Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L., for William Stafford, Rhode Island
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Stafford, William
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Wm Bridges
June 8/47
Wm Stafford
1979 – 100
[illegible]
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Pension Office June 8th 1847 
Sir,
Your letter of the 1st inst enclosing an application for bounty land in right of William Hafford, decd who was soldier of the R. Island Line, also land Warrant No 1979 for 100 acres, which issued the 9th Nov 1833, to the heirs at law of Thomas Stafford decd, together with a certificate shewing that Christiana Whitney and Eley Hazard, are the only surviving heirs attain to the aforesaid Thomas Stafford, were duly received. In my letter to you of the 29th April last, in relation to the above mentioned warrant, you were informed that said Warrant should be sent to the Commissioner of the Genl Lands Office in order to obtain the scrip due thereon. This office having no cognizance on the subject of scrip, your letter, with the warrant in question, and the certificate of heirship have been this day sent to the Genl Land Office, from whence you will receive instructions in regard to what is further necessary to be done.
In relation to the claim for land bounty in right of Wm Stafford decd you have produced in evidence of identity or of service, nor any separate and distinct proof of heirship. Facts are alleged in relation to his service and supposed death but no evidence is adduced to sustain them.
Wm Bridges Esq       I am Jc. 
St Albans, Vermont.
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William Bridges
Ansd   April 30th
Thos Stafford –priv R. Island
sent to the Genl Land Office the original
Warrt No 1979, in fav of the heir of Thos
Stafford - June 9th 1847
Wm Stafford priv. R. Island
Line - further evidence required
Sent letter the June 9th 47

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Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

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Aprl 26 ‘47
[illegible]

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Recd April 29th/47
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State of Vermont Franklin Co 
St Albans April 21st 1847 
Hon J. L. Edwards,
The Heirs of Thomas Stafford deceased, petitioned and obtained Land Warrant No 1979 dated Nov 9th, 1833, from under the hand of the Hon Lewis Cass then Secretary of War. The survivors of the heirs named in warrant, are heirs to the estate of William Stafford a brother of the said Thomas, who was a soldier in the Rhode Island line for the war, and it is supposed died many years since, issueless. The Elsy Hazard one of the heirs named in the warrant above refered to (& at whose request I write) informs me that soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, her Uncle William Stafford, went to sea, since which time he has not been heard from. Please inform Mrs Hazard through me whether under such circumstances the heirs of Thomas Stafford are entitled to the bounty lands of the sd William, there being no other evidence of his death than his long absence & not having ^been heard from since he shiped as aforesaid 
Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Sert 
William Bridges 
P.S. Are the surviving heirs of Thomas Stafford
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entitled to the Land Warrant which has issued,
or does a portion ^descend to the heirs of the
children of Thomas Stafford
W. B.
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Form for Declaration and 
Power of Attorney 
This may be made by one 
of the heirs
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DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
Regulations for the heirs of Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, wo were slain by the enemy, or who have died since the war, and have not received land from the United States.
By an act of Congress of the 16th September, 1776, it is provided that the Officers and Soldiers who engaged for, and continued to serve during the war, or until discharged by Congress, and the heirs of Officers and Soldiers as shall be slain by the enemy, shall receive land in proportion to their rank. 
N. B. Those who engaged for three years, or for any other period than during the war, or who died of sickness, fatigue, or casualty, are not entitled to land from the United States.
The following declaration (and enclosed blank form of heirship) must be filled up and signed by the proper authorities. 
State of Vermont County of Franklin} St. Albans May 10th 1847 
I, Eley Hazard an heir at law of William Stafford deceased do, upon oath testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that William Stafford did enter the service for the term of the War and served as a private the Regiment Not known Colonel not known of the Rhode Island line; and that he continued in the service aforesaid until the close of the Revolutionary War 
I further declare that I have never received a warrant for the bounty land promised to William Stafford on the part of the United States; nor do I believe that he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever: therefore, 
Know all men by these presents, That Eley Hazard aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint William Bridges to be my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a warrant for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid; and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purposes above expressed. 
Eley Hazard [signature]
Attest, 
Wm. N Smith
p. Gregory Smith
Personally appeared the abovenamed Eley Hazard subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and made oath to the same, and in my presence acknowledged the power of attorney thereto subjoined to be her free act and deed, for the purpose therein mentioned.
Attest, Wm N Smith Justice of the Peace 
In testimony that the above written William N Smith was a magistrate authorized to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments, &c., in the State of Vermont at the above date, and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature, I have hereunto affixed the county seal, and subscribed my name and quality at St Albans 14th day of May 1847 
Joseph H Brainerd Clk,&c