LEMUEL SMITH
(1759-1846)
Death of a Revolutionary Soldier
Source: Barre Gazette, 11 December 1846, p. 1.
The Norfolk Democrat announces the death of Mr. Lemuel Smith, Stoughton, in the 88th year of his age. The Democrat says.
At the early age of sixteen he entered the army, and served his country through two campaigns of nine months each. He assisted in the erection of the fortification, on Dorchester Heights, and witnessed the evacuation of Boston by the British troops. He was present at the cannonading of Rhode Island, and while many of his comrades deserted through cowardice, he obeyed the orders of his commanding officer, marched down to the beach, and fired upon the enemy as they attempted to land. At a later period of the war he was stationed at West Point, and assisted in the erection of that celebrated fortress known as Fort Putnam. In a skirmish at the White Plains he was taken prisoner, conveyed to New York, and confined for near a year in that celebrated prison known as the 'Sugar House.' Among his companions in prison were Paulding, who assisted in the capture of Andre, and who made his escape in the following manner:
"Two of the prisoners came out into the yard where the sentinel walked and commenced scuffling. While he was looking on and laughing with all his might, Paulding threw his coat over the pickets, drew himself up, and passed out of the enclosure unobserved. I might fill pages with the cruelties which were practised upon himself and comrades. The 'middle passage' could scarce exceed them in severity.
Sugar House Prison in New York
Liberated from prison in the dead of winter, he commenced his march homeward, without clothes on his back or shoes on his feet. At some houses where he stopped to beg, he was treated with the salutation 'D[amme]d rebel - thirteen kings and no bread.'
"He however reached his home in safety, and resumed the peaceful pursuits of rural life. Agriculture was his delight, and this he pursued with untiring energy until a few days previous to his death. As a neighbor, companion and friend, he was beloved and respected, and his name will long be held in grateful remembrance."
LEMUEL SMITH PENSION FILE
S30108 [
No
632 -
Lemuel
Smith of
by
Inscribed
on the Roll of
Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of October
1832 and sent to Pensioner
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 120-
Semi=anl.
Allowance ending 4 Mar. [18]33
40
$ 160
Revolutionary Claim,
Act
Recorded by R. Elee Clerk
Book D Vol. 2 Page 83
Thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the
Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Roxbury in and for said County, Lemuel Smith a resident of Stoughton in said County, aged 73 years, who being first 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 A.D. 1832.
THAT
he was born at said
a private in the Massachusetts Militia: he was residing at said Stoughton when he entered the service; the he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Peletiah Southworth of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Robinson: that he marched from Stoughton to Dorchester: that he served at said Dorchester with none of the regular troops; and no regular officers were know to him: that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Stoughton.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first of January A.D. 1778, to the first of April A.D. 1778 as a private in the Massachusetts Militia: that he was residing at said Stoughton when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Edward B. Savels of the Regeiment commanded by Colonel Dyer: that he marched from Stoughton to Providence therein to Narragansett: that he served at said places with none of the regular troops; and no regular officers were known to him: that he was in a battle with the British vessels at Point Judith and at the end of his service received no written discharge. That he has no documentary evidence of his service.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the fore part of the year A.D. 1777, for the period of 9 months as a private in the Army of the Revolution: that he was residing at said Stoughton when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Page of the Regiment of the Massachusetts Line commanded by Colonel Tupper: that he marched from Stoughton to West Point: that he served at West Point most of the time during said time: that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received a written discharge which is lost also the he served for another period of nine months in the Continental Army for which he was put upon the pension Roll.
As appears by the following statement.
Also that he was upon the pension Roll under the Act of 1818 as a private in the Army of the Revolution, & that at the time of his application was residing at said Stoughton when where he now resides & that he has been struck from the roll on account of his property.
The said applicant was in two companies of the Continental Army of nine months each in one his Captain was Page & in the other Webbe & he is unable to state precisely the Company or end of either & according to the best of his recollection Colonel Tupper command his Regiment in one campayne & Colonel Shepard in the other & there he was taken prisoner during the last Campayne during & detained for about ten months.
He hereby relinquished every claim whatsoever 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.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We
Lemuel Gay first Selectman of
and Joel Talbot a Justice of the peace residing in said Stoughton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Lemuel Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid Leml Gay
Joel Talbot
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Lemuel Gay, who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in said Stoughtonl and that Joel Talbot who has also signed the same is a resident in Stoughton and they are both credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Samuel Haven, Regt of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Lemuel Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the say and year aforesaid.
Samuel Haven.
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