that he is a credible witness.
Asaph Fuller justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut, Litchfield County, ss. On the 3 rd day of August 1892 — Personally appeared before me Lester Loomis, Esq. one of the Justices of the Pear for said County, Ezekiel Hays and 73 years of age  in said County, & being duly sworn do testify & say that I am well acquainted with Phineas Holcomb formerly of Granby in said County, now of New Hartford in the County of Litchfield & was acquainted with him during the Revolutionary war, & remember that the said Phineas Holcomb in the year 1775 or 6, was enlisted in the Connecticut State Troops for a term of 3 or 4 months & that he served during that period. I do not recollect all the officers. Lieut. Col. was Lieut. Col.  Highly  One Andrews was Lieut. I well know that the said Phineas Holcomb performed this service, for I was in the same company. Our duties were confined to East Chester, West Chester & New Rochelle.
I also know that the said Phineas Holcomb in the year 1777 or 8 was drafted into the service of the United States & performed a term of nine months at Nelson's Point. Lieut. Joseph Holcomb conducted us on. I was engaged in the same service & know that the said Phineas Holcomb performed the abovenamed terms. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Ezekiel Hays
Lester Loomis Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am well acquainted with Ezekiel Hays the sign of the foregoing declaration & that he is a credible witness.
Lester Loomis Justice of the Peace

I, Thomas Day, Secretary of the State of Connecticut and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify, That Nathaniel Pratt and Asaph Tuller, Esqrs. are Justices of the Peace within and for the county of Hartford and that Leicester Loomis Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Litchfield, in said State, being duly appointed commissioned and qualified; and that I believe the foregoing signatures purporting to be the signatures of said Pratt, Tuller and Loomis respectively, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the city of Hartford, the eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Thomas Day

Hartford County ss Greenby August 3 d 1832 I certify that I am personally acquainted with Samuel Mepinger Signer of the Within Deposition and know him to be a person of Credibility and firmly believe that the facts stated in his Deposition are Entitled to Credit Nathaniel Pratt Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss Granby August 3 d 1832
Personally appeared before me Nathaniel Pratt a Justice of the Peace for said Hartford County Samuel Messinger of said Granby aged 70 years and being duly sworn and cautioned to tell the Truth do testify and say that I well know that Phineas Holcomb of New Hartford went in to the Service in the Revolutionary War sometime in the month of April 1777 or 1778 I do not exactly recollect which year and continued in the Service until the January following having served nine months I do not recollect the Capt's Name he served under But the Regiment was commanded by a Col By the Name of Bradley or Babee I do not exactly recollect which and in a Brigade commanded By General Johnson and was stationed part of the time at a Place called Nones Paint and was discharged at a Place called Bearskin Ridge near Morristown in the State of New York this the deponent well knows he having been in the same Brigade and discharged at the same time and place with the said Phineas Holcomb and returned with him to the above said Granby where he then resided
Samuel Messinger
Hartford County ss Granby August 3 d 1832 Personally appeared before Samuel Messinger Signer of the foregoing and made solemn oath to the Truth of the same before me Nathaniel Pratt Justice of the Peace