Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13248, John George, R.I.
Page 1

(3─1776)

SERVICE
R.I. 

George, John 
Bridget

NUMBER
W. 13248

CONTENTS
Page 2

2810.
Rhode Island, Roll
====================
John George ✓✓
Private 
Rhode Island line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
====================
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on
the 25 of July 1818
====================
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 of Sep 1818
and sent to Howell Esqr Judge
Providence R. I.
====================
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 1mth 7/31/4/30 $10.87
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th March 1819 48
====
58.87
====
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
3 years
X sent to Benj. Cowell
Kingtown, Washington City
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(left side)
Rhode Island 1600
Bridget George
widow of John George decd. RI who died in the year 1820 of Washington Co in the State of R. Id. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain --- of the Regt. commanded by Col Green in the R. Id. line for 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 80 Dollars --- Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of Decr. 1837 and sent Nathan F. Dixon Jr. Westerly R.I.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1837  $520.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Mar '38 - 40.00
$560.00

Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d

Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book A Vol. 2d Page 89

(right side)
Duplicate certificate issued 24th May 1839 and sent to Hon R. B. Cranston Newport R. Island

See letters to J. Champlin & P. Agt. June 15.1839. do. to Hon. J.L. Tillinghast, June 27. 1839 - do. to same July 12. 1839 - do. to D. King & P. Agt. Aug 6. 1839
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[handwritten]
State of Rhode Island &c.
Washington County } SS.
On this 2d day of January 1837 personally appeared before Israel Chapman, Esquire, a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, in & for the County of Washington aforesaid.
Bridget George, a resident of Charlestown in the County & state aforesaid, an Indian woman & one of the Narragansett tribes of Indians, aged seventy nine years, who previous to her marriage, was Bridget Ikesack, who being duly sworn according to 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 John George late of said Charlestown, now deceased, who was a man of colour & a soldier (a private) in the army & military service of the United States, in the war of the Revolution. That is to say, the said John George in November or December of the year 1780, at Charlestown aforesaid, enlisted into Colonel Christopher Green's Regt., as the said John then & afterwards told this declarant, for the then remaining period of the war, or for a period of three years, & which of those periods she cannot now be certain; and was soon after his aforesaid enlistment marched under Col Greene to the westward into the State of Newyork & also when, where, at the
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westward he served till the spring or summer of 1781, when Col. Greene was killed & the said John at the same time, if she rightly remembers, was taken prisoner by the enemy, but at what particular place she can't remember & after being a considerable time, the length of which she does not now remember, a prisoner, he was restored to the American Army & served out the time for which he had enlisted, either under Col. Olney or Col Angell, which according to her recollection was to the end of the war, and either a few days over or a few days short of three years from the time he had enlisted. The Captain's name under whom the said John served, if he told her, she does not recollect; but she remembers that one Nathan Benyon late of said Charlestown, but long since deceased, who, she understood at the time, was employed by the government to enlist soldiers, enlisted her said husband into the aforesaid service. This declarant also thinks, the said John George performed much military service against the enemy in the war of the Revolution in 1775 & 1776, on the island of Rhode Island & the Island of Connecticut, in Col. Richmond's Regt & afterwards under Col. Greene in various parts of the state of Rhode Island previous to his enlistment in 1780. This declarant knows that the said John George drew in life, up to the time of his death;
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a pension for continental services, according to her recollection of ninety six dollars a year under the act of 1818, and to the said John's declaration & the evidence accompanying it & to his pension certificate now, she presumes, in the Pension office, as well as to the evidence she may  be entitled herewith to transmit to the Pension Office, she requests the attention of the Department, with confidence that the aforesaid proofs will entitle her to a full pension (for the services of her sd. husband) under the act of Congress of July 4th 1836. She has no documentary evidence of the said John's said services or of his claim for a pension. And this declarant says, that the said John George when he entered the service was a resident of said Charlestown. She further declares, that she was married to the said John George in the month of July 1776, but the day of the month on which she was married she cannot now remember, at Charlestown aforesaid, by Peleg Cross, a justice of the peace, who deceased many years since; that she has no certificate of her said marriage, nor does she remember ever to have seen such certificate. She has applied to the town clerk of said town of Charlestown for a copy of record of her said marriage, but, he informs her, he can find none, as his certificate, which will accompany this declaration will show. She has never known a parish clerk or parish records, nor can she learn that either of them ever existed in said town of Charlestown; nor does she
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know of any private record of her said marriage, but for the proof of her said marriage she refers to the deposition (which she expects will accompany this her declaration) of one or more witnesses who knew of her marriage at the time it took place. She further declares, that her husband the said John George died at said Charlestown in A.D. 1819 or A.D. 1820. And that she has remained a widow ever since the period of his decease as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
[right] her
[right[ Bridget X George [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Witness [signature] Israel Chapman

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year first above written before me.

I also certify, that the aforementioned affiant Bridget George is known to me; that she is a person of respectability & in my opinion her preceding declaration and her testimony are entitled to credit. And I further certify, that I have taken the preceding declaration of the said Bridget George at her residence in said Charlestown, because by reason of a severe burn as well as the decrepitude of old age, she was not able to go to a court of record.
[signature] Israel Chapman
Just. of the Court of Com Pleas
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I John George of North Kingtown in the County of Washington & District of Rhode Island a man of Colour [color] being now in the 74th year of my age on oath declare & say that I enlisted in Captain Brown's Company & Col. Christopher Green’s regiment in the month of December 1780 as a private soldier, which regiment was of the continental army of the United States and in the Rhode Island line.
In which service I continued untill the 25th day of December 1783 when I was honorably discharged at Saratoga but my discharge is now lost. I was with Col. Christopher Green when he was killed & was taken a prisoner at the same time. I remained a prisoner from May until September 1781. I am now old & infirm & in indigent circumstances and I further declare that I stand in need of the assistance of my country for support.
[right] his
[right] John X George [X being his mark in leiu of signature]
[right] mark

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]

Rhode Island District ss.
Be it remembered that on this 25th day of July 1818 came before me the above named John George & made oath to the truth of the declaration to which his mark is affixed And I further certify that I am satisfied from the evidence produced & from the examination of the said John - that he is entitled to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 18th March last making provision for revolutionary officers & soldiers. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & have caused the seal of the Court to be hereto affixed.
[signature] David Howell 
District Judge 

N. /S. The statute appeared to me to restrain me from sending forward any application ‘til I was satisfied; but not to require me to certify that satisfaction. D. H.
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Rhode Island District ss 
In Providence July 25, 1818.
I certify that the signature of the Judge and the seal of the District Court are hereto affixed -
Witness [signature] Benjamin Cowell
Clk R. I. Dis.

[bottom, on edge]
John George
Admitted.
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Revy
WIDOW, &c. 
[initials] omn
File No. 13,248
Bridget George
Wid
John George
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 4 18[36]
Index:─Vol. A, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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John George R.I. Act March 18, 1818 
to what time paid?
Pens. office
Nov 30, 1857

Paid to March 1820.
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✓1496
Bridget George
R. Island
admitted
Pr 3 yrs $80
died in 1820.
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It appears by the Regimental Book that John George on the twenty first day of December 1780 enlisted into the service of the United States a Private, to serve for the term of three years; that he did faithfully serve from the time of his said enlistment in the Regiment successively 
commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene and Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Jeremiah Olney, in the Rhode Island Line, on the Continental Establishment until the twenty fifth day of December 1783 when he was honourably discharged at Saratoga in the State of New York.
February 27th 1837.
Jno. S. Dexter Major of said
Regt. codens tempore.-
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Washington ss } State of Rhode Island &c.
Town Clerks Office of the Town of Charlestown
December 30th A. D. 1836.
I certify that after diligent search and Examination I cannot find the Marriage of Bridget Skesuck
now Bridget George Recorded or filed on the Books or files of this office; and I further certify that I believe many marriages take place in said Town of Charlestown  which are not recorded, and have many years past taken place which are not Recorded or lodged for record.
[signature] Samuel Stanton T. Clk

Washington sc. State of Rhode Island &c.
Town of Charleston Jany. 5th 1857
Personally appeared the above named Samuel Stanton, Town Clerk of the aforesaid town of Charleston, on oath by me administered to him, verified the preceding certificate, concerning Bridget Skesuck now Bridget George, by him made & reduced to writing. I further certify that the said Samuel Stanton is well known to me, that he is a man of respectability & veracity that his testimony & his s’d preceding  certificate are entitled to credit.
[signature] George Thurston Justice of the Peace
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Susan Harvey of Charlestown in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island on Oath Testifieth and Saith that she is Seventy five years of age, that she is well acquainted with Bridget George (before her Marriage Bridget Skesuck) an Indian woman & widow of John George late of said Charlestown deceased, and has been so acquainted with the said Bridget from her youth; this deponent further says, that in the summer (July she thinks) of 1776 at Charlestown aforesaid she was present at the Marriage (which was Solemnized by the late Peleg Cross a Justice of the Peace of said Charlestown long since Deceased,) of the said Bridget and John George; Saw them joined together in Marriage which was at the dwelling house of the late Moses Skesuck. this deponent also says that the said John George died at said Charlestown in the year 1819 or 1820 but which, she cannot now recollect & that the said Bridget George has remained a widow ever since the decease of the said John George.-
[right] her
[right] Susan X Harvey [X being her mark in lieu of signature] 
[right] mark

Washington ss { State of Rhode Island &c January 4th 1837
Personally appeared the above named deponent Susan Harvey who on Oath by me administered to her gave & Subscribed the preceding Deposition by me taken & reduced to writing. I also certify that the said Susan Harvey is well known to me that She is a person of veracity & that her Testimony and her preceding Deposition are entitled to credit.
[signature] Samuel Stanton Justice of Peace –

[ribbon through bottom left corner]
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Washington Sc.
State of Rhode Island &c
Clerks Office Court Common Pleas,
I Asa Potter Clerk of said Court, certify that the name “Israel Chapman” to the aforewritten certificates (regarding Bridget George and her preceding declaration & the matters therein contained for a pension) subscribed is the proper hand writing of Israel Chapman Esq. who at the time of subscribing the same, on the second day of January A.D. 1837 was a Justice of the aforesd. Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record in & for the County aforesd. Duly elected commissioned & qualified according to law. I also certify that the name “George Thurston” to the aforewritten certificate (regarding Samuel Stanton subscribed) is the proper hand writing of George Thurston Esq. – and that the name “Samuel Stanton” to the aforewritten certificate (regarding Susan Harvey subscribed) is the proper hand writing of Samuel Stanton Esq. and that the said George Thurston at the time of subscribing his name to the aforesaid certificate (regarding the said Samuel Stanton) on the 5th day of Jany 1837 & the said Samuel Stanton at the time of subscribing his name to the aforesaid certificate (regarding the sd. Susan Harvey ) on the 4th day of Jany 1837 were Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Washington aforesaid duly elected, commissioned & qualified according to Law.
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this Sixth day of March in the year 1837
[signature] Asa Potter Clk

[illegible seal and ribbon affixed at left]
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Elizabeth Primus of Charlestown in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island one of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians on oath saith she is Eighty one years old that during the Revolutionary War and subsequently this Deponent was intimately  acquainted with Briget George of said Charlestown  who before her marriage was Briget Skesuck an Indian woman and Widow of John George late of said Charlestown deceased and has been so acquainted with the said Briget from her youth this Deponent further says that in the summer some time in July (she thinks) of 1776 at Charlestown aforesaid she was present at the Marriage of the said Briget and John George Which was solemnized by the late Peleg Cross a Justice of the Peace of said Charlestown long  since deceased and saw them joined together in marriage which was at the Dwelling house of the late Moses Skesuck. 
this Deponent also says that the said John George Died at said Charlestown in the year (she thinks) of 1820 and that the said Briget George has remained a Widow ever since the Deceas[e] of the said John George
[right] her
[right] Elizabeth X Primus [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Washington ss, State of Rhode Island &c October 4th 1837 
Personally appeared the above named Elizabeth Primus the above Deponent who on oath by me administered to her gave and subscribed the preceding Deposition by me taken and reduced to writing, I also certify that the said Elizabeth Primus is well known to me that she is a person Veracity and that her testimony and preceding Deposition are entitled to credit
[signature] George Browning Justice of Peace
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Mary Champlin of Charlestown in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on Oath saith that she is seventy one years of age that She has been acquainted with Briget George & John George for fifty years and knows that they lived as man & wife together until the Death of John George which was (she thinks) was sixteen or seventeen years past furthermore the Depon [Deponent] saith that the said Briget George has lived a widow ever since the death of John George
[signature] Mary Champlin

Washington ss, State of Rhode Island &c. October 4th 1837 personally appeared the above named Mary Champlin the above Deponent who on Oath administered to her gave and subscribed the preceding Deposition by me taken and reduced to writing, I also certify that the said Mary Champlin is well known to me and that she is a person of truth and veracity and that
her preceding testimony and deposition are entitled to credit
[signature] George Browning Justice Peace
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State of Rhode Island &c.
Washington sc.
I Asa Potter Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the County of Washington, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that George Browning, whose signature is attached to the certificates regarding Elizabeth  Primus and Mary Champlin, is a  Justice of the Peace in the town of Charleston in the County aforesaid duly elected, commissioned and qualified according to Law and fully authorised to act in said capacity. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at South Kingston on this 12th day of October in the year 1837.
[signature] Asa Potter Clk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]

[bottom, on edge]
1496 R. I.
Addeoff[sp]
✓Bridget George

Nathan F. Dixon Jr
Westerly, R. I.
October 27th
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State of Rhode Island in the County of Washington.  
On this first day of May 1839, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County of Washington personally appeared Bridget George of said Charlestown who upon her oath declares that she is the widow of John George late of said Charlestown deceased who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and that her own name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Rhode Island under the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 and that she received a Certificate of that fact under the signature and Seal of the Secretary of War.  Which certificate on or about the First day of October 1838 at said Charlestown she lost and she believes that said Certificate is stolen or is wickedly secreted and withheld from her or is now destroyed.  She has labored much to find it without affect.  She is poor and in need of her lost semi-annual payment which she has been unable to obtain for want of her Certificate.  She therefore makes this application for a new one.
[right] her
[right] Bridget X George [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Witness 
[signature] Dan King 
[signature] Polly Champlin

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written.
[signature] Dan King Justice Peace

I Polly Champlin of Charlestown in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island on solemn oath depose and say that I am well acquainted with Bridget George subscriber to the above affidavit and know that she is the identical person therein described.
[signature] Polly Champlin
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State of Rhode Island at Charlestown in the County of Washington May 1st 1839 On this day personally appeared before me Polly Champlin the within named deponent who upon oath by me administered to her gave and subscribed the within affidavit which was by me taken and reduced to writing I also certify that the said Polly Champlin is well known to me that she is a person of veracity and that her testimony is entitled to full faith and credit.
[signature] Don King Justice Peace

[illegible Seal of Office affixed]

State of Rhode Island at Charleston in the County of Washington May first AD 1839
I John Stanton Town Clerk of said town of Charlestown hereby certify that the abovenamed Dan King is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington duly appointed and qualified as appears of Record in this office and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine 
Witness my hand & seal of Office
[signature] John Stanton Town Clerk
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It appears by the Regimental Book, That the Bearer John George, a coloured man, by me known and recollected, on the twenty first day of December 1780, inlisted [sic] to serve for three years a Private Soldier in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene, in the Rhode Island Line, on the Continental Establishment; That he served in said Regiment while commanded by said Greene, and afterwards by Colonel Jeremiah Olney, from the time of his said inlistment without intermission (except from the 14th day of May 1781 until the 1st day of September following, during which time he was a prisoner with the Enemy.) until the 25th day of December 1783, when he was honourably discharged from said Regiment at Saratoga, N. York.
Providence July 25th, 1818. __
[signature] Jno. S. Dexter Major of said Reg. at the close of the Revy. War.
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C. 244  3    June 15.
June 15, 1839
Pension Office

Cont.
Page 25

South Kingstown June 10, 1839

Mr. John R. Poinsett
Dear Sir I understand that some evil minded person has communicated to you that Briget George a widow pensioner in Charlestown, R. I. has either lost or that her Pension Certificate is withheld from her under some circumstance or other & that an application is made for a new certificate. 
Sir I have only to say to you in this communication that Briget George is a poor old ignorant infirm Indian woman and I have her Pension Certificate in my possession and by the advice or request of Nathan G. Dixon Jr. have preserved her Certificate and drew her pension for her and have seen that she has & is now benefited by it.  Mr. Dixon lives in the town of Westerly Briget lives in Charlestown & I Iive now in South Kingstown at the time I rec'd the Certificate I lived in Charlestown in the Co of Washington R.I. 
I am left to believe that the course taken is for for [sic] the selfish interest of some person or persons unknown to me at presant [sic] the Course in Charlestown is When an invalid or non compos mentis Pensioner gets a pension they take them as they term it under the Care of the Council & use up their
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Money so that they are no better than if they had no pension at all. 
Sir if you disapprove of the Course that Mr. Dixon & I have taken in this case you will do as you think proper in granting a new Certificate if Briget George or any other Proper person to take Charge of her Certificate applys to me for it they an have it without any hesitation on my part, as it is no pleasure to me to do business for a person of her Description & I assure you that I am activated by no other than motives of humanity towards her, whatever may have been represented to you.
Sir please to be so kind as to answer this & give me the name or names of those that have made the communication to you & what that communication is & I will give you any further information in my power that you may require.
Yours Very Respectfully, 
[signature] Joshua Champlin

[signature] John A. Poinsett

P.S. please direct your letter to Joshua Champlin Wakefield Post Office South Kingstown R.I. 
N. B. Briget is not only infirm but intemperate
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Charlestown 
R.I. June 11   

Free
Mr. John R. Poinsett
Secretary of War
City of Washington
Page 28

Hon. Jas. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Page 29

Providence R. I. July 8,1839.

D Sir,

Enclosed herewith is a letter upon the subject of Bridget George's pension which I sent you at the request of Doct. Dan King of Charlestown, R.I. who has addressed it to me.  I know nothing of the circumstances except as informed by him & stated in his letter, but should regret if any misunderstanding should delay the payment of the poor woman's pension; which I think ought not to be the case.

I am with great respect 
[signature] Joseph L. Tillinghast

Hon. Jas. L. Edwards
Comm. Pens.
Page 30

Newport R.I. May 20th, 1839

Sir,
I herewith hand you Bridget George's application for a new pension Certificate in lieu of one, which she says is lost.
I know Mr. King, he is a respectable man and entitled to full credit.

I am very respectfully 
Sir your Obt. Servt.
[signature] R. B. Cranston

To: 
James L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 31

Charlestown
R.I. May 20

Hon,. Robert B. Cranston
Newport
Page 32

Charlestown May 18th 1839.
Hon. Robert B. Cranston

Sir enclosed is the application of Bridget George for a new Pension Certificate the facts set forth in her affidavit are mostly within my own knowledge and I believe there is no hope of her finding her old Certificate.  She is very poor and needs her last semiannual stipend for her support.  As I am unknown to the Commissioner of Pensions you will much oblige me by forwarding the application as soon as convenient.
Yours Respectfully 
[signature] Dan King
Page 33

Charlestown July 6th 183
Hon. Joseph L. Tillinghast

Dear Sir In reply to yours of July 1st enclosing a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions I have to state that in September last I filled and took the acknowledgement of a power of attorney from the said Bridget George to Joshua Champlin for to draw her pension then due for the preceding half year sometime afterward Bridget asked me if I knew what had become of her pension Certificate  I told her I did not she said it was lost or destroyed or Champlin had secreted it as she had called on him for it and he denied having it  she also stated that Champlin told her that he got no money for her and that she had received none from him  She lives about 1 1/2 miles from me and I see her frequently and from my knowledge of the manner in which she lived during the winter past I am of the opinion that Champlin did not pay her anything on the amount of the September drawing  He formerly lived in this town where he has been a retailer he now lives in the town of South Kingstown 16 or 18 miles from Bridget George Champlin is not related to her nor do I know of any good reason why she should repose any confidence in him  Sometime in April
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last the friends of Bridget George applied to me to prepare for her an application for a new Certificate stating that hers was lost or destroyed or was wickedly secreted and withheld by Champlin that Bridget had been unable to have anything from it since she gave Champlin the power in Sept last.  I prepared the application it was duly executed and forwarded to the Hon Robert B. Cranston, he forwarded it to the proper department and returned a new Certificate. Before the new Certificate was received Champlin came to Charlestown and informed me that he had found Bridget Georges pension Certificate and wanted to get me to give him a power to draw the money upon it. I told him that as he had withheld it application had been made for a new Certificate but as I had no interest in the matter, I was willing to execute the power to him if I was satisfied it was her wishes for him to draw her money. Accordingly, I commenced filling a blank power, but he showed me no Certificate to copy.  I went with him myself to see Bridget George. She utterly refused to give him any power to draw her money and complained that he had not accounted for what he had received.  Champlin became angry and said if she did not let him draw her money no other person would. He said he had her Certificate and would keep it.
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and that he would write to the Commissioner or to the Secretary of War stating that he had her Certificate and prevent them from sending a duplicate so saying he left and I have not heard anything from him since. Bridget George is a feeble old woman she is poor and much in want of her last semiannual stipend she is not intemperate.  Whether Champlin has honestly accounted with her for what he has received or not is a matter that will be investigated hereafter.  As to the insinuation that certain persons in Charlestown are likely to appropriate Bridget's pension to their own use, I have no hesitation in declaring to you that it is utterly false.  She has requested me to write you informing you of the circumstances and requesting you to intercede with Mr. Edwards to restore her pension.

Yours with much respect [signature] Dan King

Charlestown County of Washington State of Rhode Island July 27th 1839. Personally came before me Dan King Esq and made oath to the truth of the preceeding statement by him subscribed.
[signature] Joseph Stunton Justice Peace
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The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Washington sc Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas July 29 AD 1839 I hereby certify that Joseph Stanton Esq is one of the Justices of the Peace for the Town of Charlestown in the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned by the Acting Governor of this State and otherwise Duly Qualified to to act as such, and that the within signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the Seal of the Court the day and year above written.
[signature] Matthew Waite Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed upper left]


Hon Joseph L. Tillinghast
Providence
Page 37

J.L. Tillinghast

Hon. J. L. Edward
Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington D.C.

[left side, on edge]
June 27
Bridget George
Rd. Isl 1600 36
[date stamp] 
PROVIDENCE JUN [illegible]]
Page 38

Providence R.I. June 22. 1839
D Sir,
Bridget George, a pensioner under the Act 2 July 1836, who recently obtained a renewed or duplicate certificate in Consequence of the loss of the first, upon presenting her new certificate for payment is informed by the Agent here that by a letter from you he is directed to ][underlined] suspend payment till further instructions. This is a Severe disappointment to the old woman & neither she nor her friends can imagine the cause.  May I ask for the favor to inform me for what reason payment upon her certificate is suspended?
I am Sir with great
respect your obt srvt
[signature] Joseph L. Tillinghast

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commr Pens.