John Wilson, CT -- Revolutionary War Pension File #S16.296 Surnames: Wilson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Posted by Jan (Wilson) Ramos on Sat, 06 Mar 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pension File #S16.296, John Wilson, CT TRANSCRIPT: Revolutionary War Pension File of John Wilson PAGE 1, linen envelope cover: CONN. WILSON, JOHN S 16.296 PAGE 2: NATIONAL ARCHIVES MICROFILM PUBLICATIONS, SELECTED RECORDS PAGE 3: New York/ John Wilson/ of Clinton Co. in the State of New York/ who was a Private in the Comp. com./ by Captain Wilson of the Regt. com./ by Col. Storrs in the Cont/ line for 8 months and 7 days. Inscribed on the Roll of New York/ at the rate of 27 Dollars 50 Cents per annum/ to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Feby/ 1834 and Sent to S. Hubball/ Champlain Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $68.75 (paper torn)ent allowance ending, Apr '34 13.75 $82.50 Revolutionary Claim / Act, June 7, 1832 Ordered by Geo. C. Tate(?), Clerk/ E, Vol. A, Page 129 Letter 22 April 18_7 - Pending/ T_ss_____ Nov 30 1834/ to same Aug 3, 1841/ O.R. (or O.B.) Merrill Oct 1858 / S. J. Wilcox Mch 7 1859 / B. D. Room(?) PAGE 11 - 16 State of New York/ Clinton County SS: On this Twenty Third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty three before me James W. Wood one of the of the Judges of the Court of Common Areas of the County of Clinton of State of New York aforesaid residing at Champlain in said County personally appeared John Wilson, resident at OdellTown in the District of Montreal in the Province of Lower Canada and Seventy Six years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of War Act Congress passed June Seventh 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. That is to say That he the said John Wilson some time about the beginning of the month of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, then residing in he North Parish of the Town of Coventry in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut & being sixteen years of age the April before on a call being made of Militia for the service of the United States entered into said service a volunteer militiaman in the Company of Capt William Wilson in Colonel Stores Regiment & was immediately ordered to New London, that said regiment took up New March accordingly & went as far as the Town of Windham where they were halted & ordered back to Coventry, after remaining there a short time we were ordered to march to the westward and did march to Hartford from there to Litchfield, from there to New Haven, then through No. Haven on the Sound to Stamford where our Regiment halted and upon an application as deponent understood from the Committee of Safety, our Company commanded by Capt Wilson as aforesaid and another Company commanded by Capt Williams were detached for the purpose of guarding the Continental Stores that were deposited in Captain Samuel Webbs Store near the water where we remained about two months, we were ordered to the westward and marched to a place called the Saw pits where we joined our said Regiment under Colonel Storrs- the said Regiment then marched, our Company being with it, to Whiteplains after remaining there a time not recollected our said Regiment were ordered back and returned to the Saw pits, we remained there & in the vicinity until the last of November or fore part of December when we were discharged and returned home to Coventry in Connecticut. Some time in the month of April as near as deponent can recollect in the year 1777 There was a call for men to fill up the army under the Continental lines and I myself with 8 or 10 other enlisted volunteer militia men now in Capt Paul Brighams Company Joshua Tilden was Ensign in the same Brigham & Tilden belonged to the Town of Coventry it was there I listed our Company joined Colonel Chandlers Regiment of New Town - his regiment was State a Continental Regiment one That was _____ in the same Regiment I listed for eight months at this time. I do not recollect the exact time we were ordered to march but think it was about the middle of May 1777 our Company first marched to Hartford Connecticut from there by New Post Road to New Town & there we joined Col. Chandlers Regiment and out of his store we drew our guns bayonets & Powdour(?) - boxes. We then had orders to march immediately to Danbury Connecticut. Danbury had been burnt by the British not long before we arrived and Capt Brighams Company was ordered to remain in Danbury two or three weeks. Andrew Kingsbury was made Chief of the Hospital Stores at Danbury he was one of the men who volunteered when I did we then had orders that __ Capt Brighams company to march to Peekskill & join Chandlers Regiment which had gone on there before us - then our Regiment was annexed to General Wm. Douglas Brigade - Col. Chandlers Regiment was stationed at a place called Pleasant Hill we were then ordered (I cannot tell the exact time when) to cross the North River at Kings Ferry and marched directly to a place called Hampton Plains in New Jersey, there I saw a man whiped 500 lashes & drummed out of Camp that belonged to our Brigade. After remaining some time (time not recollect) we had orders to cross the North River again & we returned to our old encampment at Peekskill after remaining there for a time not recollected we again had orders to cross the North River at Kings Ferry into New Jersey & marched to the southward that is our Regiment crossed the second time into New Jersey but I myself was taken sick & conveyed back to the barracks at Peekskill & was not able to march with my company I remained there until after Burgoin was taken. My father came to see me& finding me sick & by directions & order of Genl Putnam hired one Amos Welch to serve as my substitute the remainder of my eight months & paid him forty dollars I having served out my time into one month. Again a short time before New London was burned and Fort Trumbel was taken I volunteered to serve & did serve one month under Capt Lin_ hov_ _ OR DeShon in Fort Griswold - Colonel Ledyard commander Fort Griswold and Groton & the said Fort was taken a short time after I was discharged of the garrison but of this word(?) as I was informed. (NOTE: checked list of ALL captains, none seem to match the writing on the document - research determined it was Capt. Richard DeShon) And deponent further saith That he served the First term of service in the militia under Capt Wilson four months The second term under Capt Brigham seven months and one month in Fort Griswold under Capt DeShon - making one year service in the whole. That he never received any written discharge as he recollects. That he has no documentary evidence to show his term of service. nor does he know any erson living by whom he can prove his service altho he has made enquiry in different places to find some one that served with him & has not been able to lern of any one - And deponent further saith "I was born in Coventry North Parish Windham County in the State of Connecticut in April 1760 was Seventy three years old last April. I lived in Coventry my native Town untill the year 1796 I then moved into LaCole or OdellTown in the Province of Lower Canada where I have ever since and do now reside. I am now a cripple & unable to labour and shall be thankful to have the bounty of my Country if They think me deserving of it - And the deponent 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 & there is no Clergyman in the Town where he resides that has been acquainted with me to certify I state Abijah Mendell & Freeman Nye my neighbours in OdellTown who can testify as to my character I have no record of my age John Wilson (signed) Sworn to & Subscribed/ the 23 day of February/ 1833/ Before me/ Jas W. Woods/ Judge Clinton County, Plats We Abijah Mendell & Freeman Nye residing in OdellTown in the District of Montreal & Province of Lower Canada hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Wilson named in the foregoing Declaration that he is reputed to be whom you believe him to be a man of truth & veracity and we believe him to be seventy three years of age; and that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood when he states to have been a soldier of the Revolution of that we concur in that opinion Abijah Mendell (signed) Freeman Nye (signed) Sworn & Subscribed to/ this day & year aforesaid/ before me/ Jas. W. Woods (signed)/ Judge Clinton County Court, Plats And I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion after this investigation of the matter and after judging the interrogatories presented by the war Department that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and he served as he states and I do further certify that it appears to me that Abijah Mendell and Freeman Nye with both of whom I am well acquainted and who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents at Odell Town in the District of Montreal in the Province of Lower Canada and are credible persons and their statement is entitled to credit, and I do further certify that an careful examination of the above applicant I am satisfied that he cannot appear in Court at Plattsburgh in the County of Clinton by reason of bodily infirmities which he has been for some time labouring under Jas. W. Woods (signed) Judge Clinton Co. Plats State of New York Clinton County SS: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Commissioner of Deeds and for taking affidavits in aforesaid County John Wilson, who being duly sworn deponent saith that by reasons 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 quotes ________ Viz For three months and fifteen days he served as a volunteer militiaman in Captain William Wilsons Company Cololel Stores Regiment of Mansfield Connecticut - For seven months & seven days as a volunteer in Captain Paul Brighams Company Colonel Chandlers Regiment and for one month in Captain DeShons company in Fort Griswold in Groton Connecticut Colonel Ledyard commanded this Fort; And for such service I claim a pension. Here deponent would explain that some considerable time elapsed after he served Brighams company stationed at Danbury Connecticut before he joined Chandlers Regiment at Peekskill that do make the seven months service as above stated deponent recalls. The time he first joined Brighams company until he was discharged from the hospital that he recollects distinctly he was in the hospital when news of Burgoins surrender arrived and that he remained in the hospital some time after Burgoins Surrender That deponent listed for eight months in Brighams company and at the same time the following named persons enlisted in that same Company for eight months Viz Solomon Taylor. Benjamin Carpenter. Jabez Rockwell. William Porter. Jules Burns & Andrew Kingsbury. And that before deponent could get discharged at the hospital his father was obliged to hire a substitute to make up the Full Term of eight months & further saith not. Sworn this 3rd day of John Wilson (signed) September 1833 Before Silas Hubble comissioner of Deeds etc.(signed) PAGE 17 John Wilson/ Pension papers/ under the act of 1832/ Sent to/ Champlain/ Clinton County/ N York PAGE 18 John Wilson amended Declaration/ Admitted/ Private 8 mo & 7 days PAGE 5: LUCY FULLER DEPOSITION PAGE 6: I Lucy Fuller of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont of the age of 66 years in November last do testify and say that in the year 1776 I resided in Coventry in Connecticut that in the latter part of the summer and fall of the same year My Father and two of my brothers John Willson and William Willson Jr. were then in the service and the said John Willson belonged to the Company commanded by my Father Capt William Willson of said Coventry and attached to Col Storrs Regiment that during the absence of my Father and brothers which was as near as I can reccollect about four months. Two of my sisters one about 12 years and the other about one and half years old were taken sick and died and that the care of the family during that time devolved upon my Mother. I also testify and say that in the year 1778 the Spring or fore part of the summer of said year the said John Willson went in the Service of the United States to Groton in Connecticut and I will reccollect on his return from Groton that he was violently afflicted with the sore mouth said to be occassioned by eating bread in which lime was mixed - I further say not. State of Vermont Lucy Fuller (signed) Bennington County Dorset Oct 9 1837 Therein personally appeared Lucy Fuller named above & made oath that the facts contained in the above deposition by her subscribed contains the truth according to her best reccollection and I further certify that her character for truth & veracity is unimpeachable - before me Darius Moore Judge County Courts (signed) Ben County PAGE 7 State of Vermont I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington Bennington County County Court hereby Certify that Honn Darius Moore is an Assistant Justice of Our County Court for sd County, duly commissioned & qualified by Law, & that his foregoing Signature I believe to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name & affixed the Seal of Our sd County at Bennington this Twentieth day of October A.D. 1837. Henry Robinson (signed) PAGE 8: Rust Willson deposition PAGE 9: I Rust Willson of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont of the age of 70 years in February last do testify and say that in the year 1776 I resided in the Town of Coventry Connecticut that in the fore part of August of the same year the Regiment then commanded by Col. Storrs of Mansfield Conn. and Thomas Brown of Coventry Major were ordered into service that my brother John Willson then belonged to Capt. William Willsons Company of said Coventry of which Joseph Talcott was Lieut. and Eliphaz Hunt was Ensign: which company was attached to said Col. Storrs Regt and that the said John Willson went in said Company with said Regt and according to the best of my reccollection was gone about four months said Regt as I then understand having been called to White Plains I further testify & say that in the year 1778 the said John Willson went to Groton in Connecticutt in the Service of the United States and further says not - Rust Willson (signed) State of Vermont Bennington County} Dorset October 9 1837 Therein personally appeared Rust Willson named above & made oath that the facts contained in the above deposition by him ____________ as true according to the best of his recollections and I further certify that his character for truth & veracity is unimpeachable Darius Moore Judge County Court (signed) Ben. County PAGE 10 State of Vermont} I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington Bennington County} County Court hereby Certify that Honn Darius Moore is an Assistant Justice of Our County Court in aforesaid County of Bennington duly Commissioned & qualified by Law, & that his foregoing Signature I believe to be genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name & affixed the Seal of Our sd County Court at Bennington this 20th day of October AD. 1837- Henry Robinson (signed) LEVI LONG DEPOSITION: I Levi Long of Rutland in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 79 years and upwards, I do depose, testify, and say that I was born and resided in the town of Coventry in the County of Windham (according to the then civil division of the State) in the State of Connecticut, and resided there, until I was 27 years of age when I imigrated to the town of Rutland, Vermont - That I was well acquainted with John Willson, now residing in Chazy in the County of Clinton in the State of New York - we was boys, and school mates together for many years; and in 1776, both of us was enrolled, and belonged to the Militia Company in said Coventry, then commanded by Capt. William Willson, the father of this same John, whereof Joseph Talcott was Lieutenant, and Eliphaz Hunt, Ensign, and belonged to the Militia Regiment then commanded by Colonel Storrs, of Mansfield, and Mjr Thomas Brown of said Coventry. That early in the month of July, 1776, the same Regiment was ordered out in mass into the service of the war. That the said Capt. Wilson's Company, and Capt. Williams' militia company of Mansfield marched, and made their first halt at Stamford where we were employed about two months in guarding stores of provisions etc. that were there stored in Capt. Samuel Webb's store. From there, we were ordered to Horse Neck, where we remained in the service, until late in the month of November following - when we was discharged of went home. I well recollect this term of service, and know that this said John Wilson served throughout in his said father's company as a private. It was the only term of military service that we performed together in that Company. That afterwards, in May early, both, the said John Wilson, and myself, enlisted at the same time for the term of eight months, under Capt. Paul Brigham, of Col. Chandler's Regiment, in the Connecticut Continental Line of the Army. This was in the year 1777. After receiving our equipment at Newtown, we were ordered to Danbury - stood there about one month - when Capt. Brigham was commandant of the port. After this, we were marched to Peekskill, where we joined the main Army. The said John Wilson, after being in the service, under this enlistment between 4 and 5 months, became ill, and was on that account discharged. According to my best recollection and belief he served about four months and a half. The said John Wilson is now before me, and I well know him to be the same John Wilson above mentioned. And further, this deponent saith not. Levi Long (signed) State of Vermont} Rutland County SS} Be it known, that on this third day of March, 1838, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the said Levi Long, who hath subscribed the preceding deposition in my presence, and made solemn oath, that the same contains the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: and I do hereby certify, that the said deponent is a credible witness. L. Daniels Justice Peace I take leave to add on the request of Mr. Wilson in whose behalf the preceding deposition was taken, that I have been personally acquainted with Mr. Levi Long, and with his standing and reputation in society, for many years. He is a substantial and independent farmer - universally esteemed & a good man - an excellent citizen - and a man of undiviating truth and veracity. March 3, 1838 Joseph Gove, Clerk, US Courts in Vermont State of Vermont} Rutland County} I, Robert Pierpoint, Clerk of the County Court in and for said County of Rutland do hereby certify that Luther Daniels is a Justice of the Peace as above written and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto applied the seal of said Court, and subscribed my name, at Rutland in said County, this third day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. R. Pierpoint (signed) ONE FORM DOCUMENT, STATE OF VERMONT (Vermont crossed out, NEW YORK inserted): State of New York, County of Clinton: Be it Known, That before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared John Wilson of Chazy, and made oath, in due form of law, that he is the identical person named in an original certificate in his possession, of which (I certify) the following is a true copy: War Department-Revolutionary Claim. - I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John Wilson of the state of New York who was a Private in the revolutionary Army is entitled to receive Twenty Seven dollars and fifty cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of September, in every year. Given at the War Office of the United States, this 13 day of February on thousand eight hundred and thirty four. Examined and Countersigned, J. S. Edwards - Commissioner of Pensions. Leo Cass - Secretary of War. That he now resides in Chazy in the State of New York and has resided there for the space of ____ years past; and that previous thereto he resided in the Seignory of LaColle in the Province of Lower Canada. Sworn and subscribed this __ day of _________ 1838 before me, Justice Peace. Know All Men By These Presents, That I John Wilson of Chazy, New York a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, do hereby constitute and appoint __________________ my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the Agent of the United States for paying pensions in the State of New York my pension from the 4th day of March 1838 to the 4th day of September 1838, Witness my hand and seal this __ day of _________ 1838. Sealed and delivered in presence of ______________. (the blanks above represent blanks not filled in on the original form) PAGE 4 Campleton March 7th 1859 Commissioner of Pensions Pensions Office Sir the Children of John Wilson Deceased A Revolutionary Pensioner who lived in Lower Canada near Lake Champlain. Wish to know if they are entitled to draw Government land under the law granting land to the Children of Pensioners There are two Children One living here in Mich the other in Canada The one living here is My Mother in Law please to inform Me whether they are entitled or not & confer a Great Favour. Direct Your Answer to S. J. Wilcox (signed) Campleton St Clair co Mich (transcribed from the original preserving spelling, punctuation, & syntax as in the original by Janette L. Wilson Ramos, 6/27/1998)