Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,281, Silas Harrison, Continental Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Harrison, Silas
S. 13281
Conn.
Carded.
CONTENTS

14579
14084
New York
Silas Harrison
of Madison in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Mott of the Regt. commanded by Col. — in the ★ Ct. m ca une for 10 m 9 d.
★ Continental Conn. Records completed m ca 1832
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 34 Dollars 32 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of May 1833, and sent to Mrs. P. Granger Morrisville
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $68.64 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 17.16
$85.80
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 100

Declaration of Silas
Harrison an applicant for a pension.
14519 v. AP
Send return to Mrs P. Granger Morrisville Madison County N. Y.

State of New York County of Madison ss on this 8 th day of October 1832. Personally appeared in open court before James B. Eldredge, William R. Fuller, Sylvanus Seber, Elisha Randall & Barnes Baskerville Judges of the court of common pleas of the county of Madison, in the state of New York, now sitting Silas Harrison a resident of the town of Smithfield in the county of Madison aforesaid, aged seventy seven years on the first day of May last past, 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 here in stated At the town of Norwich in the state of Connecticut, in the month of April in the year 1775 he enlisted in the service of the United States during the revolutionary war in a company of Militia, of which Edward Mott of Preston was Captain, one Halsey first Lieutenant, Benjamin Root second Lieutenant; one Stacy Ensign & Jacob Fox and Kingsbury Sanford were Sergeants. Our company marched to Hartford, New Haven & Albany & remained there 5 days then went to Troy, Fort Edward & then to Fort George & remained at Fort George three weeks, waiting for provisions. We then went to Ticonderoga by water in Batteaux. When we first arrived at Ticonderoga, Genl. Schuyler commanded. Afterwards General Montgomery took the command & Schuyler returned home. When Genl. Montgomery went to Saratoga, General Schuyler again took the command. All of Capt Mott's company went to Saratoga, except six or eight, & among those who did not go, was applicant who was sick with the fever & ague. He was confined in the Hospital three weeks. General Schuyler gave him a pass to go home & said I should be regularly discharged from the service afterwards by my officers. was afterwards discharged by Capt Mott, but my pass & discharge are both lost. Was employed much of his time in carrying provisions across the Lake from

fort Gray to Tienderoga - was at Tienderoga about five months & in the Service seven months from the time he left Norwich up to the time he received a pass from Genl. Schuyler to return home, besides the time spent in returning home. After the treason of Benedict Arnold & he thinks it must have been in the summer of 1781. from the fact that he was waking at the time, Asa Fitch an ordinary sergeant came into the field where he was, sleeping reaping at the town of Norwich afterwards & informed him that he was drafted for three months service to go West Point to repair the Fort. He immediately went to West Point & served in a company commanded by Capt Joseph Gray & Lieutenants Sheldon & Dennis. He was a waiter to Capt Gray. A company from Hadlim (Conn) was also at West Point commanded by Lieut Sheldon. He served his three months out & then returned home - had no discharge. He went to New London three several times on alarm, & the first time was gone 2 days, the second time 3 days & the 4 th time 4 days. He has no documentary evidence of his service & knows of no person who can testify to the same. He was born at Lyme (Conn) on the first day of May 1755. Has no record of his age. Was living at Norwich afterwards when called into the service, & lived there until about thirty years since, when he moved to E. Green (N.Y.) & from there to Warren (N.Y.) & then to Lebanon in said county of Madison where he lived twenty five years & from there he moved to Smithfield (Madison co) his present place of residence. John G. Curtis, John M. Nafinger, Oliver Trumbull & Joel S. Trumbull are his neighbors & can testify as to his character for veracity & as to their belief as to his services as a soldier of the war for the cause. He hereby acknowledges every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension of roll of the agency of any state
Silas his L. Harrison mark
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. A. S. Sloan Clerk

We John G. Curtis & Joel S. Turnbull residing in the town of Smithfield in the county of Madison & State of New York hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Silas Harrison, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. John G. Curtis Sworn & subscribed the day & Joel S. Turnbull year first of said
A. S. Sloan Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the court department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that John G. Curtis & Joel S. Turnbull who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of Smithfield in said county of Madison & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Madison in 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 Silas Harrison, for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office. The 8th day of October 1832.
A. S. Sloan Clk

N o 114519
Silas Harrison
Madison Co. N. York
admitted
10 mo. 9 days Private
\begin{array}{r} 38 \ 33 \ 3 \\ 88 \\ \hline 74.32 \end{array}
Chas P. Grange Agt Morrisville Madison Co. N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of  Silas Harrison  of Madison Co in the State of N. 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? 77  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.      Enlisted In 1795 age 20  Discharged 1801  afterwards at different times was called out   7  3   9   As a  Private   Gen. Schuyler Montgomery  Capt. Elisha Mott 1st Col. 1st Regt  Brig. Genl. Van Riper 2d Col. 1st Regt  Capt. Col. Gary 1st Sheldon's Penna.   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Town of Normans 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? None 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Geo. B. Whiting Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Aug. 19 , 19 20
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Silas Harrison a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S 13281
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apl. 1775 7 mos. Pvt. Edward Mott ✓ Conn.   * Summer 1780 3 mos. Joseph Crary ✓   ✓ 9 days out one alarm at New London  
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norwich Conn.
Date of application for pension, Oct 8, 1832 His el. ad
Residence at date of application, Smithfield Madison Co. NY
Age at date of application, 75 Feb 1755 at Lynn Conn.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to family
* Office note  Treason of Benedict Arnold 1780  ew.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1920, Aug. 19 Hist to Clara m. Dice — — En.
1922, Sept. 5 hist. to Mrs. Ralph C. Dixon — — En — —
Reuben
✓ 13.281 INVALID.
File No. 13.281
Silas Harrison
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: — Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev. J. P. S.
Hutchinson Kan 7-21-20
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Can you give me any information regarding the birth marriage and War service of Silas Harrison who fought in the Revolutionary War in 20 th regiment - Conn Militia I believe any details regarding him that you have will be greatly received by myself Thanking you in advance I am Yours Truly Clara M. Sice 327 A West Hutchinson Kan.

Rev Sec 68
Arkansas City, Kans. July 30, 1922.
To the Pension Dept. Will you send me the Pension Record of Silas Harrison, Private in Comanche Militia. He had a son Tom Harrison and a daughter Francis Cordelia Harrison who married Richard Johnson. Very Respectfully.
Mrs. Ralph C. Dixon 200 North B. St. Arkansas City Kansas.
Also the Pension Record of Gadoc Turner, Private in Mass. Militia. Mrs. D.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Silas Harrison 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? 2 witnesses
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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? yes
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 qualified to testify to the time of 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.