The Declaration of Revolutionary War Veteran Allen Smith

Allen Smith was born in Branford, Connecticut in 1749 (50) to Thomas and Mary Russell.  He married Elisabeth Rose and they continued to live in Branford. Like many young men in communities across New England in 1775, Allen Smith enlisted in the war. 

By an act of Congress in June 1832, Revolutionary War veterans or their widows needed to appear before a court to make a Declaration of Service in order to receive a pension.  Previously only veterans who were disabled received a whole pension, and beginning in 1818, those who could not find suitable work were granted a half-pension from the government. Since Allen Smith was not disabled from the war, or out of work he was not eligible to receive a pension until 1832.

This is the transcribed Declaration of Allen Smith, a Revolutionary War veteran, dated August 6, 1832.  At 82 years of age, he is recalling his service from more than five decades ago to the Court of New Haven County, Connecticut.

 In addition to the transcription are inserted illustrations and maps that correspond with the text.

On this 6^th day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open court, before the County Court of New Haven County now sitting, Allen Smith a resident of Branford in the County of New Haven, and the State of Connecticut, aged 82 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits 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 hererin stated:-

Allen (Alling) Smith

In His Own Words

General Charles Lee Public Domain Image

1. In June 1775 I enlisted under Stephen Potter, Captain – Marched from Branford to New Haven – joined our regiment commanded by Col. Street Hall – from there to Cambridge and from Cambridge to Winter Hill near Boston, where we joined General Lee – served seven months.

Winter Hill, West of Bunker Hill - Public Domain

2. In July 1776, I was drafted under Edward Brockway, Captain, E. Butler, Lieutenant, ___Thompson, Col. took shipping at Branford; landed at New York- there we were ordered away to Brooklyn on Long Island, stayed there but one day.
Returned from Long Island in the night under command of General Washington, stayed in New York until the English shipping came up and landed at Turtle Bay, when we had an engagement with them. The next day we had a warm engagement at Harlem. After that, we were dismissed. Was on duty for four months as Sergeant.

Plaque commemorating the Battle of Harlem Heights at Columbia University

3. In 1776 volunteered and enlisted for two months under Samuel Estes(?), Capt., marched to Valentine Hill and had an engagement – out on duty two months.

4. In 1779 by order of Col. Russell called the company together and marched to Morris Point, and attacked the enemy while landing – then returned to East Haven – on duty three days

Landing at Morris Point

An eyewitness mentions standing on the site at Morris Point, where the old lighthouse stands, and thus describes the imposing scene:

“Before, looking seaward, were the broad waters of Long Island Sound, and north and westward New Haven’s beautiful bay, both studded with the ships of the enemy’s fleet, the shore fringed with summer green forest and meadow, and in the back-ground the ‘Old Sentinels,’ the ‘Red Mounts’ (East and West Rocks), standing forth in bold relief, seeming to say, ‘Thus far and no farther shalt thou come, for all before us is under our care. One step farther and we will arouse the “Sleeping Giant” (Mt. Carmel), who will dash thee back from whence thou camest; leave us in peace is all we ask.’"

Landing at Morris Point

5. In May 1777 I shipped on board the sloop Wooster, Enoch Staples, Master – to an English ship called Atlantic, carried her into New Bedford – Arrived at home 29 October – out five months.

Manifest  of the Connecticut Privateer Sloop Wooster¹

[New Haven] May 22^nd 1777 –

Ten double fortified four pound Carriage Guns, six swivels, eleven Blunderbusses, twenty four Muskets, twenty pair of pistols, twenty Cutlasses, twenty bill hatchets, twenty Lances, furnished with provisions, viz. thirty four bbls of beef & pork, fourteen bushels of beans and peas, three Do of Indian Co Meal & Flour, navigated b sixty men including Officers – American built, and owned by Pierpont Edwards & Co of the State of Connecticut –

            The Military Stores as follows, viz. forty Rounds of Round shot, fifty Do grape & swivel, eighty hand Granadoes, five stink pots, five hundred weight of gun powder, and fifty Rounds of bullets for each of the small arms and pistols – The above a true Manifest of the Privateer Sloop Wooster.

Teste     Enoch Staples

1.  Jonathan Trumbull Papers, Connecticut Historical Society

6. Enlisted under Captain Reuben Rose and marched into Stamford, - At Stamford I was drafted and put on board Captain Simon Selick’s privateer. Was out two months – on guard in Long Island Sound.

I was born in East Haven, County of New Haven, Conn. in the year 1750 but can find no record of my birth-

I resided in Branford in County of New Haven when called into service, and have resided in said town ever since.

Allen Smith

In addition to a Declaration, a veteran needed to submit supporting documents, including witnesses, marriage records, and property schedules.  Allen Smith wrote a Supplement to his Declaration and had neighbors and acquaintances who served with him write their accounts of his service.

The following is part of the transcribed supplemented documents that accompanied Allen Smith’s Declaration. 

The first statement is that of Allen Smith and the second statement is one of the supporting documents of a neighbor, John Whitney: 

My services while in service were voluntary except when drafted under command of Captain Edward Brockway and out of Captain Reuben Rose’s company to go on board Captain Simeon Selick’s privateer.

I do not recollect receiving a written discharge. I received a commission of Ensign dated May 1777, signed by John Trumbull and countersigned by Geo. W ? , secretary.

I would introduce John Whitney, Benjamin Palmer, John Monroe, and ? Stint, who are neighbors of mine and are acquainted with the facts set forth in the foregoing declaration.

There is not any person living to my knowledge that was knowing to my enlisting under Captain Rose and being drafted to go on board Captain Simeon Selick’s privateer.

John Whitney's Statement

I John Whitney of Branford in New Haven County and state of Connecticut do declare and

say that in June 1775 I enlisted under Captain Stephen Potter in Colonel Hall’s Regiment joined said Company, marched to New Haven from thence to Hartford, from Hartford to Cambridge, from thence to Winter Hill, joined General Lee, was in service seven months. That Allen Smith enlisted at the same time and was with mi this whole tour of seven months.

That in May 1777 – I shipped on board the Sloop Wooster, Enoch Staples, Master, - Took an English ship called the Atlantic, carried her into New Bedford.

The said Allen Smith shipped at the same time with me and we were discharged together- We were on board together five months –

            And I further declare and say that said Allen Smith is and has been a neighour of mine for a great number of years past – that he is and always has been considered a man of truth and brevity- that I believe the foregoing declaration by him made to be true – I believe him to be eighty two years of age.

John Whitney

Allen Smith died on March 6, 1836 and is buried at the Branford Center Cemetery, Branford, Connecticut.

Links to more information:

Battle of Harlem Heights

General Charles Lee

Winter Hill

Johnston, Henry Phelps. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution 1775 -1783. Hartford: [The Case, Lockwood & Brainard, Printers], 1889. Print. 

"Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900." Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Web. 1 July 2015.

Townshend, Charles Hervey. The British Invasion of New Haven, Connecticut: Together with Some Account of Their Landing and Burning the Towns of Fairfield and Norwalk, July, 1779. New Haven, Conn.: [publisher Not Identified], 1879. Print. Google Books

 Trumbull, Jonathan. "ConnecticutHistory.org." ConnecticutHistoryorg Jonathan Trumbull Comments. Web. 2 July 2015.