Pension Application

R.46 (Wife: Sarah)
B.L.Wt.24592-160-55
Declaration of Elijah Adams in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of 7th June 1832.
State of Ohio
Licking County SS.
            On the 11th day of August 1833 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County and State of Ohio now sitting Elijah Adams a resident of Liberty Township Licking County and State of Ohio aged 78 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 7th 1832.
            That he enlisted the first time in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 with Captain H. Parsons and served in the Regt. (Not recollected) commanded by Col. Inman of the Connecticut Line under the following officers, Col. Inman, Capt. Parsons, Lieut. Holdridge. The Regt was separated part went towards Quebeck. The part he was in comd. By Capt. Parsons went to Roxbury then to Hingam Cove about 20 miles from Boston to guard the inhabitants. Served at this time seven months left the service the 1st of December 1775. Resided in the Town of Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. Marched from Enfield to Roxbury and Hingan.
            His second term was for two months in the winter of 1776 the beginning of the year with John Simons field officers or Regt not recollected left the service at the end of the two months, resided in the same place, marched to Roxbery.
            His third term he enlisted for six months in the year 1776 with Captain Harman the Regt. Commanded by Col. Mott in the Connecticut Line, Lieut Abbe, was taken from the Co. for a marine pvt. board a row gally, was with Gen’l Waterberry and Capt. Murison at Mount Independence near the head of Lake Champlain, went down the lake to join Arnold. Fought the British on the lake under Arnold & Waterbery for more than two days was taken prisoner by the British. Shortly after he was permitted to return home as a prisoner on parole, he remained a prisoner for some months, after his time was out.
            He was also signed in the service, [wrinkle in page] he was a substitute (for whom not recollected) He enlisted as a Sargeant for six months with Capt. Jos. Harrison in the New York Levies Com’d by Col. Willett & Major Trooss [Finck?] left the service when the time was out he thinks about the 1st part of September. The last year of the war resided in Frothingham, Mass’ts. He was in the Battle at Johnstown when Col. Willett fought the British and Indians and defeated them. He marched to German Flatts and Canada Creek. They there had a fight and killed 8 of the enemy. He marched from Albany to Johnstown & Canada Creek.
            Questions propounded by the Court.
            1st Where and in what year were you born.
            Ans. In Coventry Connecticut in 1755.
            2d Have you any record of your age?
            Answer: none
            3rd Where were you living when called into service.
            Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live.
            Ans. In Enfiled, Hartford Col., Connecticut since the War. He moved about the year 1796 from Enfield to Ouliot Creek, NY about the [year] 1800 he moved to Stafford Conn’t about two years after he moved to Warrensbush NY one after he moved to Lusern Col., Pa., abut the year 1814 he moved to Licking Col. Ohio where he has resided ever since.
            4 How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer &c or a substitute
            Ans. He volunteered three times he was once a substitute for whom not recollected.
            5th State the names of some of Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental and militia Reg’t as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
            Ans. The officers are above stated, the Regt. are also mentioned. He was principally marching, he was not long stationed in any one place. He was twenty one months in actual service and a prisoner on parole at least six months. Longer.
            6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, if so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
            Ans. He never received a format discharge.
            7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
            Ans. Elder Allen Darrow & Elias Gilman.
            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. (Signed) Elijah Adams
            Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. A. Caffet.

His widow Sarah applied for pension 28 March 1850 at age 81 years. She states she was married to Elijah Adams on the 11 July 1798 in the state of New York by a Justice of the Peace whose name she did not remember, and that her husband died the 7th December 1845.

Letter of reply to an inquiry is dated December 5, 1928
            I advise you from the paper in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R.46, it appears that Elijah Adams was born in 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut.
            While living at Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted, May 1, 1775, and served to December 1, 1775, as a private in Captain Hezekiah Parsons’ Company, Colonel Hinman’s Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted in the winter of 1776 and served two months at Roxbury, officers not given. He enlisted in 1776, in Captain Harmon’s company, Colonel Mott’s Connecticut Regiment, was detached and placed as a marine on a row-galley under Captain Murison and General Waterbury on Lake Champlain, was captured in the battle on the lake and shortly afterward released on parole. He enlisted in 1782 and served six months as a sergeant in Captain Joseph Harrison’s Company under Colonel Marinus Willett with the New York Troops and was in the battle of Johnstown and the battle of Canada Creek. [West Canada Creek]
            He was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832, at which time he was living in Liberty Township, Licking County, Ohio. He died there, December 7, 1843 or 1844.
            The soldier married, February 11, 1796 or 1798 or 1798, in Otsego County, New York, Sarah Vails who was born about 1769.
            Elijah and Sarah had five sons:
            John Adams born April 14, 1799
            William C. Adams July 19, 1801
            Elisha D. Adams July 13 1803
            David Adama July 29, 1805
            Ammi Adams July 26, 1808

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