Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15899, Peter Fletcher, Mass.
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Mass. Fletcher, Peter W. 15899
[just below Peter] Sarah
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2144.
New Hampshire
Peter Fletcher
of Cheshire in the State of N H who was a private in the company commanded by Captain _______of the regt commanded  by Col Clapp in the NH line for 9 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of NH
at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Nov 1832 and sent to SM Edwards Keene, NH 

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $45
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 15
$60-

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by JH McBlair   Clerk, 
Book D  Vol. 1st  Page 155
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[illegible]
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11233
Sarah Fletcher
7109  njt(?)
a. 2.15
Act 7th July 38
rejected
___________________
act 3 March '43
 h @ 12 Oct '43
admd
9 mo 17 d / (illegible)
____________________________
$31. 88 from
12 oct. 43 the day 
after husbands death
act '43 no. 7974
" '44 no. 717

Luke Woodbury
Antrium 
N. H.
Page 5

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough SS. On this twelfth
day of July A.D. 1844
personally appeared before me Luke Woodbury, Judge
of the Court of Probate of Wills &c for said County, at his
dwelling house, in Bennington in said County
Sarah Fletcher, a resident of Bennington aforesaid,
aged seventy eight 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 provision
made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 mitted "
act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows
the act of March 3. 1843. the act of June 17, 1844 and the provise
in the act of April 30. 1844. That she is the widow of
Peter Fletcher who was a private in the Army of the
Revolution, and a Pensioner in consequence of services
there rendered, under the act of June 7, 1832, and she has
no doubt that he served as specified in his declaration
made and filed in the pension office for the purpose
of procuring a pension certificate under said act
to which and the evidence filed therewith, she refers
for proof of his service. That her husband the said
Peter Fletcher died at said Bennington in the twelfth
day of October A.D. 1843. That under the provise in the
act of April 30. 1844 and the provisions of the acts above
refered to, she believes, she is entitled to the benefit of the
provisions of the Act of June 17, 1844
the further declares, that she was married
to the said Peter Fletcher on the twenty eighth day of January
in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven and that
her husband the aforesaid Peter Fletcher died on the twelfth
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day of October A.D. 1843, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety from 
Luke Woodbury } judge of the viz. at the time above stated and she is now a widow
Attest Mary E. Woodbury
Sarah Fletcher  [her mark]
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above before me
Luke Woodbury} Judge of the Court of Probate afore said
I hereby certify that the cause of extenuating the forwarding declaration and of Court is that the applicant is, in my belief unable, from bodily infirmities to attend Court.
Luke Woodbury Judge of aforesaid 
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County} 
Scr.
I Perley Dodge Clerk of the Superior Court of Jurisdiction of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury is an acting Judge of the County Probate in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified his commission was dated for the first day of January 1836, and that under the constitution of   the State, it has a series of years to run; that said Probate Court is a Court of Record within said County, having unlimited Jurisdiction in Probate matters, and that the signature of said Sarah Woodbury above written as genuine.
Sworn under my hand and the seat of said County this 17th day of July 1844.
Perley Dodge Clerk
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12 1/2
[circular stamp] LANCASTER MAS. 
APR 2

Mr. Lewis A. Fletcher 
Bennington 
N.H.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Town of Lancaster Worcester County
Extract from the town record

Marriage consummated by Rev. Tim Harrington. January twenty eighth, One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, Peter Fletcher of Alstead N.H. and Sally Piper of Lancaster.  I John G. Thurston, Clerk of the Town of Lancaster do hereby certify the above extract is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows: Jany 28th A.D. 1787.

I John G. Thinston, above named, depose
and say, that I hold the office of Clerk, in the town, County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named, as certified by me.
John G. Thurston, Clerk of the Town of Lancaster

Sworn before me, Nathaniel Chandler
Justice of the Peace

 Worcester SS April 9th 1844 I certify that
Hunter & Nathaniel Chandler hold the office
that they purport to hold by their signatures above. 

Attested by signature & seal 
Joseph W Huntington  Public Notary
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston 
July 31 1844
I, hereby Certify, That Nathaniel Chandler is a Justice of the Peace, (having been appointed on the third of June eighteen hundred and forty three for the term of seven years) for the County of Worcester
 [illegible]

in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned;
and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the
Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written
John [illegible]
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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9012
Peter Fletcher
Private
9 Months
W.C>E. 
Admitted

$30

H M Edwards
Keene
Cheshire Co.
NH
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9002
BRIEF in the case of Peter Fletcher of Alstead
Cheshire Co in the state of New Hampshire in New Haven
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 

3. How old is he? 69

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
1778 may
1779
1780 August to Nov

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days
about  15 days
6 months
3 months

Rank,
As a private

Names of General and field Officers under whom he served. 
Capt. Peter Woodbury
Capt. E. Hartwell - guarded Burgoyne men
Capt David Moore - Maj Clapp
    L Baitey  Succeeded 
Captl Moore in command

5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? dont say

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  tradition alone

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
W. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.

X was small & did not pass muster & was ordered home
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Declaration 
of
Peter Fletcher 
Alstead
NH
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Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
COUNTY OF CHESHIRE, SS.

On this Sixteenth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon, Aaron Matson Judge of Probate for said County of Cheshire

now sitting, Peter Fletcher a resident of Alstead in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged aged 69 years last Sept 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated.

1st  In 1778 enlisted in May in Capt Peter Woodbury Compy went to Kirtland as a guard staid about 2 weeks wen only 15 or 16 years of age & small did not pass muster & retured home.

2nd  In 1779 inlisted again for (?) Capt. Ephm
Hartwell Comp" and stationed as a guard
over the prisoners taken with Burgoyne at
Rutland Mass served my six months out - Iwas dismissed there

3d  In 1780 in August enlisted for 3 months in
Capt David Moore, all marched to Rutland  
stationed at Butts Hill Maj Clapp had the command part of the time, the French Army over at Newport my duly was to make [illegible] Fort at  Buttshill [illegible] a Regt. of (?) men stationed near our Regt at the time before Regmt was dismissed commanded I believe by Col Greene 

There was a meeting in consequence of the (?)  of provision, while I was stationed there (?)
dismissed there in Nov at the expiration
of my training enlistment

Sends all the proof that he has or knows of - 
was born in Lancaster Mass on 5th Sept. 1762

Record of my age in my Bible, and on the records of Lancaster I believe, has lived at Alstead ever since the war for 48 years, and now lives there -
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When we went to Rhode Island meet the militia (illegible)home that had been there before us called in upon a sudden alarm   
never had a written discharge  Capt Moore was 
cashiered during the last (illegible) for Drunkeness    Lieut Houghton then had the command .  Lt. Bailey of the same company (illegible) on the Island.  [there are several illegible words] expected when he engaged to go to New York but was ordered to R. I. - on alarm that that the British fleet was expected in. -
Rev. Jeremiah Higby and Mr.Luther Newton live in my neighborhood and can testify as to my veracity and their belief of my service
 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any  State.
Peter Fletcher
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.       
before me  Aaron Matson  
Judge of Probate
We, Jeremiah Highby, Clergyman of Alstead aforesaid and Luther Newton of said Alstead. -

hereby certify, that we are acquainted with Peter Fletcher, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine 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.
Jeremiah Higbee
 Lutherh Newton
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                                                     before me Aaron Matson Judge of Probate

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 name applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jeremiah Higbee who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident of the Town of Alstead aforesaid and that Luther Newton who has also signed the same is also a resident of the town of Alstead and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.    
Aaron Matson Judge of Probate
I, Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Cheshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Peter Fletcher for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this sixteenth day of August A. D. 1832 -
Asa Parker{ Register of said Court of Probate
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Rev WIDOW, &c.                      July-19-1900
______________________         Miss A. R. Thompkins
File No. 15899                        Pitston Pa
 Sarah Fletcher
Widow of 
Peter Fletcher 
Pri Rev War
Act Feb 2d.  48
Index :  Vol. A, Page 2432
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 16

Sent to Luke Woodbury April 21st '45
Sarah Fletcher
N.H.
Act 7th July '38
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11.2.33
Sarah Fletcher
N. H. 
__________________
Rejected
Send to Luke Woodbury
Oct 26. 1844

Act July 7th '38
Page 18

Concord 7109                See Letter 4 Aug. 1845 
New Hampshire             to Hon. Luke Woodbury
__________________                         rev (?)
Sarah Fletcher                       Sec. to John C. Harris
widow of Peter Fletcher              Augt 31. 46
who was a Private
in the Mass. Line,
_________________________
Inscribed o n the Roll at the rate of 
31 Dollars 88 Cents
per annum, to commence on
the 12th day of October, 1843.
____________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 
5 day of July. 1845
and sent to Luke Woodbury
Antrium, N. H.
___________________________________
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded Book A
Vol 2  Page 15.
Page 19

Wallingford Vermont July 24th 1846
 J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions

I enclose to you a Declaration for a pension under the Act  of or resolution of Jan 23d 1845 for Mrs Sarah Fletcher widow of Peter Fletcher  She now resides in Lowell but when she applied for her pension first she lived in New Hampshire.
When the certificate is issued please forward the same
Respectfully your obt sevt
John C. Harris
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Hon. J. L. Edwards
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Antrium NewHampshire
Aug.  8. 1844.

Hon. J. L. Edwards,    
In the application of Sarah Fletcher accompanying this, I have not any (illegible) from the Department to guide me, but I trust I have stated all the material facts to bring her within the requirements of the acts under which she applies - and I trust the proof furnished by her husband is sufficient if she is sufficiently identified.  It would  be next to impossible to furnish proof of service, unless by the Rolls at this late period. since the service; and if the proof was sufficient to authorize the grant of a certificate to the husband, I cannot see the propriety of requiring any thing further than the proof of the marriage and identity of the applicant. as the widow of the deceased pensioner.  I hope nothing further will be required.  I have personal knowledge that Sarah Fletcher is the widow of Peter Fletcher the deceased pensioner.
I remain Very Respectfully
Yr. Obt. Sevt. 
Luke Woodbury
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[the state seal is in the top left corner]

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
_________________________________________________

Secretary's Office, Boston;
Feb. 22. 1845
I hereby Certify That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Service in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Peter Fletcher is borne as a private upon a muster Roll of Capt. Peter Woodbury, Col. Jacob Gerrish's ,Guards at Cambridge, from July  15 to 30, 1776, 16 days; - upon a pay Roll of Capt. Ephraim Hartwell's Compy. of Guards on duty at  Rutland from Nov. 1. 1779 to April 27.  1780, 5 month & 27 days; - Upon a pay Roll of Capt. David Moore, Lt. Col. Enoch Hallet, on service at R(??) from Augt. 1780  to Oct. 31.- including allowance for travel home.  3 months, 4 days. - And upon an order for pay for the last named service, dated Lancaster, March 22, 1782.  No on of the name is upon the rolls of Lt. Bailey or under Major Clapp, and no other service is found in the case.
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And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the Commissioner's letter of Oct 26. 1844 was filed in this Office; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said letter, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

John G Palfrey
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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State of New Hampshire,
Secretary of States' Office,
I, Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that upon the payroll of Capt. Jonah Brown's Company in Col. Enoch Hales Regiment is borne the name of Peter Fletcher, as a private, that he served in said company five Days, (five Days is underlined) from June 29th, to July 3d. 1777.  And that upon the Pay Roll of Capt. Stephen Parkerr Co. in Col. Moses Nicholas Regt. is borne the name of Peter Fletcher as a private, that he served in said company two months & two days, (two months & two days is underlined) ending Septr. 20th, 1777.  I further certify that upon the Pay Roll of Capt. Robert Fletcher in Col. Enoch Hales Regt. is borne the name of Peter Fletcher as a private, that he served in said company twenty one Days, (twenty one days is underlined) from August 10th, to Augt 28th. 1778.  
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto to set my hand & affixed the Seal of said State, this 10th, day of Jan.y. A. D. 1845.
Thomas P. Treadwell
Secretary of State
Page 25

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City
Page 26

Antrium New Hampshire
February. 28. 1845.
Hon. .L. Edwards,
Sir,
Enclosed I forward you additional evidence as required in your communication of Oct 26, 1844,
 in the application of Sarah Fletcher, widow of Peter Fletcher for a Pension.  I was referred to the NewHampshire Rolls for the evidence, but learning from his friends, that he served most of the time with the Massachusetts troops, I have forwarded the evidence from the Rolls of each State, from which it appears he served 12 months, and an half, which I suppose will entitle her to a larger pension than her husband received. And under the Act of Congress of Jany, 23d, 1845 I am not aware of any reason, why she is not entitled under the act of July 7, 1838 to (illegible) your (illegible) and an additional year under the Act of March 3. 1843.  It seems to me, that her case comes within the provisions of that act, and I trust the Department will so construe it if so.
Page 27

I trust her  certificate will be issued for the whole time without imposing any additional duties upon her but if not, and it is necessary for her to make an additional declaration, or to perform any other service to obtain it, you will oblige by directing me what is necessary to be done.
            Very respectfully
 Yr. Obt. Servt.
Luke Woodbury
P.S. Her application was made in August 1844.
Page 28

July 5  45

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City

Sarah Fletcher
Me (?)
 (illegible)
Page 29

                    Antrium, New Hampshire
                      June 28th, 1845
Hon. H. L. Edwards,
              Sir,
  Under the date of April 21st, 1845. I received a communication from you stating, that a certificate of pension would be forwarded to me for Sarah Fletcher widow of Peter Fletcher upon her application for the same.  I have not yet received it. I presume the case has escaped your attention as so long a time has passed.  Allow me to remind you of the same that it may be 
forwarded.
                     I am Very Respectfully
                        yr. Obt. Sevt.
                       Luke Woodbury
Page 30

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
____________________________________________

Secretary's Office, Boston July 16th 1846

I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Joel Adams was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
               John G. Palfrey 
                Secretary of the Commonwealth.

[there is the faint image of the state seal in the bottom left corner.]
Page 31

Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the resolution of Congress of the 23d January 1845; 
Whereas the Act of the 30 of April 1844 prohibited me from drawing a pension for the same period during which my husband was a pensioner I now make the following Statement under oath to obtain the benefits of the resolution above mentioned; I am now the widow of Peter Fletcher who was a private in the war of the revolution I have drawn a pension at the rate of thirty one dollars and eight eight cents per annum from the twelfth of October Eighteen hundred forty three and now ask for the amount due me from the fourth day of March eighteen hundred thirty eight to the twelfth day of October Eighteen hundred forty three when my former pension commenced.  I made my declaration before the 30th of April 1844 and it was filed in the pension office before the 23rd of January 1845 - 
Sworn and subscribed before me this sixteenth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred forty six at Lowell in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts.
in the presents of                   her
Joel Adams }                Sarah  X  Fletcher
L A Fletcher}                          mark
                      Before me
                 Joel Adams, Justice of the Peace

I certify that the declarant is personally known to me and that she is the same individual she represents herself to be in  the foregoing affidavit.         
               Joel Adams, Justice of the Peace
Page 32

I Luis A. Fletcher depose and say that I was well acquainted with Peter Fletcher late of Bennington in the County of Hillsborough deceased. that said Peter died at said Bennington in the County of Hillsborough and State of Newhampshire on the twelfth day of October A. D. 1843 leaving a widow named Sarah who is still living and remains a widow.    Lewis A Fletcher

            State of New Hampshire
   Hillsborough County S.   Feby .3. 1844. Personally appeared the above named Lewis A. Fletcher who is a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me.            Luke Woodbury}
                                              Justice of the Peace

I Dorcus P Burtt depose and say that I was well acquainted with Peter Fletcher late of Bennington in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire deceased.  I was present when he died and it was in the month of October 1843 and according to the best of my recollection in the twelfth day of said month.  That he left a widow named Sarah who is still living and remains a widow.
                           Dorcas P. Burtt

                State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County Ss.  july 3, 1844,  Personally appeared the above named Dorcus P. Burtt, who is a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed before me.
         Luke Woodbury,}
Justice of the peace
Page 33

State of New Hampshire }
Hillsborough County } ss.
I Perley Dodge Clerk of the Superior Court of
Judicature of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County
duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the twentieth day of May 1844 and will expire on the nineteenth day
of May 1849, and that his signature above written are genuine.
Given under my hand
and the Seal of said County
this seventeenth day of
July 1844.
Perley Dodge Clerk
Page 34

Papers annexed and this
Seal affixed
By Perley Dodge Clerk
Page 35

Sarah Fletcher
acc
7109
admit Mass Roll
Page 36

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."

Commonwealth of Massachusetts [added by hand "Middlesex"] County, ss.
On this [added by hand "twenty seventh"] day of [added by hand "July"] 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and fro the county aforesaid, [added by hand "Sarah Fletcher"] a resident of [added by hand "Lowell"] in the county of [added by hand "Middlesex aforesaid"] aged [added by hand "Eighty three"] years, who being first duly sworn, according to the law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2nd February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of [added by hand "Peter Fletcher"] who was a reside of [added by hand "Hancock N.H."] and who was a [added by hand "private"] in the [added by hand "War of Revolution"] and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary servicer of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of [added by hand "thirty one"] dollars and [added by hand "eighty eight"] cents per annum. She further declares that she is still a widow. [added by hand "Sarah Fletcher"] [initialed in the middle with an "X" and "her mark" written above and below it] [next to it a stamp with graphic border with "L.S." in the middle]

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, Before me, [signed by hand "Joel Adams"] Justice of the Peace.

In presence of [signed by hand "Achsah Fletcher"]

I certify, that the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares. [signed by hand "Joel Adams"] Justice of the Peace.  

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County, ss.

I, [blank] clerk of the court, of the county and state aforesaid, do hereby certify that [blank] is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.

Given under my hand, and the seal of said court, this [blank] day of [blank] 18 [blank] clerk.