Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3212, Samuel Eaton, N.H.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.H.
CONTENTS
Eaton, Samuel
NUMBER
R. 3212.
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Declaration of Saml Eaton
State of Vermont
District of Windsor ss.
On this Sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for and within the District of Windsor and State of Vermont now sitting Samuel Eaton a resident of Reading in the
County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Seventy three years the fifth day of July last past, 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 passed by Congress June 7, 1832.
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein Stated.
That he was born in the year 1759 and enlisted in Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire under Capt Davis for eight months, marched from Goffstown to Portsmouth, from there to Fort Hancock
was there six or seven months; while there, was employed in repairing the Fort, &c. in 
June 1777.  Started for Ticonderoga
under Capt Joshua Martin and marched as far as Washington, New Hampshire and then received orders, that we were not
wanted, and returned home, was absent about ten days. A few days after arriving home at Goffstown; Declarant was [Illegible] to a training
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and was there drafted, and immediately marched to Charlestown (NH) stayed there about one week from there marched to Manchester, Vt.  under command of Capt
McConnell stayed there about one week and then and marched for Bennington, arrived there on Sunday, and on Monday
was called out on a scout under Colonel Graigue or Gregg & Marched to [Illegible]Mills, N. York, twelve miles from
Bennington, and there made a stand, and took up the Bridge to prevent the enemy from crossing, but the project failed, and and we then  retreated back to Bennington
when we met General Stark with the main army, and then made a stand for a few days, in which time we erected a Fort, and on Saturday the sixteenth day of August the whole Army divided into their parts, marched to the Enemy's lines, and gave them Battle and
after the Battle Thirty of our regiment was ordered as a guard to go to Albany to take charge of the State &c. which we had taken from the enemy.  I was one of the said Guard.  We returned soon to Bennington, and thence marched to Stillwater N. York, and stayed there about three Weeks on Guard, was then discharged, and returned home to Goffstown  said declarant lived in Goffstown about fifty years and in 1817 moved to Reading, Windsor County Vermont, which place he now lives in. He never received any written Discharge.-
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The Declarant further states that he waived eight dollars, one months wages at Goffstown which is all he was did receive.
receive Eight £ Sixteen Shilling due, as now stands on the pay roll.  He has no documentary evidence, except the plunder Roll, hereunto annexed.  He was
engaged in Bennington Battle.  He knew Colo Stickney and was under his command in Bennington Battle.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
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.  He was born in Haverhill in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, on the fifth day of July 1759
My father moved from Haverhill aforesaid to
said Goffstown, when I was about three years of age, and there is a record of my age in said
Town of Goffstown.  I was living at said 
Goffstown, when called into service.
Samuel Eaton (Signature)
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Jabez Proctor Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and serve as he states
Jabez Proctor Judge
I Reuben Washburn, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Eaton for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
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9written on side of document)
set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court, this sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Reuben Washburn

No 5180
Samuel Eaton
Vt
27. Augt 1832
Rolls
2 mos. 8 ds  McConnell

Rolls. McConnell
enlistd 19 July 77
dischd 26 Sept 77
2 mo. 8 days
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State of Vermont
District of Windsor ss.
On the twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared 
in open court before the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont, now sitting, Samuel Eaton a resident of Reading in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged seventy five years the fifth day of July now last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
That by reason of age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot
he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services, but according to his best recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the grade of a private.  1st for a period of not less than
six months, I served as a private in the State troops of New Hampshire
between the 1st of March and the 1st of November 1776 inclusive; having
enlisted for eight months and having been discharged before the expiration
of my term.  In this service I was enlisted at Goffstown N.H. according to the best of my present recollection by Lieut. James Coffin, served in Cap.t Davis' Company, Orderly Sergeant, Wakefield.  Col. Gillman's Regt
passed muster master at said Goffstown, but cannot recollect the name of the
Muster master.  Marched from Goffstown through Derryfield (now Manchester)
Chester, Hawk, Kingston & Exeter where we staid the second night of our
march at Justins' tavern on the bank of Piscataqua river: and from thence we marched to Portsmouth N.H. about 15 or 16 miles where
I was stationed during the time of my service under the above enlistment which was as before stated a period not less than six months
2nd For a period not less than ten days in June 1777, I served as a private under Capt. Joshua Martin, having volunteered at Goffstown ┃
aforesaid to go to Ticonderoga N.Y. but on our march was ordered back and dismissed.  3rd I now distinctly remember. that after being discharged at Bennington, Vermont. from Capt. McConnells, Company where I had served between two & three months in the summer of 1777 (see original declaration) I immediately and whilst at Bennington volunteered in the same Capt. McConnell's Company.  Lieut. Gillman, Serg. Berns marched to
Bemis Heights near Stillwater N.Y. where I remained until some time after the surrender of General Burgoyne, and returned to
Goffstown in November of the same year, having been absent in the service of the United States including my first service in 
Capt. McConnells'
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Company not less than four months, and ever since, when speaking of those services I have considered them between four and five months.  And for such service I claim a pension.
And the said Samuel Eaton further deposeth and saith that he cannot procure the testimony of any person who can testify to his services above stated 
Samuel Eaton (Signature)
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written-
Jabez Proctor Judge
We Sewall Fullam, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Reading in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont and Abel Gilson, from, lately residing in Reading aforesaid, and now residing in the town of Cavendish in the County of Windsor aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Eaton, who has subscribed and Sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age and upwards; that he
is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood 
[neighborhood], where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and
that we concur in that opinion-
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sewall Fullam
Abel Gilson
Jabez Proctor Judge
And the Court do hereby further certify, that it appears to them, that Sewall Fullam, who has
signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Reading in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, and that Abel Gilson who has also signed the same, was lately a resident in Reading aforesaid, and is now a resident in the town of Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Jabez Proctor Judge
I Ruben Washburn Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify, that the foregoing
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contains the supplementary proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Eaton for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of the
said Court, this twenty first day of
November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight Hundred and thirty four
Reuben Washburn -
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Additional declaration (of Samuel Eaton) in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
On the Fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor, in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, now sitting, Samuel Eaton, a resident of Reading in said County of Winsor, aged Seventy eight years on the fifth day of July A. D. 1837, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832;

That in March, or in the first part of April 1776, at Goffstown, in the State of Newhampshire [New Hampshire], the declarant, enlisted, for the term of eight months into the militia company of Capt. Davis in the Regiment commanded by Col. Gilman.  He immediately marched to Portsmouth, N. H. under Lieut. James Cochran of said Davis' company, and was stationed at a fort, which was commenced the year next , preceding, on Great Island, so called, in Portsmouth Harbor, and named Fort Hancock.  The declarant's duty, with the next of said company, was the repairing or completing said fort, and also guarding the Provision Store near the bridge that connected said Island with the main land.  He here served, as aforesaid, for not less than six months, according to his best recollection, altho' he is unable to state the precise day which terminated his service at this time.  He received his pay, and was dismissed.
Samuel Eaton (Signature)
Sworn and subscribed in open Court on this 15th day of August A. D. 1837.
Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of Probate for District of Windsor
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State of Vermont
District of Windsor ss.
I Salmon F. Dutton, Clerk of the Court of
 Probate for the District of Windsor aforesaid
the same being a Court of Record do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the additional proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Eaton for a Pension.  I also certify that Thomas F. Hammond, before whom the foregoing Declaration was sworn
to and subscribed, is Judge of said Probate Court
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of the said Probate
Court at Wilton in said District of Windsor
this fifteenth day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty
Seven.
Salmon F. Dutton
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3212
P. O.
Samuel Eaton
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: --, 18  .
Discharged: --, 18  .
Application filed: --, 18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Page 12

Sam'l Eaton
Vermont
Rejected
Less than 6 mo

Let [Letters] to Claimant            4 May '33
"        H. Hubbard       25 July 34
"             "                   17 Dec  "
"        T. F Hammond   1 June 35
"        H. Everett           2 Dec   "
"              "                    8 Dec  "
"              "                   21 Sep 1836
"              "                    9 Sept 1837
"             "                     5 Dec  1837
"             "                    11 Dec  1837

Papers sent to Hon H. [Illegible] 9 Dec. '35
See hs Rec'd
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76   6 mos at Fort Hancock 
Capt. Davis
Capt. Joshua Martin 
                                           
77  10 dys
Capt. McConnell
Capt. Davis   Towns 3 mos 8   
5 Dec 76 to 17 March 77
Gilmans Regt
Samuel Eaton
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Washington 4 Sept. 1837
Sir

I enclose the additional [Illegible] of 
Samuel Eaton.
respectfully
H. Everett

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm. of Pensions
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Washington 6. Dec. 1837
Sir,
In reply to your of the 5. on the case
of Samuel Eaton.  You have, no doubt
often found that soldiers give the names of
their officers from the recollections of the ear, and this I perceive to have been the case
in the Deposition of Caleb Little (rendered
The name of the Lieut. as written is James Cofrin  or Cathrin which may have been Cochran or Kathan, or Cathran or Coffin, names which are common at the East-
The name of the Capt. written Audiorn is probably intended for Odiorne, which also is a name common in that section of Country.
[Illegible, Illegible, Illegible]
H. Everest
J. L. Edwards
Com of Pension
Page 16

Washington 2 Dec. 1837
Sir
Since the rest of yours of the 7 Sept last on
the application of Samuel Eaton I have seen
Mr. Eaton.  He still believe that he served in Capt.
Davis' Co.  He thinks the Lieut. name was Cochran or Corcoran & states that the orderly Sargent's name was Wakefield and that Lieut. Wm. McDole, Caleb Little and John Smith were privates in the same company.  On examination of the rolls may perhaps lend to the correction of
his error as to the name of his Capt.
I have no doubt of the integrity of Mr. Eaton
I am respectfully,
Your Obt servt.
Horace Everest
J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
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Windsor, VT
7 Sept 183? 
Sir
I enclose the application of Jeboz
Stratton for a pension.
On the 21 Jany last,  I wrote in relation to the application of Samuel Eaton, your answer if [Illegible]
I will be obliged to you to refer to it,
I am respectfully
your obt servt
Horace [Illegible]
J L. Edwards
Comm Of Pensions
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Free
H. Everett
H F Hammond Esq
Reading Vermont
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Department of War
Pension Office
December 12. 1834
Sir,
Samuel Eaton whose supplemental declaration has been presented to this Office claims to have enlisted for eight months in the State troops of N.H. in a company commanded by Capt. Davis and in Col. Gilman's Regt.
in the year 1776 and to have been stationed at Portsmouth, N. H.,  and discharged after six months service.
He also alleges to have served in the year 1777 under Capt. McConnell, which service by the rolls appears to have been a few days over two months.
As no evidence has been produced to support of the first named service, and as he such service has ever come to the knowledge of the Department, the rolls of the N H Troops
being silent on the subject, it is disallowed.  The other service falling short of six months, will exclude him from securing the benefit of the pensions of the act of Congress passed
June 7 1832.  The papers still remain on file.   There [Illegible]
I have the honor to be yours
Respectfully
J. L. Edwards
[Illegible] Hammond  Clerk
Hon. Hen. Hubbard 
Respectfully
J L Edwards
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Washington 21 [Illegible] 1836
Sir
I have examined the papers of Samuel Eaton
committed to me in Dec. In yours of the 2d Dec you remark that without guaranteeing 
the facts stated by Mr. Lyon in his Depo'n
that troops were stationed at Fort Hancock in
1776 it is yet not established that it consisted
of six months.  Men enlisted & marched from
Goffstown.  Mr. Eaton States in his declaration
that he enlisted for 8 months , that his added
declaration he states he was discharged before the expiration of his time.  I would enquire [Illegible] this and make his declaration correspond with the [Illegible] records &c. He also states the names of his officers.  I would further ask whether his name is on the rolls under these officers - or whether his name is on any of the rolls of 1776.  & return the papers [Illegible]
Very respectfully
H. [Illegible]
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm. of Pensions
I also refer to Caleb Little's deposition who [Illegible] the officers who marched &  soldiers from Goffstown & who commanded at Fort Hancock.
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Charlestown July 19 1884
Dear Sir
I [Illegible] requested when I left home to look
into the papers of Samuel Eaton who live at Reading in Vermont and who applied for
a pension under the act of June 1832 - I wish
to learn from you what are difficulties in his case.
I understand his papers are on file.
Respectfully yours
H Hubbard
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Vt.
Hon. H. E Everett
11 Feby 1836
OC
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War Dept
Pension Off.
Jany '36
Sir.
Agreeably to your request I have
the honor to return you the papers in the
case of Samuel Eaton and in reply to your
first enquiry, that the allegation of 8 mo 
enlistment from Goffstown & 6 mo service under that enlistment does not impair the objection founded on the records heretofore communicated and to your second enquiry that his name is found on McConnells roll as "enlisted 19 July 77. discharged 26 Sept 77 but not under the designated officers in 76-
There was a Saml Eaton in Townes's Compy
Gilmans rest whose service commenced in
Decr of that year
Vt
Hon Horace Everett
H Rep
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Reading Nov. 23d 1835 (Vermont)
Dear Sir 
The enclosed affidavit of Edward Lyon is intended to be used as corroborating evidence in support of Samuel Eaton's claim for a Pension.
I can cheerfully say, that said Lyon is esteemed
to be a man of truth, and he certainly retains his mental faculties remarkably well for a person of his advanced age.
Mr. Eaton, the applicant is very poor and nearly past labour; this, with a thorough conviction of the justness of his claim, will stimulate him to make every honourable [honorable] exertion
within his power, to obtain it.
Accept dear Sir, the assurance of my high esteem and believe me your obedient & very humble
Servant
Thomas F. Hammond
Hon. Horace Everett
Mem, H. Rep
Washington, D.C.

P.S.  Any communications which you may be pleased to forward me during the ensuing session, will be, as they ever have
been received with gratitude
T. F. Hammond
Page 25

Reading Vermont, May 25th 1835
Dear Sir,
Enclosed is the affidavit of Caleb Little of Colebrook, N.H. forwarded as corroborating evidence of the Revolutionary services of
Samuel Eaton, whose application for a Pension and supplementary Declaration are now with the Department.
Mr. Eaton has always said that of Caleb Little was living he could attest his services at
Fort Hancock, and has once or twice written to him at Colebrook without receiving any reply. This spring Mr. Eaton has made a journey on foot to Colebrook 140 miles, and obtained from Little this affidavit, which, tho rather loosely drawn as to duration of service,
goes to show that in 1776, a guard was stationed at Fort Hancock, near Portsmouth, and that the applicant was one of that guard.
Firmly believing that this is a just claim & that no fraud has ever been, or attempted to be committed by Mr. Eaton.  I do hope that the evidence will be favourably [favorably]  received, and that the applicant will yet live to enjoy a portion of his Country's Bounty, to which, I have no doubt, he is justly
entitled, and which he so much needs for support in his declining years. 
I have the honour [honor] to be, Dear Sir, your Obedient and very humble Servant
Thomas F. Hammond
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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I Edward Lyon of Plymouth in the County of
Windsor and State of Vermont, aged seventy eight years, being duly sworn, as depose, testify & say, that in April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six, at Bedford in
the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire, I enlisted in the Militia for the term of nine months in Capt. Clement's Company Lieut. Fifield, Ens. Perry, Sergts. Shepherd, Blake & Stewart, and immediately marched to
Greenland where I joined others of the same Company and passed through Portsmouth N.H., tarried at Fort Hancock near Portsmouth, one night and on the following morning went down the River, Piscataqua, three miles to
Newcastle Island, where I was stationed nearly for quite nine months in Col. James Gillman's Regt., Maj. Mooney, Surgeon Jackson. There we were two Companies stationed at
Newcastle, & I don't know but there might have been three.  One company was commanded by Capt. Brown, Lieut. James Aiken.  Newcastle Island was three miles from
Portsmouth.  During the whole time I was stationed at Newcastle Island, there were troops kept at Kittery on the opposite side of the River, and also at Fort Hancock
and further I say not.
Edward Lyon
Reading,  November 18th 1835

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss.
At Reading in said County on this 18th
day of November 1835, then Edward Lyon of Plymouth in said County, personally appearing
and after being carefully examined & duly cautioned, made solemn oath, that the foregoing deposition, by him subscribed
contains the truth & nothing but the truth.
Before me, Thomas F. Hammond, Justice of Peace
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss.
I Benjamin Swan, Clerk of Winter County Court,
do hereby certify, that Thomas F. Hammond is a Justice of the Peace within for said County duly Commissioned a qualified, and that his signature above is genuine.  In Testimony whereof I hereto affixed the Seal of said County Court this Nineteenth day of
November AD 1835.
Barry Swan Clerk
Page 27

I, Caleb Little, of Colebrook in the
County of Coos and State of New Hampshire
of lawful age testify and says, that in
the year 1776 I resided in the town of
Goffstown New Hampshire, that Samuel
Eaton also resided at said Goffstown
at the same time, that in the month of
April of that year 1776 said Samuel Eaton
and I did enlist to go to Portsmouth to protect
that town as State troops we were marched
forthwith under the command of Lieutenant James Cofrin or Cathrin and when we
arrived at Portsmouth we were stationed
on the Island at Fort Hancock, and
quartered at that Fort until we were
discharged. Said Fort was commanded
by Capt Odiorne
During  the time we were stationed at Fort Hancock and at time we were discharged
there were troops on the other side of the river
at a place called Kittery.
Caleb Little

State of New Hampshire
Coos  ss.
of May 8th 1835
Then personally appearing Caleb Little signer of the above affidavit and made solemn oath
that the above and [Illegible] by him 8 years is true.
Before me
Lewis Loomis Justice of the Peace
x Odiorne
Page 28

State of New Hampshire 
Coos ss.
I  William Farrar Clerk of the Court of Common for said County of Coos in the State of
New Hampshire, certify that Lewis Loomis before
whom the within affidavit was taken is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Coos duly qualified to take affidavits and administer oaths: that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
[Illegible] testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court this 9th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five
Wm Farrar Clerk
Page 29


Sam'l. Eaton
Hon. H Everett
HR
Page 30

I Eliphalet Richards of Goffstown
and County Hillborough and State of
Newhampshire [New Hampshire] of Lawful age do testify and say that in the year one 
thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Seven
I was mustered into the service of the
United States in Goffstown and (?)County
in the month of July and that I
Marched immediately after to Bennington
In the State of Vermont in Capt Samuel
McConnell Company in Col. Nichols Regiment
under General Stark and that I Samuel
Eaton of Reading in the County of Winsor [Windsor] and State of Vermont was mustered into the service with me on the same day and
that we Marched in the same Company
and [Illegible] of the same [Illegible] to Bennington And that after the Battle at
Bennington we marched with Capt Mc Connell to Bemises Heights or Still Water in New York and there Remained together till the time of our draught was out-
Eliphalet Richard

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss.
On the 15th day of February A.D. 1831 personally came before me the above named Eliphalet Richards and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed
is true.
Before me
Chas F Gove Justice of the Peace
111111
the
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I Nathan Hawes of Hooksett in the
County of Merrimack and state of
New Hampshire of lawful age
do testify and say that in the
year one thousand seven hundred
and seventy seven I was mustered
into the service of the United States
at Goffstown in the month of July
and that I marched immediately
after to Bennington in the State of
Vermont in Captain Samuel
McConnells Company under
General Stark and that Samuel
Eaton of Reading in the County
of Winson [Windsor] and State of Vermont
was mustered into the service with
me on the same day and
that we marched in the same
company, and were of the same
Mess to Bennington, And that
after the Battle at Bennington
we marched with Capt. McConnell
to Bemises Heights in New York
and there remained together till
the time of our draught was out
Nathan Hawes

State of New-Hampshire, Hooksett
Merrimack ss.  Jan 7 1831
Then personally appearing the above named 
Nathan Hawes and made solemn oath
that the foregoing Deposition by him
Subscribed is true-
Before me Thomas R. Taggart
Justice Peace