Transcribed by Sally Russell
Cox from National Archives and Records Administration Microfilm #
1244:
Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant
Application Files.
(Note: this transcription is as close an approximation of the
original documents as possible.
Any spelling and/or grammatical errors are a reflection of the
original documents)
in order to obtain the benefit of the 3rd Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836.
State of Connecticut
County of New London} Ss Probate District of StoningtonOn this 21st day of February 1837 Personally appeared before the Court of Probate Now sitting in Sd Stonington district Mary Heath a resident of the Town of Groton in Sd New London County aged 85 years, who being first duly Sworn according law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836
That she is the widow of William Heath late of the Town of Groton decd. That her said husband Wm. Heath served as a private Soldier in the war of the Revolution fifteen Months.
(To wit) That in the latter part of the year 1776 and the forepart of the year 1777 he did Garrison duty in fort Griswold in Groton in Sd. N. London County three months, but whether by draft or enlistment she cannot tell, That in March 1777 her sd Husband enlisted into the service for the term of one year and according to her best recollection served out the term for which he enlisted; That he was stationed at various places during sd year which by reason of age and infirmity she cannot now recollect but that she recollects of his having been at Rhode Island from the circumstance of his telling her of the sufferings and hardship which he underwent while there by reason of the great strains being obliged to sleep on the fences to keep out of the water.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Heath at Said Groton on the second day of August in the years Seventeen hundred and Seventy two. That her Husband the aforesaid William Heath died in the Month of March 1794 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will now fully appear by reference to the proofs hereunto annexed. That she does not know of any Person now living who can testify to her husbands service in the war of the revolution, except John Morgan Nehemiah Gallup and Benadam Gallup whose depositions are hereunto annexed, in presence of
Stephen Haley
Gilbert Heath
her
Mary X Heath
Cross
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Stephen Haley } Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the said William Heath was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as stated in the foregoing declaration of Mary Heath.
And the said Court further declare that they have now before them the old original Book in which Elder Timothy Wightman Pastor of the first Baptist Church in Groton aforesaid kept a Record of marriages of the persons by him married of which the following is a true Copy "to wit"August ye 2 1772
"Then was William Heath and Mary Collver married"--And said Court further declare that on the examination of said ancient Book of Marriages they have no doubt what ever but that said Record was made at the time said marriage took place -- And said Court further declare that satisfactory evidence has been adduced before them that said William Heath died in March AD 1794 and that said Mary Heath has remained a Widow ever since that period
Stephen Haley Judge
I Nathan Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the district of Stonington Ct do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of Mary Heath
for a Pension --- In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my Hand and Seal of
Office this 21st day of February
Anno Domini 1837
Nathan Daboll Clerk
I, Nehemiah Gallup of the Town of Ledyard County of New London and State of Connecticut a Revolutionary Pensioner age 85 years, do on my Oath depose and Say that in the Spring of the Year 1777 I enlisted as a Sergeant into the Connecticut State Service for a term of one year According to my best recollection Now it was in the month of March and was attached to Company of which Wm Whitney was, Capt, Nehemiah Smith lieut. And George Gallup Ensign, and Sd Compy belonged to a Regt Commanded by Col. Oliver Smith. Soon after I enlisted I was marched in Sd Compy and Stationed as Fort Griswold in Groton about one month from thence was marched to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and after remaining a few days was marched in Sd Compy to Tiverton in State of R.I. where Sd Compy staid about three weeks. From thence went on to Rhode Island and Staid there until about the middle of Sept. 1777 it being at the time of Sulivans expedition, and from Sd Rhode Island was marched and stationed at t place near Providence from thence was marched back to Sd. New London in C.T. where Sd Compy Remained until my Sd years service expired; I was well acquainted with William Heath of the Town of Groton in Sd New London County at that time I know that he belonged to the aforesaid company during the whole time that I did. He was a private in said Company and I well remember of his being with me in Sd Compy at New London Fort Griswold Providence Tiverton Rhode Island &c. I well remember Putting said Heath under gard for a short time when on Rhode Island for being absent when the Gard was called for he was however a good soldier and performed his duty faithfully
State of Connecticut Nehemiah Gallup
County of New London}Sd Probate district of Stonington, on this 14 day of
I John Morgan of the Town of Groton County of New London and State of Connecticut a Revolutionary Pensioner age 77 years do on my oath depose and say that in the latter part of the year 1776 and forepart of the year 1777 I was a -- Soldier in Fort Griswold in Groton in Sd New London County in a Compy of which Ralph Stoddard was Capt John Gardner Lieut and Joseph Lewis Ensign and I well remember that William Heath of sd Groton (now deceased) was then a Soldier in said fort Griswold and performed garrison duty there at that time during the term of three months in said Capt Stodard's Company aforesaid . I was well acquainted with the sd William heath at that time and know that he performed said three months service in the same Compy that I belonged to; in the later part of the year 1776 and forepart of the year 1777.
John Morgan
State of Connecticut
County of New London} Ss Groton February 15th 1837.
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber John Morgan of said Town of Groton and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing -- Deposition by him Subscribed; And I hereby certify that the said John Morgan is to me well known to be a credible witness whose testimony is entitled to Credit ---
Nathan Daboll Justice of the Peace
Feb 1837 Personally appeared Nehemiah Gallup who signed the foregoing deposition and made Solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me
Stephen Haley} Judge
And I further certify that the Sd Nehemiah Gallup is to me well known to be a credible witness whose testimony is entitled to credit
Stephen Haley} Judge
I hereby Certify that Nathan Daboll Esqr. before whom the depositions of Benadam Gallup and John Morgan were taken is a Justice of the peace in and for the County of New London and that his Signature thereunto is genuine.
Elisha Healey} Member of Congress
I Benadam Gallup of Groton County of New London and State of Connecticut aged 70 years do on my Oath depose and say that I was formerly well acquainted with William Heath of Sd. Town of Groton Now deceased and I well remember of being at my -- grandfathers Lieut. Colr. Benadam Gallups in sd Groton when a Boy of 10 or 11 years of age and that sd William Heath was there, and that there enlisted to go into the service; he was at work in the barn at the time and I recollect of hearing him say that he had enlisted at that time, but for how long a time I cannot tell; my impression now is that the time of his sd Enlistment was in the month of March
Benadam Gallup
State of Connecticut
County of New London } Ss Groton February 15th 1837
Personally appeared
before me
The subscriber Benadam Gallup of Sd
Town of
Groton and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the above and
foregoing deposition by him Subscribed;
And I hereby certify that the Sd Benadam Gallup
is to me well known to be a credible Witness whose testimony is
entitled to credit
Nathan Daboll Justice of the Peace
I Gilbert Heath of the Town of Groton County
Aged 58 years Do on my Oath of Affirmation depose & say that
I am the son of William Heath named in the fore going declaration
and that he the said William Heath died in the month of March AD
1794 & that my Mother Mary Heath has remained a Widow ever
since that period
Further the deponent saith not
Gilbert Heath
State of Connecticut
County of New London } Ss Probate District of Stonington
On
this 21st day of February AD 1837
Personally appeared Gilbert Heath and made solemn affirmation in
due form of Law to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him
subscribed. And I hereby Certify that the said Gilbert
Heath is to me well known to be a credible witness and that his
statement is entitled to credit.
Before me Stephen Haley Judge
State of Connecticut
County of New London} Ss. Probate District of Stonington
On
this 11th day of March AD 1837, personally appeared in
open Court the said Mary Heath named in the foregoing Declaration,
who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make
the following statement in order amend her said foregoing
declaration for a pension. Viz. - That when she made said
declaration to which this is an amendment, she then supposed the
Year's Service of her Husband therein claimed commenced in the
year 1777 and that she was then confirmed in this opinion by the
deposition of Nehemiah Gallup, whose recollection of the facts
she then supposed to be better than her own. But that she
is satisfied that her said Husband William Heath performed said
year's service claimed in her foregoing Declaration and that
although she cannot now recollect all the places where he was
stationed during said term of service she well remembers of his
having been stationed at Rhode Island a part of said time from
the circumstance of his telling her that he had to sleep on the
fences while there &c, as before stated. And that on
reference now being had to the historical events of the
Revolutionary War, she finds that it was in the Year 1778 that
the American Troops were stationed on Rhode Island and is
therefore now satisfied that she was mistaken in her foregoing
declaration in regard to the time of the commencement of her said
Husband's Year's service and that it must have commenced in the
year 1778 instead of 1777 as there state. And that this
discrepancy of date was wholly accidental and owing to
infirmities of old age and the great debility of Body and mind
under which she now labours.
Stephen Haley her
Gilbert Heath} Witnesses to Mary Heath's Signature Mary X Heath
Mark
Sworn and Subscribed by the Said Mary Heath
on the day and year above written
Before Me
Stephen Haley Judge
Viz. I the said Nehemiah Gallup of Groton &c. do now further depose and say that in my foregoing deposition of which this is an amendment I find that I stated, that my year's service as a sergeant in the Company in which during said time William Heath served as a private commenced in the year1777 which I am now satisfied was a mistake of mine, and that it must have been in the year 1778 instead of 777 for on having my attention now called to the historical events of the War of the Revolution I find that Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island was in the year 1778. At which time and place I performed a part of said year's service stated in my foregoing deposition I further depose and say that when my declaration for a pension was made, I had then in my possession the old Muster Roll Book which I as an orderly sergeant of said Company had kept during said Year's service. In which every man's name and every transaction relating to said Company during said years Service was duly entered. That soon after my said declaration was made on the earnest solicitation of a man belonging to a neighboring Town I reluctantly lent him my said Book for the purpose (as he said) of making out his declaration for a pension which Book he lost and although I have made great inquiry concerning it, I have never been able to find it or get further information respecting it. And that the discrepancy or mistake in the date of my foregoing deposition in regard to said year's service was entirely on account of the accidental loss of said Book and the infirmities of old age in point of Recollection. But this fact I do well remember, that I performed said years service as a sergeant in said Company as before said, and that said William Heath was a private in said Company during the whole time that I belonged to it and the circumstance of putting said Heath under Guard when on Rhode Island as before stated I shall never forget so long as I have intellect enough left to remember anything he being the only man that I ever put under Guard during the whole of said Year that I served as sergeant in said Company
Nehemiah Gallup
State of Connecticut
County of New London} Ss Probate District of Stonington
March 11th 1837 Personally appeared in open Court Nehemiah Gallup who signed the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same and certify that he is credible witness. Sworn before me
Stephen Haley Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare that when the first deposition of Nehemiah Gallup (in the case of Mary Heath for a pension) was taken before then that the said Nehemiah Gallup then stated that he had lost his old Muster roll Book in the manner stated in his last deposition hereunto annexed and that if he then had said book he could give every particular in regard to said years Service day and date
Stephen Haley Judge
I Nathan Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington C.T. hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of the amendment in the case of Mary Heath for a pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th day of March 1837.
Nathan Daboll Clerk