Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13428, Jonathan Hoyt, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Hoyt, Jonathan
S 13428
CONTENTS
Carded

Vermont. 28,214.
Jonathan Hoyt
of New Haven in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Purdie of the Regt. commanded by Col. Watbury in the Continental line for
2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of April 1834 and S. Haight
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834. . . 240.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sept. " . . . 40.00
$ 280.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 70

29. 7. 69 Jonathan Hoyt
S. Haight Offin Sergeant at Arms Senate -

State of Vermont District of New Haven } ss
On this 1 st day of November A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open Court before Depe Grandy Judge of the court of Probate now sitting at New Haven, within the District of New Haven aforesaid, Jonathan Hoyt, a resident of New Haven in the county of Addison State of Vermont, aged eighty 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 th 1832.
That he was born at Norwalk in the state of Connecticut as he has been informed & believes, tho' he has no record of that fact - on the 20 th day of April 1750 & lived there at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, that after the war broke out he enlisted into the service for the term of three months under Capt. Daniel Benedict of said Norwalk & in Colonel Waterbury's Regiment, that he enlisted some time in the month of December 1775 & marched to the city of New York, where the troops to which he belonged were stationed, that after the time for which he enlisted had expired, & the troops had failed of arriving from Boston, & the importance of defending the City against the assaults of the British armed Ships then lying in the harbor was induced to stay in the service one month longer, as did about two thirds of the company to which he belonged & at the close of that month he was discharged & returned home to Norwalk in April 1776 having served four months - afterwards in the month of August 1776 was called out & served in the Militia in the company commanded by Captain Reuben Scofield of Stamford Colonel Waterbury's Regiment, marched to the City of New York to reinforce the troops then on Long Island retreated with the Army from the Island to Kingsbridge & White Plains, from which place was carried round with many others on account of the sickness of the Detachment - served at that time three months - After the battle of Long Island Danbury were burnt - was drafted to go into the service & afterwards had his choice to go into the service or to work at Danbury in erecting barracks, Hospitals &c the latter of which he did & remained in that service four months. This was in the summer of 1777. That from this last mentioned time till the capture of the British Army commanded by Lord Cornwallis was constantly enrolled in the militia & never imprisoned, only

until the alarm guns should be fired, & then to appear for the with- out the Parade. That from the exposed condition of that part of the country where he lived the inhabitants were continually harassed & troubled by the British. Has served at Hoosac, Housatonic, Plitz Street, Stamford & other places in the vicinity two or three weeks at a time. From the nature of the service & the lapse of time it is wholly impossible to state with certainty the length of time he served in the militia during the War of the Revolution. But from the best of his recollection he was in the Service more than four years at different times. When the British destroyed the Stores at Danbury was called out to meet the enemy at Red Bank field & helped to repel them when Gen- Wooster & many belonging to the company with me were slain at that place. Was called out when Bedford & Poundridge were burned & helped to drive the enemy from those places & also was present when Fairfield was burned. It was continual war in the vicinity where he lived from 1775 to 1783. Individuals killed, Houses burned, cattle & Horses stolen by the enemy, & much mischief done. Many of his Townsmen & Neighbors fled to Long Island where they were protected by the British Army & encouraged by them to commit depredations on the country from where they removed. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Jonathan Hoyt
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
We Ira Bently, a Clergyman residing in the town of New Haven aforesaid & James Sayton residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Hoyt, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be eighty three years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where when he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
James Sayton
Ira Bently

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 & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Ezra Brattle who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the town of New Haven aforesaid, & that James Saxon, who has also signed the same, is a resident of the said town of New Haven & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Joseph Grancy Judge
I John Parker, Register of the Probate Court for the District of New Haven, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Hoyt for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office This 4 th day November A.D. 1833
John Parker, Register
New Haven District p 3 December 18 th 1833 I hereby certify that two half sheets of paper which are attached to each other by seal, is the original paper & Declaration written by me, containing the Declaration of Jonathan Hoyt for a Pension
John Parker Register

Jonathan Hoyt Supplemental Declaration
J Haight Esq

State of Vermont, On this 18 th day of March 1834, before the Probate Addison District Court for the said District of Addison, being a Court of record, personally appeared Jonathan Hoyt, of New Haven in the County of Addison, and being duly sworn makes the following declaration, in addition to, and in explanation of his former declaration made before the Probate Court for the District of New Haven in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Con- gress of the 7 th June 1832:-
On account of my age, & consequent loss of memory, it is impossi- ble for me to recollect with accuracy all the dates & periods of my service; - but I am confident that I served not less than the terms herein after mentioned, besides several short periods of service, when called out on alarms - and that I served in the whole, during the war not less than three years , and I think several months more:-
In the year 1775, the latter part of November or first of December I enlisted, as stated in my former declaration, for the term of three months into a Company of Connecticut State troops, commanded by Capt. Benedict - I was marched to Stamford, where we were stationed, I think, about a fortnight, for the troops to collect. Capt. Benedict resided in the same town, where I did, and I am confident, his company belonged to Colonel Waterbury's Regiment, - he the Colonel lived in Stamford, where we were first stationed, as above mentioned, and I think, but am not certain, that he went on to New York with us. We were then marched to New York, & were stationed in the City, keeping guard against the British ships of war, then lying in the harbor. I served until the expiration of the said term of three months, for which I enlisted - And the troops, which were expected from the eastward not arriving, we were prevailed on by our officers to continue one month more - And I distinctly recollect that Colonel Water- bury addressed the troops on the subject. I accordingly remained in the service one month more, - making in the whole, I am very sure, four months , and

I returned home about the first of April 1776. I am the more confirmed in my recollection of the above facts, and many of the following, by the distinct recollection of my wife, who is still living.
From this time the company of militia under Captain Benedict to which I belonged, were ordered to hold themselves in constant readiness to march at a minute's warning, whenever there should be an alarm, & the alarm guns should be fired. This measure was adopted, on account of the constant exposure of that part of the Country to invasion of the enemy, who had the possession of Long Island, and the control of the Sound. — I think now, but am not quite certain, that I was called out on alarms, once or twice, previous to August 1776. —
About the first of August 1776, I was called out in the Company of militia, to which I belonged, under Captain Benedict, and was marched to the City of New York, & arrived there a week or two before the army was ordered over to Long Island; but having been taken with the dysentery, I was not able to go with the troops, but remained in the City, and I distinctly recollect the retreat of our army from Long Island — and was near enough to see the British troops, in the morning, running down to the water in pursuit of our troops and firing upon the last boats, which passed over, and I heard them say — "Stop you damned rebels" &c. Being still sick, I, and others in the same condition were ordered to move up as far as the Bullhead, & remain until further orders — And being still unable to perform duty, we were advised to continue our retreat, towards home, and moved slowly until we got beyond King's bridge, when we sent notice to our friends, who came after us & carried us home. I remained sick, and unable to perform any work for five or six weeks. The length of time I was absent I cannot certainly recollect, but think it was not less than four months but from the time I left home to the time I got well enough to perform any labor was

not less than two  two months. - Captain Benedict returned home sick, soon after my return, and died of the dysentery soon afterwards. - I think in my former declaration, I stated that this service was performed under Capt. Seaford; in this I was mistaken. After the death of Capt. Benedict, Captain Carter was appointed Captain of the militia Company, to which I belonged - but he being quite deaf, was after awhile discharged, and Captain Seaford was appointed. I do not distinctly recollect, whether any of the following services were performed under Capt. Carter. In the In the Spring of 1777, I volunteered in the same company of militia - but I am I am not certain who then commanded the company - the term to to extend the service, I cannot distinctly recollect, but was in the service at the time the British burned the town of Danbury. I was out on guard, at different places on the Sound, most of the time until August of that year. In that month, I was detached, with several others in the company, as artificers - being myself a Joiner by trade - and was employed, in the service at Danbury, in rebuilding the barracks & hospitals & making Coffins. When I was first stationed there, I was under the command of Capt. Seth Abbott of Milton, & afterwards under the command of Capt. Ketchum of Danbury. This was considered as belonging to the regular service, and we were paid, the same as though on duty, - and we wore this impressed in lieu of the service of a private on the service  on duty . - I continued in this service until the forepart of December, from the first to the fifth. I reached home the day before Thanksgiving. - I am confident my whole service this season was not less than five months .
In the year 1778, I was in the service in the said Company then under the command of Capt. Reuben Seaford of Stamford about five miles from where I resided, - keeping guard, & acting as a patrol at Fairfield, Norwalk, Middlesex, Stamford and Horsham, for most of the time from early in Spring until late in the fall. I am not able to recollect distinctly the different periods of service; but am confident, I served that season not less than four months . -

In the year 1779, that part of the Country was in a state of constant alarm, and the enemy invaded and burned Norwalk & Fairfield, in that neighbourhood, so that militia was almost constantly in the service, and I volunteered, at different times, and was in the service in the company under the command of Captain Seaford, on guard at Fairfield, Norwalk, Middlesex, Stamford, Greenwich & Horseneck, I am confident not less than five months . In the year 1780, I served in the same company, at different times, and at different places on the lines, keeping guard & acting as a patrol, and was at Bedford & Paunad Ridge, when those places were burned: - And I think I was in the service not less than five months . - On further recollection, I am not certain, that the above mentioned towns were burnt in this season, or that Paunad Ridge was burnt at all, although the enemy came thro' & killed several persons. - In the years 1781 & 1782, I was also frequently called out on alarm as in the previous years, and served on guard of the lines at the several places before mentioned, in the same company, and, as I think, under the command of Capt. Seaford, and am confident I was in actual service in the former year four months & a half , & in the latter year two months . In the latter year the Tories continued their depredations upon the inhabitants, in the neighborhood of New York & on the Sound so that the militia were frequently called out. - A part of the time above mentioned, the company, to which I belonged in the regiment was under the command of Colonel Stephen St. John, and I recollect there was a Colonel Meade, I have some impression, that I was at some time under his command, but have no distinct recollection, at what time different colonels commanded the regiment. - Besides the Captain, above mentioned, Joseph David Ely, James Wood were lieutenants in the company & Nathaniel Gray was ensign, and I have an impression, that at some short times one or more of them had the command of the company. Capt. Seaford, after he was appointed continued Captain of the company until the close of the war, I had the command, except when

their pensions until about that time; - what was the reason he had not before written. - I immediately after my return home, wrote to him again requesting him to procure the necessary evidence; and he accordingly procured the affidavits, which were forwarded to the Pension Office. - These facts are the only reason, why earlier application was not made in behalf of my father. - At the close of the war I was eight years old, and for many years subsequent to that, I have frequently heard my father  him speak, and converse with the neighbors, who were in the service with him, about his services in the Revolutionary War. I distinctly recollect his stating, at an early stage when I was a child & when such stories were interesting to me, that he went to New York in the fall of 1775, - that he enlisted for three months & served four months - that he was employed in keeping guard against some British ships of war which lay in the harbor, & so near the shore, that he could have thrown a stone on board - that the next year he went again to New York, - that he was there at the time of the retreat from Long Island, - that the dysentery prevailed extensively among the troops, - that he was sick with that disease, & was brought home by his brother, Matthew Hoyt, whom I have heard state the effect, dangerously sick, and that he continued so as to be unable to perform any work of consequence until winter. - And I have often heard him speak of being in the service, as an artificer, at Danbury, after the same season that place was burnt - And that he was employed, three months or more at one time as an artificer, in erecting barracks, hospitals &c. - And have often heard him say that he was on guard, at different times, at Byram's Bridge, Sherwood's Bridge, King's Street, Greenwich, Housatonic, Stamford, Middletown, Norwalk, & Fairfield. And at an early day, I have heard him say, that he calculated, that he was in the service, in the whole

absent, - as I think he was one season, in the service in New Jersey. - The following persons, living in the same neigh- borhood, where I did, some, or all of whom, I understand have obtained pensions, were at different times in the service with me, viz, Aaron Comstock, Matthias St. John, Enoch St. John, Enoch Abbott, Allen Clinton. - Jonathan Hoyt Sworn & subscribed the day before aforesaid,
Sam t . Swift, Judge.
I, Jonathan Hoyt Sun. of New Haven in the County of Addison, aged fifty eight years, being duly sworn before me, say, that soon after the passing of the pension act of the 18th June 1832, my father Jonathan Hoyt, who has signed the above declaration stated that he was entitled to a pension under that act, and requested me to take the necessary measures to enable him to procure it. But he being too feeble to go from home to attend Court, I went to Middlebury while the County Court was sitting about the first of the following July, and endeavored to procure some Judge to come to his house for the purpose of taking his declaration; but not being able, I concluded to write to a friend in Connecticut, in the neighborhood where he resided, to procure the necessary evidence of his service, and to ascertain whether those who were in the same service obtained pensions - And not receiving an answer, I wrote again; but no answer was received from him until October 1833, - while I was absent on a journey to Michigan. In this letter, which has since been mislaid, my friend Samuel Raymond Esq. of New Canaan, Connecticut, stated that those in the same service had not obtained

during the war, as much as four years: - That he thought he was in actual service one half of the time during the whole war; - And that he was all the time so liable to be called into the service, that he was unable to pursue any kind of business, at any time.
My friend Samuel Raymond Esq. to whom I wrote for evidence applied to Benjamin Isaac Esq. of Norwalk Connecticut, Judge of Probate in that District, and requested him to procure the necessary testimony. Judge Isaac, when he forwarded the affidavits, wrote me making some explanations, and, as a reason, why he did not take the affidavit of Capt. Scofield, whom, testimony I had requested, says as follows - "Esquire Scofield's deposition should have taken, had he been in a situation to have given it; he is 92 years of age, - faculties almost gone, and his records are at Washington I was at Washington in August last, and had occasion to examine them. I found them very imperfect. I have no doubt but your father's name will be on them." For some years past my father's recollection has greatly failed, so as to be altogether less distinct, in relation to his service than formerly; - and he is now unable to recollect many circumstances about his service, which he formerly recollected & stated distinctly; And I am confident, he has not, in his declaration, in any case overstated the length of his service - but, from my recollection of his former statements, I think his present statement is below his actual service. -
Sworn & subscribed this 18 th day of March 1834
Jon a Hoyt
Sam l . Swift Judge.

And the said Court hereby declares 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 Sol- dier & served, as he states, And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jonathan Hoyt Jun. Esquire, who has signed & sworn to the preceding affidavit is a credible person & his statement is entitled to full credit.
Sam l . Swift Judge.
I, Edward D. Barber, Register of the Probate Court for the District of Addison in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Hoyt for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court this 19 th day of March 1834.
Edward D. Barber Register.

May 7, 1928.
Mrs. John Scherer, Pine Tree Inn, Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 13428, it appears that Jonathan Hoyt was born April 20, 1750 at Norwalk, Connecticut.
While residing there he enlisted and served as a private with the Connecticut Troops as follows:
From November or December, 1775, four months in Captain Daniel Benedict's Company, Colonel Waterbury's Regiment; from August, 1776, a few months in same company and same regiment; from April, 1777, a few months in Captain John Carter's Company, Colonel Mead's Regiment, and was in the Danbury Raid; from in the summer of 1777, five months stationed at Danbury under Captain Seth Abbott and Captain Ketohum and helped to build barracks and hospitals at Danbury; from March, 1778, four or five months in Captain Reuben Scofield's Company, Colonel John Mead's Regiment; from March, 1779, five or six months in same company and regiment, and was in the battles at Fairfield and Norwalk; from

March, 1780, five or six months in same company and regiment; from March, 1781, five months in same company in Colonel Stephen St. John's Regiment; and from March, 1782, two months in Captain Reuben Scofield's Company, Colonel Stephen St. John's Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 4, 1833, while living at New Haven, Addison County, Vermont.
He stated that his wife was living in 1834, her name is not given nor are there any details as to their marriage.
Son, Jonathan Hoyt, Junior, in 1834 stated that he was about eight years old at the close of the war.
No other names of children mentioned.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

✓ 13.4218 INVALID.
Rev. man
1928 - may 7. H.W. to Mrs. John Scherer Secy.
File No. 13 428
Jonathan Hoyt Drw. Rev. Wm
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 179
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2 years private $80
J Haight Lunatic Asylum

State of Connecticut Fairfield County - S. Probate Court District of Norwalk. December 5. 1833 Personally appeared Aaron Comstock Esq. of New Canaan in said District aged Eighty one years and being duly sworn in open Court deposed and says that he is well acquainted with Jonathan Hloyt formerly of said New Canaan Now of New Haven State of Connecticut and knows that said Hloyt enlisted in said New Canaan in Capt Daniel Benedict Company in Col. Waterbury Regt. as a private soldier in the month of December 1775 and was marched to the City of New York and was in the same until the 25. day of March next following.
That in Augt. 1776 said Hloyt enlisted again in the same Company was marched to New York from Thorne to Long Island and retreated out of New York to Kings bridge White Plains and the said Hloyt was taken sick with the Dysentery which made his demise for more than five Months.
That in April 1777 said Hloyt enlisted in Capt. John Barker Company Col. Mead Regt. was out in the Danbury expedition and was in the service on the lines at Glen mick and was in actual service for more than four Months.
That on the first of March 1778 said Hloyt enlisted in Capt. Reuben Hosford Company Col. John Moad and was on guard at Norwalk on the lines and was in actual service for more than five Months.
That on the first of March 1779 said Hloyt enlisted in the same Company was in the Battle where Fairfield and Norwalk was burnt and was on guard at said Norwalk and on the lines for more than six Months.
That on the first of March 1780 said Hloyt enlisted in the same Company under Capt. Hosford Col. John Moad was on guard at Norwalk on the lines and was in actual service for more than six Months.

That on the first of March 1781 said Hoyt enlisted in said Col. Stephen's Inf'd Cavalry under Col. Stephen St John and was on Guard at Hornsbrook and on the lines and was in Actual Service for more than four Months. That on the first of March 1782 said Hoyt enlisted in the same Company under Col. Stephen St John and was on the lines and was in Actual Service for more than two Months. During the whole of the aforesaid terms of service under Capt. Brundage, Capt. Carter and Capt. Sheffield the deponent was in the same Service with the said Hoyt and belonged to the same Company of State Troops or Coast Guards as they were called and the said Hoyt was a private soldier and faithful and true to his Country and the deponent was a Corporal and Sergeant in the same Company during said terms of service and lived in the same Neighbourhood with the said Hoyt during the Revolutionary War.
A. Cross Farm Neck. V
At the same Court Personally appeared James Brundage of said New Berne aged Eighty Nine Years and being duly sworn in open Court depose and say that he is well acquainted with Jonathan Hoyt formerly of said New Berne now of New Bern State of Vermont and knows that said Hoyt was in the service of the United States in the year 1775 and 1776 and was attached to New York the length of his service do not now remember and further knows that said Hoyt was in Service on Guard at Hornsbrook on the lines at New York until the close of the War the length of his service can not now recollect but fully believe he was in Actual Service for the United States as a private soldier for more than three years. The deponent lived a Neigh Neighbour to said Hoyt during the Revolutionary War and served in the Troop of Dragoons as a

Sergeant during the whole war and often since then said that on Guard at Southwick and on the lines and when the Siege of Fairfaxia and Burnside was brought before and bombardment in James his Benedict open Court and that I am well acquainted with the said John Boomsback Esq. and the said James Benedict and they are both credible & respectable Persons in History whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court
Benj. Isaacs Judge
Seaford Co
  Jonathan Doyl  2 days  from 15 to 23 Aug 1779    do  2 days  26 & 27 Feb 1779    Memor Reg d  1 month  18 June to 18 July 1779    "  1.5 days  17 Feb to 20 Feb 1781    "  2 days  5 Aug to 6 Aug 1779    "  1.5  17 Aug to 20 Aug 1781  
Seaford Co served 9 m s in 1781 but Claimed not in it

SUMMER SEASON MONOMONOCK INN CALDWELL, N. J.
PRIVATE OFFICE Pine Tree Inn The Inn in the Pines Lakehurst, N. J. ALBERT A. LE ROY, PROPRIETOR
February 27th, 1928
Commissioner of Pensions, Dept. of Interior, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:-
Will you be kind enough to send me the Pension record of Jonathan Hoyt, number S 13428?
Thanking you in advance for this information, I am
Very truly yours,
Florence D. Scherer
(Mrs. John Scherer,) Pine Tree Inn, Lakehurst, N.J.
Jonathan File # 19342 ll 1536