Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12365, Peter Butterfield, N.H.
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(3-1776) SERVICE N.H. Butterfield, Peter NUMBER S.12365 carded CONTENTS
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12365
REV WAR
INVALID.
File No. 12,365
Peter Butterfield
Corp. Rev War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 51
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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1974.
New Hampshire
Peter Butterfield
of Hillsboro in the State of NH
who was a Corp & 1st in the company commanded
by Captain
of the Regt commanded
by Col Stark in the NH
line for 8 my Corporal
23 days Private

Inscribed on the Roll of NH
at the rate of 31 Dollars 88 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Nov
1832, and feet Chas F
Gove Goffatown NH

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $47.82
an allowance ending 4 Mar 33 15.94
$63.76

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by J H McBlair Clerk
Book D Vol 1st Page 143
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No. 35 Butterfield
7468
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire,
County of Hillsborough
On this twenty seventh day of August
before the Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting, at Amherst Peter Butterfield
a resident of Goffstown
1832, personally appeared in open Court
in the County of Hillsborough and State of N. H. aged 77 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein
stated. That is to say. In April AD. 1775 on the day after Lexington Battle news of that event
be resident at Goffstown aforesaid where the said Butterfield then & ever since has resided,  in
company with several others, taking their guns & such military equipments, as they possessed and
marched to a place then called Mystic near Charlestown Massachusetts, where he enlisted for the
term of Eight months into the service of the United States, in the company commanded by Captain
Samuel Richards, Lieutenant Moses Little & Ensign Juse Carr all of said Goffstown,
and which was attached to the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Stark of N.H.
McClary of Upson was Major & under the command of General Sullivan. He remained
in the service till the last of December following, when his term of enlistment expired and he
not choosing to enlist for a further term & having a good gun, it was taken from him by order of
Col Stark, and given to one Nathaniel Stevens, who had reenlisted, the army at the time being
being deficient of good guns. 2 July or August A.D. 1778 he enlisted again and went to
Rhode Island in the Company commanded by one Nichols Captain James Aiken Lieutenant
and attached to the Regiment commanded by Moses Kelly Colonel, & under General Sullivan
I was a corporal at both of the above terms of service-- at the last mentioned term enlisted
but my term-- He was born at Litchfield N.H. January
ever since
County at the time of his
and now lives in said Goffstown-
He entered the service by volunteer
received any written or printed discharge from the service
also of Goffstown
acquainted with Eliphalet Richard Esqr of Effeter David Harris
There is no Clergyman in Goffstown who is acquainted with me

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that
his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State [signature] Peter  his x mark Butterfield
 Sworn and subscribed the 27th day of August A.D. 1832
[signature] Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate
We, June Carr residing in Goffstown
and Charles F. Gove hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
Peter Butterfield, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the 27th day of August A.D. 1832
[signature] Edmund Parker, 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 named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier,
and served as he states. And the Court certifies, that it appears to them that Jesse Carr
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a  
resident in the town of Essetown and that Chas F Gove,
who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town
and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
[signature]  Edmund Parker J. Probate

I Charles H. Atherton Register
of the Court
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Peter
Butterfield
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court, this 27th
day of August A.D. 1832.
[signature] C H Atherton Regr &c
Probate
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Peter Butterfield which require further
proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason as
signed for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it? Yes
XIII.
If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his
seal of office? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: Formonths
and --
days, I served as a
days, I served as a-
For months
and for such service I claim a pension."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticing papers
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
properly attached to the certificate.
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being im-
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7468
Peter
Butterfield
N H
Corporal 8 months
Private 23 days
Admitted
$31.88.
Charles F Gove Esq
Goff town NH
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BRIEF in the case of Peter Butterfield of Goffstown
County of Hillsborough - in the State of
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 77 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Chart]

Period.
In 1775
'78

Duration of Service.
Years,
Months,
8
2
Days.
on Roll of service for 23 days only as a private

Rank.
As a
Corporal

Names of General and field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Sullivan Col. John Stark, Capt
Samuel Richards-
Sullivan Col. Nichols

5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Goffstown, Hillsborough County, N.Hampshire
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not defective

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[signature] J H McBlair Examining Clerk