Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23676, Levi Hanford, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Canford, Lewis
S 23676
CONTENTS

5880
New York
Levi Hanford
Walter in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Seymour of the Regt. commanded by Col. _____ in the Connecticut line for 20 months & 23 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 69 Dollars 16 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Feby 1833 and sent to Hon. E Root Ho Repres
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $103.74 Pemi=ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33- 34.58
$138.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Grobromwell Clerk. Book D Vol. 5 Page 145

State of New York
Delaware County ss. On this 8 th — day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Delaware now sitting Levi Hanford a resident of the town of Walton in the County of Delaware and State of New York aged seventy three 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 —
That in the Spring of 1776 this deponent believes in the month of April of that year he enlisted  volunteered unteered in a military company under the command of Captain Seth Seymour, lieutenant John Carter and went on a tour of duty to the city of New York as a private in said company and staid at New York till the troops arrived there from Boston when that company was sent home & this deponent was discharged — this deponent was gone on said tour about three weeks and then resided in the town of Norwalk in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut
1/4 In the fall of the same year, in October 1776 this deponent again enlisted at the then town of Norwalk near the town of New Canaan in said County of Fairfield, in a troop of

horse under the Command of Captain Caleb St. John and did duty in said troop of horse at said town of Cornwall -
That in the month of February 1777 this deponent volunteered  enlisted again in a militia company under the Command of Seth Seymour as Captain and Uriah Raymond as Lieutenants and were in actual service with said company in guarding the sea coast and ships continued in said Company on duty at the said town of Cornwall until  until the 13th day of March 1777, when he was taken prisoner by the British with thirteen others while on duty - This deponent was taken by a party of the enemy under the Command of Captain Stephen Hoyt. This deponent and the other prisoners were taken to Long Island and from there to the City of New York and confined in the Sugar house at said city, where this deponent was confined about eight months, and from there was removed to the prison ship called "Good Intent" and was then confined in said prison ship till the last day of December 1777 - after that this deponent was kept at the Hospital in New York being in a low state of health till in the month of April 1778 when he was again taken to the Sugar house and kept there till the 8th of May 1778 when he was exchanged and was set at liberty at Elizabethtown, in the State of New Jersey. This deponent barely escaped with
15 mo. going house, 1 cwt. 1 week.

am grand & in part at least, & Mrs. Gray & others during that time in the whole for more than six months
his life and got home to the house of his father at Cornwall after mid and remained sick at his father for one year -
In the Spring of the year 1779 this deponent having sufficiently recovered his health again commenced doing duty in the said Company of Light horse under the command of Captain Caleb St John and continued in that company under the command of said St John till the close of the Revolutionary War and in the mean time was engaged in patrolling and guarding the Sea Coast.
During this time he was frequently sent to guard prisoners at various other places. This deponent was born on the 19th day of September 1759 - and has no record of his age in his possession - his father had a family record in which the date of this deponent's birth was entered but this deponent does not know when it now is, if it is still in existence.
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 - except the appropriation of Ebenezer Dyer & James Lockwood, jointly named, - He has no documentary evidence of his services of any kind, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.
Sworn this 8th Oct: 1832 } Levi Hanford Before - E. B. Sheldon Clerk
We Robert North & Jonathan Weed residing in the town of Walton in said county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Levi Hanford who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration & we believe him to be of the age of 73 years - that he is reported & believed in the neighborhood had where he resides.

to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed then Yours & clerk aforesaid - C. B. Sheldon Clerk.
Robert North Jonathan Weed
* And it is the opinion of this Court that a clergyman can not be prosecuted in Court by the Civil applicant without the usual indemnity to him.
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 and lives as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Robert North & Jonathan Weed are residents of the town of Walton in the County of Delaware & that they are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit.
I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware Do hereby certify that before the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Levi Hanford for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.
C. B. Sheldon Clerk
Rev. Levi Hanford
Pension
By command of the Court Robert North Jonathan Weed Clerks.
I received this from Mr. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Delaware in which I humbly it is to the Pension Office - Washington D.C. Feb. 1833 - Engraving Post

J. A. P O. W. and N. Division.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., June _____, 1893.
Sir,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Levi Hanford , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     April 1776 3 weeks Pri Seth Seymour to N.Y. City Conn   Oct 1776 not stated " Caleb St John Cavalry on duty in Norwalk do   Feby 1777 to May 8 1778 " Seth Seymour Prisoner March 13. 1777 do   Spring 1779 6 mo or more " Caleb St John In Cavalry to end of war do  
Battles engaged in, not stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norwalk that part now New Canaan Conn
Date of application for pension, October 1832
Residence at date of application, Walton, Delaware Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, born Sept 19. 1759  111111 43
Remarks: he was at the burning of Fairfield one of the guard to prisoners taken to Hartford - no date - & at various other times - His principal duty was sea coast guard to protect parties & property -
Very respectfully,
Levi Hanford Esq Medical Division Pension Bureau
Commissioner.-

Miss Mansford New York
adams
Albany
S.C.
20 mo 23 ds Wri.
Hono. E. Root
H.R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Levi Hanford 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 Each term of service for which a claim is asserted should be particularly set forth - 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? XX XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yy 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? XX Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? No 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? yy 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? No Answer
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.

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W. B. I. 23676. Am
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
July 22nd, 1898.
Sir:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Levi Hanford made an application for pension on October 8th, 1832, at which time he was 83 years of age and residing at Walton, N. Y., and his pension was allowed for twenty months and twenty-three days' actual service as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Seymour. He enlisted at Norwalk, Conn.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Charles H. Newcomb, Esq.,
20 Arklow Street,
Rochester, N. Y.

L. W. B. I. 23676.
This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
April 29, 1897.
Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning Levi Hanford, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on October 8, 1832, at which time he was 83 years of age and residing at Walton, N. Y., and his pension was allowed for twenty months and twenty-three days' actual service as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Seymour. He enlisted at Norwalk, Conn.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Levi Hanford,
409 "G" St., City.

OLD WAR & NAVY JUN 24 1898 FILES.

H 2 Parklow St. Rochester N.Y.
June 20, 1898.
U.S. Comr of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly inform me in what regiment and company of the army Levi Hanford deceased served. He was a Revolutionary Soldier and drew a pension for services in that war. I wish this information in order to prove my eligibility to the society known as "The Sons of the American Revo- lution."
Very truly yours Chas. H. Newcomb

100/100
1. Full name and address
2. Birthplace
3. Date of birth and place of birth
4. Place of death
5. Date of death and place of death
6. Place of burial
7. Place of marriage
8. Date of marriage
9. Place of marriage
10. Date of marriage
11. Place of marriage
12. Date of marriage
13. Place of marriage
14. Date of marriage
15. Place of marriage
16. Date of marriage
17. Place of marriage
18. Date of marriage
19. Place of marriage
20. Date of marriage
21. Place of marriage
22. Date of marriage
23. Place of marriage
24. Date of marriage
25. Place of marriage
26. Date of marriage
27. Place of marriage
28. Date of marriage
29. Place of marriage
30. Date of marriage
31. Place of marriage
32. Date of marriage
33. Place of marriage
34. Date of marriage
35. Place of marriage
affixed for record whereby the records of the proceedings relating to the land claims of the deceased are hereby affixed for record
Department of the Interior O. M. T. B. Div.

O. W. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. March 22 1897.
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
John Lockhorn Commissioner.
Full name of soldier:
Levi Hanford
Place of residence before service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Nemahda Jefferson County
Place of residence after service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Waltham Delaware Co NY
Date of death (as near as possible):
Sept. 1898
Christian name of widow:
Mary
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Don't know
Remarks:
Your name and address;
Levi Hanford 409 19th St. Washington D.C.

H
Levi Haskins Waltham Centre Co NY Rev War Enlistment Com 1776
Conn Service Prison record if recorded
May 31 1893 BUREAU OF PENSIONS, OFFICE OF CHIEF CLERK
Dates and all facts of latest - for writing up a history for publication
For Levi Haskins Mabel Dins

to of P. torg D.C.
Memorandum
23676 INVALID.
File No. 23,676 Levi Hanford Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 162
[Arrangement of 1876.]
1893 June 21. His Levi Hanford mld. Rev. War 75.
Apr. 29-1897 His to Mr. Levi Hanford 409-G at Washington
July 22'98 J.H. Newcomb Esq. Rochester N.Y.

Levi Hanford
acord.
20. mo. 23 d pri

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield ss. Probate Court District of Norfolk in said County Sept. 5. 1832 Personally appeared before said Court Ebenezer Hoyt of Wilton in said District aged Seventy four years and being duly sworn in open Court according to Law depose and say that he is well acquainted with Levi Hanford of the town of Wilton Delaware County State of New York. That in the Month of February 1777 said Hanford and myself Intested in the of said Norfolk into a company commanded by Capt Seth Lyman Lieut. Nicholas Raymond and after serving on guard on the sea coast we was taken prisoners in said Norfolk 13 th day of March was taken to Long Island from thence to New York confined in the Sugar house about Eight Months then taken to the Prison Ship and was confined as prisoners fourteen Months and we was finally exchanged and escaped with our lives both return to home sick -
And in the Spring of the year 1779 the defendant Intested in New Canaan now called then a Parish of Norfolk into Capt. Caleb St John Company of Light horse and said Levi Hanford at that time belonged to the same company and I know that said Hanford continued to serve in said company in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines until the Spring of the year 1781. when the defendant was taken sick and left the company and further saith not
Sworn and subscribed this day and year of our said and said Ebenezer Hoyt is a credible Person -
Ebenezer Hoyt Benj. Isaacs Judge
At the same Court Personally appeared James Barkwood of New Canaan in said District aged Eighty Six years and being duly sworn in open Court according to Law depose and say that he

is well acquainted with Sam Hanford formerly of said New Canaan now of the town of Weston County of Delaware State of New York and knows that said Levi Hanford in Oct. 1776 enlisted in said New Canaan into a troop of horse under the command of Col. St. John and in the year 1777 said Hanford was detached and went to Newburgh and was there taken prisoner after his return from being a prisoner and recovered his health in the Spring of the year 1779 he took his station again in said Company of Light horse and was engaged in protecting and guarding the Sea Coast and on the lines until the close of the Revolutionary War the disponent served in said Company as a Sergeant during the whole of said time of time and further saith not Sworn and Subscribed
The day and year above said James Lockwood and that said James Lockwood is a Credible Person
Benj. Isaac Judge
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of Benjamin Isaac; that the above signature of his name is undoubtedly genuine & that he has been, for several years & is now, the Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of New Britain in Connecticut Senate Chamber Feb. 8 th 1833.
Gilead Ponderson

Further care of
Levi Ranford

In the case of Lewis Ranford
Answers to objections
1. "Each term of service for which a claim is set forth is reported" is set forth as follows, viz
 1. He enlisted in Feb. 1777 - taken prisoner 13 th March 1777 kept prisoner till 8 th May 1778 when exchanged - Rule } 200 days from last of Feb 1777 till 8 th May 1778 inclusive — 14. 9  2. On his tour of duty to New York. He states that he was there (in 1778) "about three weeks" - being 14 days } 14  3. From the Spring of the year 1779 till the close of the war he did duty in said company of Light horse be "rec d pay & rations during that time in the whole for more than six months" This proves an actual service as he "particularly sets forth" the kind of service, to wit, "when the enemy burnt Fairfield went to Hartford to guard prisoners" - "on guard" "patrolling parties" &c &c — 6. 28 
14. 23
20. 23
A.B. His sickness & sufferings while a prisoner &  after his discharge will incline the mind to entertain a construction - I do not mean to a construction against law, but as far as law will liberally allow
2. To the objection that the papers are not authenticated as the regulations direct - I cannot discover any defect unless it be the want of "a piece of tape" pasted under the seal - My certificate will obviate that objection -
A.B. The proper hand writing of Judge Essex is proved by the certificate of Gov. Tinklin -
Heated 8 Feb. 1833 -
E. Root