Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 2106, Walter Harris, Continental (Conn.)
Page 1

SERVICE
Continental (Conn.)
Harris, Walter
Jane A.
NUMBER
W. 2106
B. L. Wt 30.787-160-55
Page 2

776
New Hampshire
Walter Harris
of Dunbarton in the State of NH who was a Fifer & Priv in the company commanded by Captain Alden of the regt commanded by Col. Webb in the Conn line for 13 mos Fifer 10 mos pr from 1777

Inscribed on the Roll of N Hampshire at the rate of 84 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of October 1832 and sent to Joseph C. West Concord NH

Arrears to 4th of Sept 32  $126.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  42.33
_____
169.32

{Revolutionary Claim, Acct June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J. H. McBlair Clerk
Book D Vol 1st Page 160

See lett 22 Jany 1833 to Hon. Isaac Hill

[x'd out "Paid at Treasury under act 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1843 to 25 Dec '43.
Agent notified 25 Apl '46"]
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447
New Hampshire, D. C.
Jane A. Harris
widow of Walter Harris
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Fifer and private
Connecticut line

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 84 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February 1853.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of May 1853 and sent to L. D. Stevens Concord

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under
July 29, 1818, Page 16 Vol [cut off]

1832

1853 July 18
Transferred to Concord NH from 3 Feb 1853 & notd to L. D. Stevens
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Vol H 1=31

182.301 act February
July /50

Jane A. Harris wid of Walter Harris Fifer

Rev War

Revolutionary Pensioner 
Certificate dated 20 May 1853
Regd Vol "a" page 16

Feby 53 - 447

Ad: 160 Acres June 13/56
Boynton

Lewis F. Harris
Manchester 

Harris

[across page]
No 30787 iss June 14/50
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State of New Hampshire
County of Rockingham ss. On this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty two personally appeared before me, Matthew Harvy Judge of the United States District Court in and for the District of New Hampshire Jane A. Harris a resident of Derry in said County, aged seventy seven years who, being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed February 3d 1853: that she is the widow of Walter Harris who was a soldier on the War of the Revolution and served as a Fifer and at the time of his death was in receipt of a Pension from the United States at the rate of eighty four dollars and sixty six cents per annum under the Act of June 7th 1832: that her husband aforesaid was paid at the Concord N. H. Pension Agency= that she was married to the said Walter Harris on the eleventh day of April in the year 1831 at the residence of Jonathan Aiken in the town of Goffstown in said State by Rev. Henry Wood there Pastor of the Congressional Church in said town: that her name before her said marriage was Jane Aiken=that her husband aforesaid died in the town of Dunbarton in the County of Hillsborough and State aforesaid on the twenty fifth day of December in the year 1843:
She further declares that her said marriage took
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place since January in the year 1800, to wit, at the time before stated and that she still remains the widow of the said Walter Harris and has never applied for a pension.
Jane A Harris
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before
Matthew Harvey Dist. Judge U. S. Dist. New Hampshire
And I certify that by reason of bodily infirmity the said Jane A. Harris is unable to appear in Court which is the reason for taking the foregoing declaration at her place of residence.
Matthew Harvey D. J.
I, Albert R. Hatch Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the District of New-Hampshire do certify that Matthew Harvey is the Judge of said Court and that his signature above written is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this twenty sixth day of February A. D. 1853
Albert R. Hatch
Clerk
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I Henry Wood of Hanover in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire testify and say that I am the Editor of the "Congregational Journal" a religious newspaper printed in Concord in said State: that I was formerly Pastor of the Congregational Church in the town of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough in said State, that I am well acquainted with Mrs Jane A. Harris widow of the late Rev Walter Harris deceased and have been for the last twenty five years: that I was also well acquainted with the said Walter Harris in his life time: that the name of the said Jan A. Harris before her said marriage was Jane Aiken: that the said Walter Harris and Jane Aiken were lawfully joined in marriage by me at the residence of Jonathan Aiken Esq late of said Goffstown deceased: that according to my best recollection and belief said marriage took place on the eleventh day of April in the year 1831= that I made no record of said marriage in my books and made o return of the service to the Town Clerk of said Goffstown and that I do not know or believe that any record of said marriage exists.
I further testify and say that Nancy P. Aiken widow of the said Jonathan Aiken and others were present and witnessed said marriage.
I further testify and say that according to
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to my best recollection and belief the said Walter Harris died in the town of Dunborton in said County of Hillsborough on the twenty fifth day of December in the year 1843.
Henry Wood
Subscribed and sworn to on this twenty third day of February in the year 1853.
Before me Sylvester Dana Justice of the Peace
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State of New-Hampshire
MERRIMACK, ss.
I, Nehemiah Butler, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County, hereby certify that Sylvester Dane Esq., before whom the annexed affidavit 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 duly authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgements of deed, &c., and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name, and affixed the seal of said Court, this twenty eighth day of February A. D. 1853.
N. Butler Clerk
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office, Concord
March 18, 1853

I hereby certify, That as the date of the annexed attestation William Choate was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Rockingham in the said State, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit 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.
John L. Hadley
Secretary of State
Page 11

I Nancy P. Aiken of Derry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire aged sixty two years depose and say that I am well acquainted with Mrs Jane A Harris of said Derry and have been for the last fifty years and have lived during most of the time in the same family with her: that I was also well acquainted with her husband in his life time, the Rev. Walter Harris, that I knew the said Walter Harris well for thirty years and more: that the name of Jane A Harris before her said marriage was Jane Aiken: that I was present when the said Walter Harris and Jane Aiken were married: they were married at my house in the town of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough in said State on the eleventh day of April in the year eighteen hundred and thirty one by the Rev. Henry Wood a congregational clergyman: that they lived together as man and wife for about fifteen years before his death wife: that the said Walter Harris was a Pensioner of the United States and received a pension until his death.
Nancy P. Aiken

Subscribed ad sworn to before me this fifteenth day of February 1853.
Before me William Choate Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
Merrimack ss.}
I, William P. Foster Register of Probate for the County of Merrimack, do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court that Walter Harris was a pensioner of the United States, at the rate of eighty four dollars & 66/100 per annum & was a resident of the County of Merrimack, in the State of New-Hampshire, and died in the town of Dunbarton in the State aforesaid, in the year 1843 on the 25th day of December, that he left a widow whose name is Jane A. Harris who is still living & that she still remains his widow.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office, at Concord, this eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & fifty three.
W. P. Foster REGISTER OF PROBATE
Page 13

Rev. Walter Harris
Dunbarton
No 1276
Walter Harris
Fifer 13 months & 28 days
Private 10 do          1
-------------------------------
24 m
adm
on Roll of [unk]
P. O.
[unk] 2 [unk]

J. C. West Esq
Concord 
N.H.
Page 14

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire
County of Merrimack} ss.
On this twenty fourth day of July 1832 personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate for the county aforesaid Rev Walter Harris a resident of Dunbarton in the County of Merrimack and State of New-Hampshire, aged seventy one 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 June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1777 with Capt Jude Alden and served in Colo Saml B Webbs regiment of the continental line, under the following named officers:
That he enlisted as a Fifer at Lebanon Con. the last of April or the first of May 1777 in the company commanded by Capt Jude Alden, Lt unknown, Ensign Tothingham a part of the time. Colo Saml B Webb Lt Colo Livingston, [unk] Ebenr. Huntington in the continental line after the death of Capt Alden, Capt Whiting, Gen Varnums Brigade, called the 9th Con. Regt. was in there several engagements in one day in Rhode Island at the time of Gen Sullivans retreat, was up and down the North River when the British Gen Clinton went up to attempt to join for that Burgoyne. He was at West point when the first ground was broken for that fortification. He was at Long Island when the disaster took place under Gen Pearsons. He was with Gen Washington's army in the extreme sufferings near Morristown in the winter of 1780 there he took his discharge, which is lost, the last of April in the year 1780 signed by Maj Ebenr Huntington having served three full years.

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 any agency in any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Walter Harris
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Boswell Stevens Judge of Probate
I Henry B Chase, Register of the Court above mentioned do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Walter Harris for apension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty fourth July Anno Domini 1832.
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate
Page 15

State of New Hampshire
county of Hillsborough} ss.
On the twenty fifth day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me Andrew J. Dow a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Jane A. Harris aged seventy nine years, a resident of the City of Manchester in the State of New Hampshire, who being sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Walter Harris, deceased, who was a Fifer and Private in the Revolutionary War, also a pensioner.
She further states that she was married to the said Walter Harris in Goffstown New Hampshire, on the eleventh day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty one by one Henry Wood a minister of the gospel, and that her name before her said marriage was Jane Aiken, that her said husband died at Dunbarton New Hampshire on the twenty fifth day of December A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty three, and that she is now a widow, and is a pension inscribed on the pension list on the 20th day of May 1853 and registered in No. a page 16.
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"
Jane A Harris
Page 16

We, Lewis F. Harris and Mary P. Harris residents of the City of Manchester in the State of New Hampshire upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Jane A. Harris in our presence, and that we believe her to be the identical person she represents herself to be, our knowledge is derived from the fact that she has resided most of the time in our family for the past eight years, and have been intimately acquainted with her for more than twenty five years, and the said Lewis F. Harris further declares on oath that he believes that Walter Harris late of Dunbarton N. H. died in December 1843, my knowledge is derived from the fact that I was duly commissioned as Executor of the last will and testament of the said Walter Harris on the 25th day of June A.D. 1844.
Lewis F. Harris
Mary A. Harris

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.
Andrew J. Dow, Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE- COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH, SS.
I C E Potter Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Manchester in the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Andrew J. Dow whose genuine signature appears above is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that his Commission is dated on the eighteenth day of June A. D. 1853 and will expire in five years from date; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Police Court is a Court of Record.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Manchester this 29th day of June A. D. 1855
C E Potter CLERK
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This certifies that I have examined the records now in my possession under the head of marriages and I find therein contained the following record: 1831 Rev Walter Harris to Mrs Jane Aken.
Solemnized by Henry Wood
Robert Craig Town Clerk
Goffstown June 26th 1855
a true copy of Record
attest David Pattee Town Clerk
I David Pattee above named certify that I am Town Clerk of the Town of Goffstown and that I have examined the Records of said Town of Goffstown and cannot find that there is any other Record of the above marriage then the above to which I have certified.
David Pattee
State of New Hampshire Killsborough ss June 27th 1855
Hon David Pattee above named personally appeared and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before me David Steele Justice of the Peace
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Record Division
Revolutionary War Records Section
AWS
W. 2106
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D. C.,................................., 19


In reply to your request of ................, received .............. for a statement of the military history of Walter Harris a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment: Apr 28, 1777 to Apr 28, 1780
Rank: Fifer
Officers under whom service was rendered: Captain Judah Alden, Whiting; Captain Samuel B Webb
State: Conn.

Battles engaged in, Gen Sullivans R. I. Expedition
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted at Lebanon, Conn.
Date of application for pension, July 24, 1832- His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Dunbarton, Merrimack Co. N. H.
Age at date of application, 71 years
Remarks: He died Dec. 25, 1843. Soldier married Apr. 11, 1831 in Goffstown, N. H., Jane Aiken, she was allowed pension on her application executed Feb. 23, 1853 while living in Derry, Rockingham Co, N. H., aged 77 years. There is no further data on file as to family.

Respectfully,

Commissioner
Page 20

July 2/55
100
FREE
Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 21

S
30.7870


Rev Army
Page 22

Manchester New Hampshire
June 30th 1855
Hon L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Herewith I enclose you the application of Jane A. Harris for bounty land under the act of March 3d, 1855. The warrant when issued, you will please enclose to me or Mrs. Harris.
Respectfully yours,
Lewis F. Harris
Page 23

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 2106
Jane A. Harris
widow
Walter Harris
Fifer Rev War
Act: Feb. 3, 1853
Index:- Vol. a, Page 301
[Arrangement of 1870]

1922 Nov. 27 History to
Frederick W. Smith

Drawn by C. D. Vanaernam Mar. 19th 1872
Page 24

Rev Sec
Smith V Slingerland
Counselors at Law
Prudential Building, 765 Broad St.
Newark, N. Y.
Frederic W. Smith
Archibald F. Slingerland
Harold D. Rutan

United States Pension Office,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:-
I am desirous of obtaining record of pension granted to Walter Harris who serves in the Revolution in Captain Jude Allen's Company, Colonel Samuel B. Webb, called the "Ninth Connecticut Regiment." He was mustered out n the spring of 1780. Ebenezer Huntington signed his discharge. He received pension from Congress. After his death, the pension was paid to his widow who lived in Manchester, New Hampshire. This information is requested in connection with application to membership in the Daughter of the American Revolution of one of his lineal descendants, Grace Harris Smith of this city.
Yours very truly,
Frederic W Smith
J. of R.
Page 25

No 555
Appl. of Jane A.
Harris widow of
Walter Harris

N. H.
776 Act 3d Feby 1853
$84.66/100 per annum
commencing 3d Feb. 1853
Revy

L. D. Stevens
Concord
N. H.


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 26

Brief in the case of Jane A. Harris, widow of Walter
Rockingham County and State of New Hampshire
act 3d February 1853

Claim, ("original")

Proof exhibited, (if original)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under act of 7th June, 1832.
Marriage proven by parole evidence of persons who witnesses the same & that of the clergyman who performed the rites of marriage

(If for increase)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?


S. C. Boynton
Examining Clerk

L. D. Stevens, Esqs
Concord
N. H.
Name and residence of Agent
Page 27

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office
March 24th 1846
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioner, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United State," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioner may receive their pensions from the pension agents, the widow of Walter Harris, decd a Pensioner on the Roll of the Concord, New Hamp. Agency, at the rate of eighty four Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept 1843 to the 25th Dec 1843.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptoller
Page 28

Mrs Jane A Harris
wid of Walter
Harris
Revolutionary case
Manchester N. H.
E. Hodges
2d Adits
Office
wants to know 
why name is
chopped from
Page 29

rolls- if such is
the facts.
aw
Penn probaly
payable in
N Hampshire
aw
a
B Marl
[unk]
a
Page 30

July 18, 1853
for transfer
not considered
necessary to enquire
for last payment
Page 31

Concord N. H. July 12, 1853
Sir
I forward you the application of Mrs Jane A. Harris for a transfer of her name from the Roll of Portsmouth N. H. to that of the Concord N. H. Agency for the reason that she has removed her [unk] to the vicinity of the Concord Agency. Her name is on the Roll under the 2d section of the Act of Feb 3d 1853.
Very respectfully your obt servt
L. D. Stevens

Hon L P Waldo
Commisr &c
Washington
D.C.
Page 32

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. On this ninth day of July in the year eighteen hundred and fifty two, before me, this subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared Jane A. Harris who, on her oath, declares that she is the identical person whose name is now on the Roll of Portsmouth Pension Agency in the State aforesaid under the act of Feb. 3d 1853 at the rate of eighty four dollars and sixty six cents per annum, that she has lately removed from the County of Rockingham in State and now resides in the vicinity of the Concord N. H. Pension Agency where she now resides and intends to remain and wishes her pension to be payable at the Concord Agency aforesaid in future. Her reasons for this request is that she can obtain her pension with much less trouble & expense at the Concord Agency that
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at the Portsmouth Agency.
Jane A Harris
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year aforesaid.
Andrew J. Dow, Justice of the Peace
Page 34

State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office, Concord
July 12, 1853
I hereby certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Andrew J Dow was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Hillsborough in the said State, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are an 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.
John L. Hadley
Secretary of State
Page 35

I William P. Riddle of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire testify and say that I am well acquainted with Mrs Jane A. Harris described in the foregoing affidavit signed by her and that she is the identical person who took the foregoing oath and is the same person she represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit.
William P. Riddle

Subscribed and sworn to on this ninth day of July AD 1853 before me. And I certify that the said William P. Riddle is personally known to me and is a person of respectability and veracity.
Andrew J. Dow Justice of the Peace
Page 36

I hereby certify that Walter Harris inlisted a Fifer for three years in the war of the revolution, viz on the 28th of April 1777, and was discharged by me on the 28th of April 1780, having faithfully & honorably served this time for which he inlisted, the said service was performed in a regiment commanded by Col Samuel B. Webb, and afterwards called the 9th Connt Regt. The above facts I find from my record of men discharged.
Dated at Norwich Conn AUgust 23d 1819
Eben: Huntington, Leiut Colonel of S. B. Webbs, or 9th Conn Regt in the war of the Revolution
Page 37

Priv Walter Harris      Norwich 23d August 1819
Sir
I have received your favor of the 19th on the subject of a Pension & by adverting to the record I still retain of those I discharged from the army in the war of the revolution, I find that the name of Walter Harris is entered as a Fifer enlisted on the 28th April 1777 & was honorably discharged by me on the 28th of April 1780, having faithfully served the term of three years for which he enlisted, &c have inclosed a certificate to that effect.
In reply to your first enquiry, whether you could fairly & honorably obtained pension was you living in Connecticut; I can only say, that I am unable to inform you, how the law has been [unk] by the gentlemen, but believe, where the service has been clearly proven, they have judged favorably
Page 38

favorably to the applicants unless they have been considered wealthy, considering the spirit of the law as making provisions for the aged and infirm, rather than for the subject of the [unk] house.
A man of your years with your family living on a farm of one hundred acres, would find himself unable from personal labour to support a family; & the [unk] of your salary must depend on your ability to perform the duties of your office. From the [unk] of your statement, I apprehend many well received the pensions; who did not perform the length of service which you performed, & am now blessed with more of the good things of this life. I hope the district Judge will find no scruples in certifying his opinion that you are intitled to the pension.
I am your friend & humble servant
Eben: Huntinton
Having lost my discharge I wrote to my commanding officer for the statment for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of March 18, 1818.
Walter Harris
Rev Walter Harris