Pvt. William Wolcott, Rev. War Vet.

(6) William Wolcott, b. 1754 Wethersfield CT, d. 1841 Wethersfield CT. Enlisted 1776 as Pvt., Chester Wells Co., CT militia, and served in 1777 and 1781; applied for pension 1832, on pension roll 1840 Wethersfield CT, and widow on pension rolls 1843; he was a farmer and resided in home on "Wolcott Hill" built by his grandfather; m. (1) Rebecca Goodrich 1780 Wethersfield CT, m. (2) Huldah Wells 1790 Wethersfield CT.

From The Last Muster Images of the Revolutionary War Generation by Maureen Taylor:

"...During the war, Wolcott served three different terms - six months in 1776 and two months in 1777, both with Capt. Chester Welles, as part of the Connecticut state troops. He enlisted for another month in 1780.

Wolcott stated in his 1832 pension application that in 1776 he was in New York when the British landed on Long Island and that he was present in Trenton on Christmas Day. His duties in New York were to guard Tories. He was in Danbury, Connecticut, in April 1777 soon after the British under Governor Tryon burned the stores. He had no proof of his birth in 1754; he affirmed that his 'birth [was] recorded by his father in the family bible' (Pension Records). William died March 11, 1841.

This common man from Wethersfield saw no battlefield service but listed all the famous generals he saw while 'on the town in New York' - Washington, Sullivan (taken on Long Island), Green(e), Parson, Putnam, and Lee, and he thought he had spotted General Arnold but stated he wasn't sure. He no longer knew anyone in his regiment and remarked 'that he was not drafted but enlisted voluntarily.'"