Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,681, Asa Foster, N.H.
Page 1

SERVICE N.H.
Foster, Asa
Sarah M.
NUMBER R. 3681
B.L. WI 101214-160-55
Page 2

Left Side Page

317142 Act mar 3/55
Feb 10/62
Sarah M Foster
Wid of
Asa Foster
Private

Capt. Webster
Col. NIcholds
NH Mil
Rev War

Suspended
Allowed 160 acres
L M Drury
Examiner

L D Stevens
Concordia NH

101214 of May 8/62

Right Side Page

L D Stevens (illegible)

Feb 18, 1862
Page 3

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack

On this sixth day of March AD 1863 personally appeared before me Hamilton E Perkins Judge of Probate in and for the county of Merrimack aforesaid (the same being a court of record) Sarah Foster a resident of Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire aged ninety (90) years and first being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by act of congress passed July 29th, 1848 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war; that she was the widow of Asa Foster late of said Canterbury deceased who was a private in Captain Eleny Webster's Company, Col Moses Nichols regiment of militia raised by the state of New Hampshire and joined the continental army at West Point 1780. That he enlisted in said company July 5, 1780, and was discharged Oct 25, 1780, as appears on the records of New Hampshire. That she was married to the said Asa Foster at said Canterbury on the 10th day of November 1794; that the said Asa Foster died at said Canterbury on the 20th day of August AD 1861 and that she has remained a widow
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ever since as well appears by the proof hereto annexed, she further states she has received a land warrant for the services of the said Asa Foster in the revolutionary army numbered 101214 and having date May 8th, 1862. She begs leave before to the evidence filed at the time the application for said land warrant was made particularly to the evidence of Rev William Patrick and David Morrill who have since deceased.

Sarah M Foster

Sworn to and subscribed before me at Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire this sixth day of March AD 1863 and I hereby certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim; and I further certify that the above named Sarah Foster by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court.

Hamilton E Perkins - Judge of Probate
for the county of Merrimack
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I William P Clough of Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire aged sixty years testify and say that I resided in the same town with Asa Foster late of Canterbury deceased from my youth to his death for the last twenty-eight years as residents in houses adjoining each other; during all that time he was reputed to be a revolutionary soldier; I have often heard him speak of having been in the revolutionary army and particularly at West Point at the time of Arnold's Treason. I heard him relate how when at West Point [illegible] bread officers had thrown away and that the bread tasted better than any he ever tasted. I also heard him say he served in the army at West point three months. I also heard William Foster late of Canterbury who was always reputed to be a revolutionary soldier say that the said Asa Foster was in the revolutionary army at West Point. I have no doubt but that the said Asa Foster was a soldier in the revolution. That the said Asa Foster left a widow whose name is Sarah Foster who survived and is the applicant and that I have no interest in the claim of Sarah Foster to a pension.

Wm P Clough

Sworn to and subscribed before mat at Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire
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tenth day of March AD 1863 and I hereby certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.

David M Foster
Justice of Peace
Page 7

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack

On this 27th day of December AD 1861 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Sarah M Foster aged eighty-nine years a resident of Canterbury in the state and county aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law declared that she is the widow of Asa Foster deceased who was a private in the company commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Webster in the regiment of Col Nichols in the revolutionary war that her said husband resided in said Canterbury during the war of the revolution and entered service on or about the last day of June 1780 and continued in actual service at West point till on or about the last of October 1780 and was honorably discharged.

She further states that she was married to the said Asa Foster in said Canterbury on the tenth day of November 1792 by Frederic Parker a minister of the gospel and that her name before her
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said marriage was Sarah MOrrill that her said husband died at Canterbury aforesaid on the twenty-fifth day of August 1861 and that she is now a widow.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855 and that she has not applied for or received bounty land under any act of congress heretofore; she further states that her said husband while living was opposed to all wars & for that reason declined to apply for the bounty land to which he was entitled.

Sarah M Foster

We Howard Moody and Wm P Clough residents of Canterbury in the state of New Hapshire upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by the said Sarah Foster in our presence and that we are well acquainted with said declarant & was so with her husband who was reputed among all who knew him as a revolutionary soldier and that said declarant is the identical person she represents herself
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to be in the foregoing declaration and that we are disinterested.
Howard Moody
Wm P Clough
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Ebenezer Batcheldor
Justice of the Peace
Page 10

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack SS
Town Clerks Office Canterbury
December 27 1861 -
Asa Foster Jun. born June third seventeen hundred sixty five. Sally his wife born May seventeenth seventeen hundred seventy two. Married November tenth seventeen hundred ninety four.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record of said town with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible characters and figures as follows, to wit;
June 3 1765
May 17th 1772
Nov 10th 1794 Howard Moody Town Clerk
Howard Moody depose & say that I hold the office of Town 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 as above certified by me Howard Moody Town Clerk subscribed and sworn to on the day and year above written
Before me Ebenezer Batcheldor Justice of the Peace
Page 11

I Galen Foster a resident of Erie in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania a son of Asa Foster late of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire
deceased, testify and say, that since my earliest
recollection I have often heard my father the said Asa Foster say that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary army at West Point in the State of New York at the time of General Arnold's treason, and that he saw Arnold go down the river in a boat at the time he fled to the British, and that he was on General Arnold's life guard a
few days before that event, but that at the time that event took place he was unwell and excused from that duty. I have frequently heard him speak of seeing Gen. Washington at West Point shortly after Arnold left
I have many time heard my [illegible] say that he served under Catain Webster father of the late Honorable Daniel Webster of Massachusetts deceased I have also heard him mention the name of his Colonel but as it was not one with
which I was historically acquainted, as in
the case of Capt. Webster, I do not recollect it.
Page 12

I have often heard him mention incidents of his march from Amherst in the State of N. Hampshire to West Point and when he has known of my passing through Springfield
Mass. he has often enquired if some large elm trees which made an impression on his mind at the time he passed there in his march, were still standing, on the 4th of July last, (1861) he mentioned in his family that it was just eighty one years that day since he enlisted in the
Revolutionary army. He then stated he enlisted at Canterbury and that he was at the time just fifteen years and one month and one day old at the time. He then stated that his father went down to Amherst New Hampshire riding one
horse and leading another for him to ride home on thinking that he was so small that he would be rejected when he got to Amherst.
I have many times heard my father, in answer to inquiries of his friends, why he did not apply for
a pension, say that he held that all war was wrong, and therefore it would be wrong to receive a pension for having been a soldier -after the passage of the act of Congress
Page 13

giving bounty lands to soldiers, I asked him if he would apply for his land, he replied that he would not-- that he could see no difference between that and receiving a pension, and that he had long since settled it, in his own mind,
that it would be wrong for him to receive a pension for having done wrong in going into the army, and he did not wish to revise the decision he had made when his mind was stronger
I further state that my father died on the 21st of August 1861. and that my mother Sarah still survives and remains a widow. And that I have
no interest in her claim to bounty land
Galen Foster
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County St
Subscribed and affirmed to this twenty fifth
day of April A.D. 1862 and I certify that the said Galen Foster is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim.
Ebenezer Batcheldor
Justice of the Peace
Page 14

State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office
Concord May 1, 1862

I do hereby certify that the pay roll of Capt. Ebenezer Webster's company in Col Moses Nichols regiment at West Point in 1780 found in Volume 3 Page 23 of the Books & Documents relating to military services in the war of the revolution which remain in this office does not show the towns or places of abode of the soldiers whose names are born thereon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the state the date above written.

Allen Tenny
Secretary of State
Page 15

Concord N.H. Feb 7th 1862
Sir I herewith transmit the application of Sarah M. Foster widow of Asa Foster a Soldier in the war of the Revolution for Bounty Land under the Act of March 3d 1855.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
S.D. Stevens
Hon Jos H. Barrett
[illegible] of Pensions
Washington DC
Page 16

Concord N.H. May 1st 1862
Sir I herewith forward additional evidence in
support of the claim of Sarah M. Foster No 317142 for bounty land under the Act of March 3 1855.
I trust you will find on examination the evidence sufficient to warrant the issuing of a warrant to the claimant
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
S.D. Stevens
Hon Joseph H. Barrett
[illegible] of Pensions
Washington DC
Page 17

REJECTED

3681
Sarah Foster
Wid of Asa
Page 18

Sarah Foster
widow of
Asa Foster
New Hampshire

Suspended 
Let to A B Califf
May 19, '63
2681
3694

Act 3rd Feb 1853
Page 19

No 38728
Asa Foster dec'd
Vermont

Hon Al Dodge 13 Apr 1854

Act 7 June 1832
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317142 Act mar/53
Feb 10/xx

Sarah M Foster
widow of
Asa Foster
Private

Capt. Webster
Col Nichols

NH Mil
Rev War

Orig'l brief within

170 acres

L D Stevens
Concord NH

101214 iss May 8/62
Page 21

MAIL STAMP - Concord NH Feb 7

FREE

Hon Joseph H Barrett
Comm of Pensions
Washington D.C.

PENSION OFFICE STAMP
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101214

160 acres
Page 23

Senate Chamber
April 5th, 1854

Hon L P Waldo
Comm of Pensions

Sir

I herewith transmit a certificate of the service of Asa Foster as appears from the files in the office of the Sec of State of Vermont.

Very respectfully
A C Dodge
Page 24

Middletown Conn
April 29, 1863

Sir

My wife's grandmother Mrs. Sarah M Foster desired me to prepare the papers preparatory to making application for a pension based on the services of her late husband Col Asa Foster in the revolutionary army. For many years of the latter part of his life, he was a nonresistant believing all wars wrong and so declined to make application but to let his wife if she chose, she could do so after his decease. She accordingly makes the application which
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I herewith transmit

Yours &
A.B. Calef
Page 26

Secretary of State Office
Montpelier Apr 1st 1854

I hereby certify that there is on file in this office "A pay roll of Lieut Beriah Green's Independent Company of Rangers, raised for the defense of the state of Vermont 1781" on which roll is the name of "Asa Foster" with an allowance for one month and fifteen days service.

Also, a "Pay roll of Capt. Benj Cox's company of Militia for scouting done pursuing after the enemy to Brookfield the year pas 1780" on which occurs the name of "Asa Foster" with an allowance for three days service.

Also, a payroll headed "The following is an exact account of scouting by order of Capt. Benjamin Cox the 23d of August 1780" on which is the name of "Asa Foster" with an allowance for five days service.

Also, "A pay roll of Capt. Benjamin Cox's company of Militia for scouting done in Bernard the last year 1780" on which is the name of "Asa Foster" with an allowance for two days service and for seventeen miles travel.

Given under my hand & the seal of this office, this the first day of April AD 1854.

Daniel P Thompson
Secretary of State

per 
Geo R Thompson 
Deputy

SEAL
Page 27

The State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office
Concord, February 7, 1862

I hereby certify that at the date of the annexed attestations Ebenezer Batchelder was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Merrimack in said state, duly commissioned and qualified; 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 state the date above written.

George H Chandler
Deputy Secretary of State

SEAL
Page 28

NEW HAMPSHIRE SEAL

Office of the Secretary of State

Concord New Hampshire, February 7th 1862

I do 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 office, it appears that the name of Asa Foster is borne upon a "Pay roll of Capt. Ebenezer Webster's Company in Col Moses Nichols Regiment of Militia" raised by the state of New Hampshire and joined the continental army at West Point 1780" Rank Private, Time of Engagement 1780 July 6 Time of Discharge 1780 Oct 25 Time of Service 3 Mo 21 days and that said pay roll is found in "Army Rolls Vol 3 Page 24"

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of State the day and year first aforesaid.

George H Chandler
Deputy Secretary of State
Page 29

We David Morrill Jr and William P Clough both residents of Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire testify and say that we were well acquainted with Asa Foster late of Canterbury deceased that said Asa Foster died on the twenty-first day of August 1861 and that we attended his funeral that said Foster was generally reputed to have been a soldier in the war of the revolution that we have frequently heard him speak of serving in said war; that we have no doubt whatever that said Foster was in service in said war and that he was everywhere known and regarded as a revolutionary soldier; that he left a widow whose name is Sarah who still survives and remains a widow that the said parties lived together as man and wife and were ever recognized as such by all who knew them and that they have several children now surviving and that we have no interest in the claim of said
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Sarah for Bounty Land

David Morrill Jr
Wm P Clough

State of New Hampshire county of Merrimack

Subscribed and sworn to on this first day of February 1862 and I certify that said affiants are credible witnesses and that I have no interest in this claim.

Ebenezer Batchelder - Justice of the Peace

313142
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State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack 
I Isaac A. Hill of Concord in the
County of Merrimack and State of New
Hampshire of the Court of Probate and keeper of the Records and seal thereof do certify that
Hamilton E Perkins Esq is Judge of
Probate in & for the County of Merrimack aforesaid, that the signature to the foregoing
certificate purporting to be his is genuine
and that said certificate is in due
form of law.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate at Concord in said County this 11" day of March
A.D. 1883.
Isaac A. Hill   Register
Page 32

I Reuben Fellows of Canterbury in the
County of Merrimack and State of New
Hampshire aged 74 years testify and
say that I have been well aquainted [acquainted] with Asa Foster late of Canterbury deceased, that my acquaintance with him commenced in 1808 at which time I came to Canterbury to reside and was intimate with him until the period of his death which occurred in August 1861, during all that time the said Asa Foster was always reputedly  those who knew him to be a Revolutionary soldier.  I have often heard him speak of having been in the Revolutionary Army at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason and of seeing General Washington there shortly after
Arnold left.  He mentioned these facts
to me often and particularly at my shoe shop
a few months before his death: what led
my asking him the lost time mentioned was
the reason why he did not apply for a pension.
He made the statement then that he was at West Point in the Revolutionary army at the time of Arnold's treason and he further said "you know I am a non resistant and believe all was wrong and I could not receive pay for having
Page 33

done wrong.  He then went on to tell about
the circumstances attending his service as
above stated with other particulars.  I have
no doubt whatever that said Asa Foster
was a soldier in the Revolution, that said
Asa Foster left a widow whose name is
Sarah Foster to still survives, and that
I have no interest in the claim of said
Sarah Foster to a pension
Reuben Fellows
State of New Hampshire
County of Middlesex  ss
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this tenth day of March A.D. 1863 and I
hereby certify that the said affiant is a
credible witness and that I have no
interest direct or indirect in the prosecution
of this claim
David M. Foster
Justice of the Peace
Page 34

I, Stephen S. Foster of Worcester in the County of Worcester in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts age Fifty three years testify and say that I am the son of Asa Foster late of Canterbury New Hampshire.  He always
claimed to be Revolutionary Soldier.  I have often heard him speak of being in the Army at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason.  A short time before his death I had a conversation with him on subject of Arnold's treason in which he gave me
a minute and detailed account of Amold's
Escape to the boat which took him from our
line to the British war ship.  He related how Arnold rode [Illegible] on a horse threw the reins over the saddle, leaped from his horse and enter the boat which remained set at the wharf about the time to amount the time he arrived that the boat immediately pushed from shore and went to the British man of war lying in the stream.  He explained the reason why he saw this that he was just previous to that time
a member of Arnold's life Guard but was then off duty on account of sickness and happened to be near the river at that time.  I further certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the presentations of this claim.

Stephen S. Foster
Page 35

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack  ss.

Sworn to and subscribed before me at Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire this ninth day of March A.D. 1863 and I  duly certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and that have I no interest direct or indirect in the
prosecuting of this claim.
David M Foster
Justice of Peace

I Howard Moody of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New
Hampshire, Town Clerk of said Town of
Canterbury do certify that the Record of
Marriages, births and death in said Town and
left in the Town Clerks office, and that it offers
from said Records that Asa Foster and Sarah
Morrill were joined in Marriage Nov. 10 1794.
That the said Asa Foster died at said Canterbury Aug. 20th 1861 aged 98 years, and that the applicant Sarah Foster is his widow and that I have no interest in this application.
Howard Moody 
as Town Clerk

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack  ss.
Sworn to and subscribed before me at Canterbury this 10th day of March 1868 and I certify that Howard Moody is Town Clerk of said Town of Canterbury and that I have
no interest in this application
David M. Foster
Justice of the Peace
Page 36

I Galen Foster of Erie in the County of Erie and
State of Pennsylvania son of Asa Foster late of
Canterbury in the County of Merrimac and
State of New Hampshire deceased, testify and say that I have often heard my father the said
Asa Foster speak of his having been a soldier
in the Revolutionary war, army, and of serving at West Point at the time of Gen. Arnold's treason.  I have many times heard him say that he was one of Gen. Arnolds life guard only a few days before that event took place, but that at the time it took place he was not on that duty being at the time unwell, that he saw General Arnold as he passed down the river in a boat, and that shortly after General Washington came to West Point, and that he saw General Washington there.  He said that he served under Captain Webster, Father
of the late Daniel Webster formerly United States Senator from Massachusetts, I have heard my father mention the name of his Colonel, but do not now recollect the name.  I have heard him mention the names of some of his comrads  [comrades] in the army at
West Point and among them was William Foster and Benjamin Bradly from said town of Canterbury.  I further say that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this Claim.
Galen Foster

State of Pennsylvania
Erie County  ss.
Personally appeared on this 20 day of March A.D. 1863 Galen Foster above named, to me
well known, and subscribed and made
Page 37

affirmation to the foregoing statement in due
form of law and I certify that he is a credible
witness, and that I have no interest direct or
indirect in the prossecution [prosecution] of this claim.
E Camphausen
Justice of the Peace

State of Pennsylvania,
Erie County, ss:
I, James Skinner Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, do certify that E Camphausen Esq.,
before whom the annexed Affidavit of Galen Foster was made and by whom the same was duly taken is now, and was at the time of taking the same, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to take acknowledgements of Deeds, administer oaths, &c., in and for said County, duly commissioned, sworn and
qualified, and to all whose acts as such full faith and credit are due, and that the same is executed agreeably to the Laws of Pennsylvania and further that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said 
E Camphausen the Justice aforesaid, and verily believe that the signature of the said E Camphausen Esq., to the said Affidant [Affiant]  genuine.
In Testimony whereof hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court
(Remainder of document not copied.)
Page 38

Know all men by these presents that I Sarah Foster of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire have made constituted and appointed  and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint Arthur B. Calef of Middletown in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut my true and lawful attorney for me, and in my name and stead to present and prosecute [illeg] an application for a pension for the service of my late husband Asa Foster deceased, in the Revolutionary Army, giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done, in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes as I might or could do if personally present with full power of substitution and revocation [illeg] reatifying and confirming all that my said Attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof
In witness whereof I have hereunto setting hand seal the [tenth?] day of
Page 39

[page 2] 

March AD 1863
Sealed and delivered }
in presence of 
Sarah B P Foster
S. S. Foster
[signed] Sarah M Foster

[faint note iwritten to the right of date]:
The letter "M" was inserted before [illeg]

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack       } ss
Canterbury March 10 1863
Personally appeared Sarah Foster signer and sealer of the foregoing instrument and acknowledge the same to be her free act and deed - Before me,
David M. Foster
Justice of the Peace
Page 40

State of New-Hampshire.
Merrimack, ss
I, Isaac A. Hill, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County, hereby certify that David M. Foster Esq., before whom the annexed
affidavits were made, and who has thereunto
subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court, this eleventh say of March 1863.
Isaac A. Hill
REGISTER.
(SEAL of  Court)
Page 41

State of New Hampshire
Secretary of States office
Concord Mch. 7th 1863
I hereby certify that from an examination
of the Records and documents relating
to Military service in the war of the Revolution
which remain in this office, it appears that the
name of Asa Forster is borne upon the rolls at
follows viz
Vol. 3
Page 25.
Pay Roll for Capt. Ebenezer Webster Company
in Col. Moses Nichols regiment of Militia
raised by the State of New Hampshire and joined the Continental Army at West Point 17.80
Names
X
X
49 Asa Forster
X
Rank
X
Private
do
X
Time of Engagement
1780
X
July 5
5
X
Time of Discharge
1789
X
Oct 25
       25
X
Time in Service
mo. days
X
[Blank]
3     21
X
Rate p month
£
X
134
"
X
Amount of Wages
X     X    X
495 16  "
495 16  "
X    X     X
Miles travel home
X
[Blank]
295
Amt @ 6/p mile
£
X
[Blank]
88.10
X
Offices Subsistance 6 oz p month of ration
X   X   X
[Blank]
X   X   X
X   X   X
Parts of rations determine @ 3 £ p month
X   X   X
[Blank]
11  2  .
X   X   X
Amount.
.   X   X
[Blank]
595   8   .
X   X   X

In Testimony Whereof,  I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of the State, the date above written
B. Gerrish Jr.
Deputy Secretary of State
Page 42

The State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office,
Concord, May 1st 1862
I hereby Certify That at the date of the annexed
attestations, David A. Gerrish and Ebenezer
Batchelder were Justices of the Peace in
and for the County of Merrimack in the said State, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to their 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 State, the date above written.
Allen Tenny 
Secretary of State
Page 43

I William Patrick a resident of Boscawen in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire aged eightyeight years, testify and say that I resided in the town of Canterbury in county and state aforesaid from the year 1803, at which time I was settled as Pastor of the Congregational church and minister of the said town of Canterbury till 1856 when I removed to Boscawen aforesaid -- that I was well acquainted with said Asa Foster late of said Canterbury deceased -- that said Asa Foster died on or about the 21st of August AD. 1861. My acquaintance commenced with said Foster at the time my residence commenced in said Canterbury and it continued to be intimate till his death -- that during all that time the said Asa Foster was reputed among all his acquaintances to have been a Revolutionary soldier and I have no doubt whatever that he was in the service of the U. States as a revolutionary soldier -- I have often heard said Asa Foster speak of his being in the army at West Point at the time of General Arnolds treason and that he was about fifteen years old when he went into the army and that he served in the army three months I have never
Page 44


known. or heard of any other Asa Foster that was in the Revolutionary army from said Canterbury. there was a William Foster formerly resident of Canterbury deceased many years since who was reputed to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, I have also heard said William Foster speak of serving in the army at West Point with said Asa Foster at the time of Arnolds treason that said Asa Foster left a widow whose name is Sarah and who still survives and that I am in no way interested in the claim of said Sarah to bound land.
William Patrick

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County ss }
Before me personally appeared at the county aforesaid William Patrick who subscribed the above deposition in my presence who being duly sworn did depose and say that the contents of the above deposition is true, and I certify that the said William Patrick is a credible Witness, and further that I am not interested in the claim of said Sarah Foster to bound land - Sworn and subscribed this 22nd day of March 1862 before me
D. D. Gerrish Justice of the Peace
Page 45

I David Morrill a resident of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire aged ninty years, testify and say that that I was well acquainted with Asa Foster late of Canterbury deceased. my acquaintance with him commenced when I as a boy, as my father and his father lived within a mile of each other- said Asa Foster was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, I remember the time when he enlisted, and when he came back. He went with Danel [Daniel] Foster and William Foster. I know that there could been no other Asa Foster in town who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war
Said Asa Foster was always known and recognized by all who knew him as a Revolutionary soldier I have frequently heard said Foster speak of serving in the Revelutionary war Said Foster died in August 1861. and I attended his funeral. he left a Widow whose name is Sarah and who still survives & I further say that I have no interest in the claim of said Sarah to bounty land
David Morill
Page 46

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack ss  }
Subscribed and sworn to this twenty third day of March 1862 and I certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim
Ebenezer Batcheldor Justice of the Peace
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I Reuben Fellows Resident of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire aged seventy four years, testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Asa Foster late of Canterbury deceased that my acquaintance with him commenced in 1808 at which time I came to Canterbury to reside and has been intimate ever since to the time of his death which occurred on or about the the 21st day of August 1861 [illeg] all that time the said Asa Foster has always been reputed by all who knew him to have been a Revolutionary soldier - I have often heard him speak of his having been in the Revolutionary army at West Point at the time of Arnolds treason and of seeing General Washington there shortly after Arnold left - He mentioned these facts to me at my shop a few months before his death What led to the conversation at that time was my asking him why he did not apply for a pension, he upheld "You know that I am a non-resistant and believe all wars wrong and I could not receive pay for having done wrong," he then went on to mention circumstances attending his service at West
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Point as above stated with other particulars-
I have no doubt what ever that said Asa Foster was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War that I never knew or heard of any other Asa Foster, who ever lived in Canterbury, who was ever reputed to have been a Revolutionary soldier - that said Asa Foster left a widow whose name is Sarah and who still survives, and that I have no interest in the claim of said Sarah to bounty land
Reuben Fellows

State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack ss  }
Subscribed and sworn to on this twentyninth day of March A.D. 1862 and I certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim
Ebenezer Batcheldor Justice of the Peace
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I David M. Foster a resident of Canterbury in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire son of Asa Foster late of Canterbury, deceased testify and say that since my earliest recollections I have often heard my father speak of his serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and tell anecdotes of his service as such soldier at WesPoint [West Point] in the State of New York. I have frequently heard him say that he was on General Arnold's life guard a few days before his treason was found out and that he saw Arnold go down the river in a boat when he fled to the British vessel. I have often heard my father describe the house where Arnold had his head quarters, and tell of his getting fruit from the trees in the neighborhood of the house
I have often heard my father say that he served in the company of Captain Webster father of the late Hon. Daniel Webster of Mass. and have heard him speak of a visit he made to Captain Webster at Salsbury after the war was over
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I have heard him say that he was mustered into service at Amherst N. Hampshire and that he marched to West Boylston where he stopped at Beemans tavern and have often heard him describe the house - when ever he has known of my visiting there he has inquired if the house was still standing. I have [heard] him speak of having to stop at Worcester on his march to West Point to have their bread baked, and of taking his bread hot from the oven on his back, and that it switted him, and that Benjamin Bradley a soldier from this town and near neighbor of his took and carried it for him and thus enabled him to go on with the company - I have heard the said Bradley speak of the same circumstance - Said Bradley was, as I have understood, a Revolutionary Pensioner for some years before his death-
I have often heard my father speak in regard to applying for a pension - and since the passage of the Act giving land to Revolutionary soldiers, in regard to the rightfulness of receiving that bounty,
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For the last twenty five years or thereabout of his life he adopted the sentiment that all war was wrong and that therefore it would be wrong to receive a pension or bounty for having been a soldier - I have very often heard him express these sentiments, and give them as a reason why he could not in good conscience apply for the bounty land which the act of Congress accorded to him. I have heard him speak with my mother in regard to her applyin for his bounty land if she should survive him, and say to her that he had no objection to her applying as the reason for not applying was not the same to her as to him -- My father died on the 21st of August 1861 and my mother Sarah still survives -- I further say that I have no interest in the claim of my mother Sarah to bound land
David M. Foster
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State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County ss       }

Subscribed and sworn to this nineteenth day of April AD 1862 - and I certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim.
Ebenezor Batcheldor Justice of the Peace