Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22257, for John Smith, Vermont
Page 1

Vt              Smith, John           W22257
                             Sarah
Page 2

Let. Hon Edward Curtis Feby 12, 1840 [illegible] Wm. Slade 15 May '40 let to A.S. Campbell May 26 1843 

2432 
Vermont 
Sarah Smith 3. widow of John Smith, Dec'd who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died in September 1786 - of Rutland Co in the State of Vermont who was a Corporal in the compy. commanded by Captain Lee of the _____ commanded by _______ in the Independent [illegible Ranger?] for 3 years corporal.
Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington Vt. at the rate of 88 Dollars ____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1839 and sent to Jesse Gove, [illegible], Vermont-
Arrears to the 4th of March 1839 of $264.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 44- --- $308.00. Act July 7, 1838. Recorded by [illegible signature] Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 56
Page 3

Judge Noble's affidavit
No. 3
Page 4

I, Obadiah Noble, of Tinmouth in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged Sixty one years, do depose, testify and say, that my late father, the Rev. Obadiah Noble, now deceased, was a regularly ordained Clergyman, and resided in said Tinmouth from the year 1778, until his decease, after the year 1802, and, as such, was authorized by the laws of this State to marry all persons competent to enter into that contract, and, accordingly often solemnized the rites for persons who applied to him for that one purpose; of which several marriages he kept a record, and which record is now, and, ever since my said father's decease, has been in my custody. That is entitled "Record of Marriages," and upon it, I find the following entry, among many others, to wit: "February the ['9t' crossed out] ninth, seventeen hundred and eighty three, John Smith, and Sarah Fitch," which is a true copy of the record of the marriage of the said John Smith and Sarah Fitch, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows: 1783, Feb'y 9th. And I further depose and say that when a lad I often saw the said John Smith who then resided in the adjoining town of Clarendon. He has been many years dead. I further say that I know the said Sarah Smith the widow of the said John Smith deceased, and that she is now residing at said Clarendon. And further this affiant saith not. - 
/s/Obadiah Noble

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss.} Be it known, that on the 28 day of August, 1838, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the above named Obadiah Noble who hath subscribed the foregoing affidavit in my presence, and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth: and I do hereby certify that the affiant is a person of undoubted truth & veracity.
/s/Amos F Campbell Justice Peace.
Page 5

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss} 
I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Amos F. Campbell is a justice of the peace for said County and that his signature to the certificate in my opinion is genuine.
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland this 3d day of Sept A.D. 1838
/s/R. Pierpoint
Page 6

2037 No. 1.
Sarah Smith wid of John Vt.
Al July 7, 1838
married 1783
died 1786
Allow 2 yr Corporal 
$88 per ann
Cap Lee Col Warne

Jesse Gove Esq
Rutland Vt.
Page 7

State of Vermont
Rutland County
   On this sixteenth day of August 1838, personally appeared before the Hon. William Hall, Judge of the Probate Court of the District of Rutland in said county, Sarah Smith, residing at Clarendon in said district, who bing duly sworn according to law doth on her oathmaek the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July, 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay as provisions to certain widows."
    That she is the widow of John Smith late of Clarendon aforesaid, deceased, who was a Corporal in an Independent Company of Rangers in the Continental Service of the United States in the American Revolutionary war, in the years 1777, 1778, 1779, said Company being then commanded by Capt, Thomas Lee.
    She further declares, that she was married to the said John Smith on the ninth day of February, in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty three; that her husband the aforesaind John Smith died on the    day of September one thousand seven hundred and eighty six; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service aforesaid, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time stated.
                                    Sarah  X   Smith
                                      her mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me, and I so hereby certify that by reason of bodily infirmity, the above named applicant is unable to attend personally in said court; for which reason she ahs made her declaration as above, before me, at the place of her residence in said Clarendon: and I do further certify that the affivant is a person of credibilty.
                                          Wm. Hall, Judge
Page 8

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss } I, Henry B. Towslee, Clerk of the Probate Court in and for the District of Rutland in said County do hereby certify that the Hon. William Hall is Judge of the Court; and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court, and subscribed my name at Rutland in said District, this 16th day of August, 1838.
/s/Henry B. Towslee
Page 9

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 22,257
Sarah Smith
Widow of John Smith
Corp. Rev. War
Act July 7" 1838
Index: - Vol. M, Page 225
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

No. 4.
John Smith Vt. 
W.22.257
Page 11

I here may certify to whome it may concern that John Smith, Corporal, hath served us a faithful soldier in an Independent Company of Rangers in the Continental Service in the years one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, seventy eight, and seventy nine.  The Company commanded by me.  The above mentioned John Smith having faithfully served the term that he engaged Do present him these lines as a Propper Discharge from the same.

                                         Thomas Lee, Capt.
December 31 AD 1779
Page 12

I, John Learned, of Clarendon in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged fifty eight years and upwards, do depose, testify, and say, that I was well acquianted with John Smith, late of said Clarendon, deceased, and that I resided in  his family at the time of his death -  that he died at said Clarendon in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred and eighty six.  I do not recollect the precise day of his death, tho' I remember being at his funeral.  I further depose & say that I was then & have ever since been acquainted with Mrs Sarah Smith, his widow, now residing in the same Clarendon aforesaid; that she is the widow of the said John and has not intermarried since his said death.  And further this deposee saith not.
                                              John Learned
Sworn to and subsrcibed in open Court, in the Probate Court of the District of Rutland in the County of Rutland, aforesaid, this 16th day of August, 1838, before me.
                                             Wm. Hall Judge
Page 13

[addressed envelope]
[margin notes: May 23d 1843 Sarah Smith NY rej'd 38
No 2432 adm'd aom'd]
[postmark: BELLOWS FALLS Vt. MAY 20]
FREE
Hon J L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
Washington City
Page 14

               Bellows Falls Vermont  May 19 1843
Sir

       Three of four years since the declaration of Sarah Smith widow of John Smith for a pension under the act of July of 1838 was forwarded to your office by Peter R Taft Es then of this county now of the State of Ohio, accompanied by the necessary proof of marriage, that application was as I understand rejected as a not coming within the act.  Since that time such a construction has been given to the act of 23 August 1842 as to bring her case within the act of 1838.  She is therefore entitled as I suppose to a certificate which you will please forward to me.

                         I am very respectfully
                         your obt. sert.
                         A S Campbell

Hon J L Edwards
Com of Pensions
Page 15

No. 5
James Eddy's Affidavit
Page 16

I James Eddy of Clarendon in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont aged seventy five years and upwards do depose and testify and say that I was acquainted with John Smith late of Clarendon in said county deceased from a boy as both of us living in said Clarendon  & I know this was the same John Smith that served in Capt. Lee's company three years I think from 1776 to 1779 I saw him often while he was in Capt Lees company
I further depose and say that the same John Smith in the fall of 1781 or 1782 (?) from said Clarendon, he was a (?) with several men came to Castleton where I was stationed and worked for more men and I with (?) more went with him on a scout to Sudbury & he was out (?) days on this scout.
I further depose and say that I have been long acquainted with Mrs. Sarah Smith now residing in the same Clarendon and know her to be the widow of the said John Smith deceased in which is according to my best recollection & belief and further saith not.
                                               James Eddy
State of Vermont
Rutland County
Be it known that on this eighteeth day of August 1838 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County formally appeared James Eddy to me well known to be a reputable man and a man of undoubted truth and verasity and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth.

                      Amos F Campbell Justice Peace
Page 17

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss} I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Amos F. Campbell is a justice of the peace for said County and that his signature to the within certificate I believe is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland this 3d day of Sept A.D. 1838
/s/R. Pierpoint
Page 18

[handwritten letter]
Rutland Vt. 24 Sept'r 1838

Sir - 
I transmit herewith the declaration & proofs, of Mrs. Sarah Smith of Clarendon for a pension under the act of July 7, 1838.
No. 1 - The declaration
2. - John Learned's affidavit proving the death of the husband, John Smith, & that the widow hath not again intermarried.
3. - Judge Noble's affidavit, identifying the said John and Sarah Smith, & proving their marriage.
4. - The original & honorable discharge of the said John Smith, from a company of Rangers, signed by Capt. Thos. Lee, who commanded said Company, & dated 31. Dec'r 1779.
Be it pleased to communicate your decision through me. 
I am very respectfully your obt. serv't 
/s/Jesse Gove

The deposition of Capt. James Eddy is added, more fully to identify the person of Mrs Smith as being the widow of John Smith, dec'd }
/s/J. Gove

James L. Edwards Esquire
Com'r of Pensions
Washington }
Page 19

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Smith John GRADE Drummer LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 12530 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED November 5, 1789 To -not shown-
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776 and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.