Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6649, Joshua Church, [ILLEGIBLE]
Page 1

(3-1776)
[column headings: Service. none. Number.] Continental 
(Mass. or Vt. [Vermont] or N.H. [New Hampshire])?
Church, Joshua
 Jane
W. 6649
B.L.Wt. 26616-160-55
Page 2

[left side of page]
Duplicate certificate [illegible] forwarded to the care of [illegible] F. James, Albion, N. [New] York March 10th 1836
Cir. to Pens [pension] Agent 14th [fourteenth] Sept. [September]1837. To Pennsylvania from 4 Sept [September 1836  23 Sept [September] 1837.
[right side of page]
Pennsylvania 20036 [crossed out: New York]
Joshua Church 20036 of Orleans Co. [County] in the state of N. [New] York, who was a Private in the Comp [company]  commanded
by Captain Danforth of the Reg [regiment] commanded by Col. [Colonel] Whitcomb in the [crossed out: N. [New] York] Vt. [Vermont] line for A Year
Pennsylvania
Inscribed on the Roll of N. [New] York at the rate 40 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of July 1833 and [illegible] W. James Murray
Arrears to the 4th of Ma [March] '33 [1833]                         $80
Semi-ani. allowance ending 4 Sep [September] '33 [1833] $20 [total: $100]                                             
Revolutionary Claims Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by P.C. Giles, Clerk  Book E Vol. [Volume] 3 Page 5
Page 3

3937 Michigan
Jane Church widow of Joshua Church Vt [Vermont] who served in the Revolutionary war as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d [third] February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 28th day of March 1854 and sent to R.W. Bates Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 202 Vol. A
32
[Inscribed: Date of widow's death not on AB.]

Reg. PM 55-58099
Page 4

Page 4

(left side of page)

Cir. G.H. French Sept [September] 24/55
 do       same      Oct [October] 16/55
 do       same      Jany [January] 29/56
Vol C 105

(right side of page)

WO 26616 May 20/56 (lightly inscribed)
58099 Act Mar [March] 3/53 April 10/53

Jane Church via Joshua Church past
pensioner
She receives pension under Act Feb. [February] 3/53
Revolutionary War
Boyton (lightly inscribed)
Mich [Michigan] Feb 53 - No 3937
W: 160 Act May 16/56
Boyton (signature)
Geo. [George] H. French
Homer, Mich [Michigan]
Page 5

State of New York Orleans County SS
Be it remembered that on this 17th day of January in the year of our Lord 1833 personally came before me William James a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Orleans Joshua Church a resident of the town of Ridgeway  in the County of Orleans + [and] State of New York aged sixty nine (69) years who being 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 the 7th 1832, he says that he entered the service  of the United States under the following named officers and in the following manner and served as herein after states in that he first volunteered and entered the service of the United States at Cambridge in the state of Massachusetts in the month of March in the year of our Lord 1776 in Capt. [Captain] Danforths Company of Volunteer Militia in Col. [Colonel] Whitcomb's Regiment. The other officers he does not recollect but says the Orderly Sergeants name was Benjamin - he engaged for three months and served out his time he then again entered the service in the same company as a substitute for his brother Alexander Church and served three months he did not return home untill he had served out both the foregoing tours he was in the State Troops Massachusetts Line of Militia after he had served out his time as a substitute for his brother he received a discharge and returned home he did receive a written discharge  as the whole companys term of service was out and they were all discharged together by the Colonel of the regiment Col [Colonel] Whitcomb. He says he has never made any application to the War Department nor has he applied in any names for a pension for his service except this and he hereby relinquishes all claims for any pension or annuity except this he now applys for - In every term that he was out he served in the militia
Page 6

He was next draughted in the service or stood a draught for his brother Alexander in the summer of (1777) for three months was draufted and transferred or enrolled in Capt [Captain] Quimby's Company of Militia Lieut [Lieutenant] Atwood and Ensign Worthy and Sergeant William Church his brother he marched to Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain in the State of New York against Burgoyne's army remained at that place until the British army drove General Schuyler away and took the place Was in the retreat of the American Army from Ticonderoga to Saratog [Saratoga] he cannot recollect now what the Colonel's name was that commanded the Regiment that he belonged to during this period he was then discharged and sent home on account of sickness a short time before the surrender of General Burgoyne and his army to the the American General Gates. He recollects General Stark Cols [colonels] [illegible], Stickney, Nichols, Simon, Herrick, Hubbard also General Lincoln. He next joined the American army in the summer of the year he thinks in the month August in the year of our lord (1780) in Capt [Captain] [blank] Company the Capt [Captain] name he cannot recollect nor the other officers in the course given of the lapse of time and loss of memory it was in General Benedict Arnold's  Troups at West Point - he was with the army at the time Arnold fled to the British army and Andre was taken prisoner he was one of the party that chased Arnold down the river when he fled - He with six others was ordered to turning woden dishes for the army. This period of time he was a volunteer he engaged his services for three months and served out his time and received his discharge from the Col of the Regiment but his he cannot possibly recollect. He recollects Colonel
Page 7

Sparks but whether he commanded the regiment he belonged to he cannot remember for he was turning wooden dishes. The said applicant further states that in consequence of the lapse of time & lapse of memory he may have not given the right dates nor the right names & grades of officers. After he said Joshua Church had made the foregoing declaration which he answered in the following manner to wit.
1. Where was you born and in what year - 
Answer - He says he was born in the town of Dumbarton in the County of Hilsborough and the then Provence of New Hampshire in the year of our Lord (1763) on the 27th day of May that this information he has received from his parents and believes to be true which makes him (69) years of age.
2. Have you any records of your age and if any where are they.
Answer - He says his father once had a record of his and his brothers ages but where they now are he does not know which is all the records he knows of he has none.
3. Where were you living when you was called into the service. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer - He says when he first volunteered and joined the army he lived with this father in the town of Wethersfield in the County of Windsor and state of Vermont. He says his father moved from Dumbarton to the town of Darien in the state of New Hampshire - He next moved to the town of Stoddard County of Chester same state. He next moved to the town of Wethersfield in the county of Windsor in the state of Vermont where he lived at the time he first entered the service that his father next moved to the town of Windsor same county and state.
He says that since the Revolutionary War he has lived first in the town of Wethersfield where his father continued to live for
Page 8

several years until he moved back into the town of Stoddard in the county of Chester and the state of New Hampshire and from this town he moved to the town of Ridgway where he has resided about ten years and where he now resides at the time of making this declaration.
4. How were you called into the service - were you drafted. Did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom:
  Answer - He says the first period of the three months he volunteered his services as stated in the foregoing declaration and after this he took his brother Alexander Church's place as a substitute who had been drafted as stated in the foregoing declaration - that the next stood a draft for his brother Alexander and was drafted for three months as stated in the foregoing declaration. Served out this tour and returned home sick.
He next volunteered his services when he joined the army at West Point under the command of General Arnold for three months in the month as he believes of August and served out his time as stated in the foregoing declaration. He says this is the first & only application he made for a pension.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served. Such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the  general circumstances of your services -
Answer - General Washington Commander in Chief Major General Phillip Schuyler and Isral Putnam or Putman and also General Benedict Arnold of the Regulars - General Poor General Stark General Wayne - Col Wilkinson Col Dearborn - The grades of those officers he does not recollect to what particular regiments they belonged or to what brigades-
Page 9

the general circumstances [illegible]
of engagement at Cambridge and Dorchester Heights or Dorchester near Boston which constituted six months. Says he was at Cambridge while the British Army was in possession of Boston that he was in the garrison in Dorchester Heights then helped fortify and keep garrison untill the British army evacuated Boston. He was with the army when the Commander in Chief General Washington entered in triumph the City of Boston - that he was the greater part of the time in the garrison at Dorchester Height and some of the time in Boston and about Cambridge and Charlston he has stated in his declaration that he first belonged to the Massachusetts line still it might be the Vermont line. The general circumstances of his service the second period of his services when he marched to Ticonderoga and Crown Point was to resist the British Army prevent them from marching into the country keep them from procuring any forage and provisions and to guard the inhabitants from the ravages of the Tories Indians and British - He also says he has no documentary evidence whatever of his services nor never had. The general circumstances of his services the third period the time he joined the army at West Point under were the command of General Arnold was to keep garrison untill he with six others were ordered at turning wooden dishes for the use of the American army which he followed for about two months untill his term of service expired which was three months as stated in his declaration making the whole time including the four several engagements or three periods inclusive which he served or the whole time that he was in actual service one year. He says he has no pension nor never applied for any except this application.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
Answer - he does not recollect of ever having a written discharge - but was discharged by his commanding officers each time after his term of service had expired.
Page 10

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for truth and veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer - Micah L. James Witter Steward Esquire Lyman Turner John Dauby David Patt Gilbert Howell
Sworn and subscribed before me William James a judge of Orleans County Courts - this 7th day of January in the year AD. 1833
Mr Micah L. James [Witter Steward Esquire crossed out] Lyman Turner of the Town of Gaines Orleans County after being duly sworn by me William James a judge of Orleans County Courts do certify that we are well acquainted with [Witter Steward Esquire Micah L. James crossed out] aforesaid Joshua Church who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration - and that we do consider him a man of the strictest truth and veracity and that he has always been [illegible] as having been a soldier in the Revolution and served in the Revolutionary army - and we do further certify that we do believe that he has served Revolutionary army as he has set forth in his said declaration - and that he is unable to [illegible] mark of a seal M. L. James
Sworn and Subscribed before me William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts this 17th day of January in the Year AD 1833 [mark of a seal] 
Lyman Turner
I William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Micah L. James Witter Steward who lives in the neighborhood of Joshua Church the foregoing applicant and who have sworn to & subscribe the foregoing affidavit and certificate and that they are men of respectable truth and veracity.
Page 11

and that their statements are entitled to credit - all of which I do hereby certify - this 17th Day of January in the Year of Our Lord 1833.
Sworn to and subscribed before me William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts
Horace Hibburd Justice of the Peace [mark of a seal] 
We John Dawley, Gilbert Howell, Reuben L Gunn, David Pratt, residing in the town of Ridgway County of Orleans and state of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joshua Church who has sworn to and subscribed to the foregoing declaration that we do believe him to be (69) years of age as he has set forth in his declaration that he is a man of truth and veracity and is reputed and believe in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we do concur in that opinion - and do believe that he has served as he has set forth in his declaration. Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 17th Day of January AD 1833
William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts [mark of a seal]
M L James, John Dolley, Lyman Bates, Reuben L Gunn, Witter Stewart, David Pratt, Gilbert Howell
And I the said William James the said judge of Orleans County Court before whom the foregoing proceedings have been had and done do hereby certify and declare my opinion of the matter contained in the foregoing declaration and after putting the foregoing interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the foregoing named Joshua Church the applicant for a pension was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he has set forth or as he has stated in his declaration and that the above named John Dawley Gilbert Howell Reuben L Gunn Lyman Bates Witter Steward
Page 12

of the said town of Ridgway are all of them men of the first respectability for truth and veracity and that the said David Pratt, a Clergyman is also a man of the first respectability for truth and veracity and that they are all residents of the said town of Ridgway and county of Orleans and state of New York and are entitled to [illegible] [five and a half lines crossed out and illegible] and further that the said applicant is so much out of health and so lame and decreped [decrepit] that he is is unable to attend a court of record in consequence of this bodily infirmity and I do further certify that David Pratt is a Clergyman of the first respectability and veracity living in the town of Ridgway & a neighbor of the said Joshua Church and is entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed before me William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts Jany [January] 17th 1833. Horace Hibbard Justice of the Peace  
[the following is crossed out] I Abraham Mills Clerk of the County of Orleans and the Court of Common Peas of said county that the foregoing do hereby certify declaration and proceedings or papers containing the original doings and proceedings of the said judge which were had before him in the matter of the  application of Joshua Church for a pension And that the aforesaid William James is a Judge now acting as such in the said County of Orleans in the Courts of Common Pleas of said County and that Horace Hibbard Esquire at this time who took the foregoing affidavit sworn to and subscribed by the said William James is now an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Orleans in the said State of New York
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of affidavit this day of in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three [end of crossed out text]
Page 13

20036 NY or PA
Jane Church
Wid [Widow]
Joshua
Page 14

State of Michigan County of Calhoun S.S.
On this Sixth day of March A.D. One Thousand and Eight Hundred and Fifty Four personally appeared before the Judge of the Probate Court of Calhoun County State of Michigan Mrs Jane Church, a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged seventy one years, who first being duly sworn according to Law, doth, on her Oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of February 1853, granting Pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War, that she is the widow of Joshua Church, who was a Pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the rate of Forty Dollars per annum, and was as she believes paid at the Albany agency for paying Pensions.
She further declares that she was married to the said Joshua Church on the 4th day of April One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty one by one Elijah Foot Esq a Justice of the Peace in Orleans County State of New York, That her husband died in Springfield Township Erie County Pennsylvania on the Tenth day of May A.D One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty One, whither he had removed about four years previous to his death. That she was not married to him prior to the Second day of January One Thousand Eight hundred but at the time above stated. She further declares that she is now a Widow. She further makes oath that she has no family record of her husbands death or of her marriage with the said Joshua Church, nor does she know that there is one in existence.
Jane Church
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal of the Probate Court of said county the day and year above written
H. A. Noyes Judge of the Probate
Page 15

State of Michigan Calhoun County S. S.
Know all men by these presents that I Jane Church of the County and State above names do hereby constitute and appoint R W Bates of the City of Washington and District of Columbia my true & [and] lawful attorney for me and in my name and stead, to prosecute my, foregoing Claim for Pension under the Act of Feby [February] 3, 1853 before the Commission of Pensions, to examine all Papers now on file relating thereto and to receive from the said Commission such Certificate or Draft as may be found due me. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this fourth day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty four
A. C Clark 
H B. Riggs
Jane Church

State of Michigan Calhoun County S.S.
On this fourth day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty four personally appeared before me A. C. Clark a Justice of the Peace duly authorized by law to take acknowledgements and for the County and State aforesaid Jane Church and acknowledged the above Power of Attorney to be her Act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned
Allurad C. Clark 
Justice of the Peace
Page 16

Mrs. Jane Church
4,473
Application for Pension under Act of Feby [February] 3, 1853 
Allowed $40 per an [annum] to Com [commence] Feb 3. 1853
Page 17

State of Michigan County of Calhoun
Tunis Swart & [and] Rhoda Swart his Wife being duty sworn deposeth says that they personally knew Joshua Church deceased + [and] Jane Church + [and] that they lived together as Husband and Wife + [and] that she is the widow of the said Joshua Church deceased
Tunis Swart Rhoda Swart
Subscribed +[and] sworn Before me this fourth day of March, AD. 1854 Allurad C Clark Justice of the Peace
I hereby cirtifiy [certify] that Tunis Swart +[and] Rhoda Swart the above witnesses are credible persons + [and] their Character for truth + [and] veracity is good
Allurad C Clark
Justice of the Peace
Page 18

State of New York Orleans County
David Hood and Elizabeth Hood his wife being duly sworn depose and say that they were both present at the marriage of Joshua Church and Jane his wife and further say the marriage was consummated April 4th 1821 they were married by Elijah Foot Esq Dated this 5th day of January 1854 David Hood Elizabeth Hood
Subscribed and Sworn this 5th day of January 1854 
Sand Cole a Justice of the Peace  in Orleans County
Page 19

State of Michigan County of Calhoun SS
On this third day of April A.D. One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid Jane Church aged seventy two years a resident of Clarendon in the County of Calhoun and the State of Michigan who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Joshua Church deceased who was a private in the war of Revolution, that she cannot tell in what Company or Regiment or under what officers he served or whether he was drafted, enlisted or volunteered, or the time, a term of such enlistment or at what place or time he was discharged, but that he continued in actual service in said was for the term of fourteen days and that during his lifetime he received a pension and that since his death she has received a pension under the Act of February 3rd 1853.
She further states that she was married to the said Joshua Church in the town of Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York on the seventh day of April A.D. 1821 by one Elijah Foote a Justice of the Peace and that her name before said marriage was Jane Hood - that her said husband died at Spring, Crawford County, Pennsylvania on the tenth day of May A.D. 1841 and that she is now a widow and that no public or private record of said marriage now exists. 
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855
Jane Church
We Nancy Howard and Rhoda Swart residents of Homer in the state of Michigan upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Jane Church in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be and that we knew the parties in the lifetime of the husband and knew them to cohabit as
Page 20

husband and wife and to be so reputed, and that we have lived in the same family with said parties. Nancy Howard Rhoda Swart
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
Geo. H. French Notary Public
I Samuel S. Lacey, Clerk of the Circuit Court for said County do hereby certify that Geo H. French Esq before whom the foregoing declaration + [and] affidavit was taken was at the time of so doing a notary public with + [and] for said County duly commissioned + [and] qualified to take the [ ] + [and] that his signature hereto is genuine
Witness my hand + [and] the seal of said Circuit Court at Marshall this fourth day of April A.D. 1855
Samuel S. Lacey
Clerk
58,099
Page 21

Mr. J. Herbert Johnson
1815 South Fourth
Alhambra, California
Dear Sir:
December 15, 1937
JOSHUA CHURCH
W. 6649
BA-J/MLB OUR
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Joshua Church who was born in Dunbarton, Hills borough County, New Hampshire, May 27, 1763, and died May 10, 1841, in
Crawford, Erie County, Pennsylvania.
You are furnished herein the record of Joshua Church as found in pension claim, W. 6649, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
Joshua Church was born May 27, 1763, in Dunbarton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; the names of his parents were not given. His father moved from Dunbarton to Darien, then to Stoddard in Chester County,
all in New Hampshire, and from there to Wethersfield, Windsor County, Vermont, where he was living when he first enlisted then from there to Windsor, Windsor County, Vermont. While living with his father in Wethersfield, Vermont, he volunteered in March, 1776, and served three months as a private in Captain Danforth's company, Colonel Whitcomb's Massachusetts regiment, then reenlisted in
the same company as a substitute for his brother, Alexander Church, and
served three months, during both terms stationed at Cambridge. He enlisted
in the summer of 1777, again as a substitute for his brother Alexander, and served three months as private in Captain Quinby's company, Colonel Kelley's regiment; his brother, William Church, served as sergeant with him on this tour he was in the retreat from Ticonderoga to Saratoga. He volunteered in August, 1780, and served three months as private under Colonel Sparks.
After the Revolution, the soldier continued to reside with his father in Wethersfield, Vermont, for several years, then moved back to the Town of Stoddard, Chester County, New Hampshire, and from there to Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York.
Page 22

Joshua Church was allowed pension on his application executed January 17, 1833, at which time he was living in Ridgeway, Orleans
County, New York, which had been his place of residence ten years, and where he was still living in 1836. In September, 1837, he was a
resident of Springfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania, and died there May 10, 1841.
Joshua Church married April 4 or 7, 1821, in Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York, Jane Hood. The date and place of her birth and
names of parents are not shown.
Jane Church, soldier's widow, was allowed pension on her application executed March 6, 1854, at which time she was aged seventy-one
years and a resident of Calhoun County, Michigan. In 1855, she gave as her place of residence, Clarendon, in that county.
[hand written in left margin: Next time]  In 1837, [crossed out: Joshua Church referred to his] children [hand written insertion: of Joshua Church] were living in Springfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania, but [crossed out: did not] [handwritten insertion: no names were designated] [crossed out: designate any names].
The only child whose name was designated in the claim was their son, Andrew S. Church, age not given, who made affidavit in 1855 in Calhoun County, Michigan, but did not state his place of residence.
In 1836, one S. E. Church was Deputy Clerk of Orleans County, New York, his relationship to the soldier's family not shown.
In 1854, David Hood and his wife, Elizabeth, made joint affidavit in Orleans County, New York, that they were present at the marriage of
Jane Hood to Joshua Church, but did not give their relationship to her. In the same year, one Tunis Swart and his wife, Rhoda, testified
jointly in Calhoun County, Michigan, in behalf of soldier's widow, Jane, and in 1855, one Rhoda Swart and Nancy Howard made joint affidavit, both of Homer, Michigan, that they had lived in the family of Joshua and Jane
Church, but did not state any relationship to them, or to each other, nor was it shown whether the latter Rhoda Swart was the wife of Tunis Swart,
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
[page: 2]
Page 23

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. W6649
Washington, D. C., [blank], 19 [blank]
In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Joshua Church 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.
[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN. COLONEL. STATE.]
Mar.  [March] 1776. 6 mos. [months] Pvt [Private] Danforth Whitcomb Mass. [Massachusetts]
Summer 1777. 3 "  [blank] Quimby Kelly [blank]
Aug. [August] 1780 3 " [blank] Sparks [blank]
Battles engaged in, [checkmark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wethersfield, Windsor Co. Vt.
Date of application for pension,  Jan. 17, 1833. His claim was al. [allowed]
Residence at date of application, Ridgeway, Orleans Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, born in Dumbarton, Hillsborough Co. N.H. [New Hampshire] May 27, 1763
Remarks: Got mar [married] in Ridgeway, Orleans Co. N.Y. Apr 4, 1821 Jane Hood. He died in Springfield Township, Erie Co. Pa. May 10, 1841. She was al [allowed] pens [pension] on her ap [application] {illegible] Mar. 6, 1854 while res [residing] in Calhoun Co. Mich [Michigan] age 71. In 1837 the soldier refers to his children, no names stated except Andrew S. who was alive in 1855.
Respectfully, Commissioner
Note: Brothers Alexander + [and] William
As the widow says in her pension ap [application] that the soldier died in Springfield Twp Erie Co. Pa [Pennsylvania] where he had lived some years and as the soldier stated that he lived in Springfield Erie Co Pa. [Pennsylvania] I have ignored the statement that he died in Spring. [Springfield] Crawford Co. Pa. [Pennsylvania] I cannot prove his service or any affairs except except in service which was a Cont. [Continental] Mass. [Massachusetts] Regt. [Regiment]
Page 24

Title Insurance and Trust Company
Founded 1893
433 South Spring Street
Los Angeles
William H. Allen, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
Stuart O'Melveny.
President
Bakersfield 1715 Chester Avenue
Santa Barbara 14 East Carrillo Street
San Luis Obispo 777 Higuera Street
Ventura 471 Main Street
November 26, 1937 
Veterans Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen: Please send to me at the address below, a copy or an [handwritten: 4] abstract of the original application for pension of [handwritten: checkmark]  Joshua Church, born in Dunbarton, Hillsborough County,
New Hampshire, May 27, 1763, and died in Crawford, Erie County, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1841, and oblige
Yours truly, [signature: J. Herbert Johnson] J. Herbert Johnson 1815 South Fourth, Alhambra California
JHJ: K
[hand stamped imprint: Received Nov 30 1937 Mail Sub-Div [illegible] 37
Page 25

Ellis E. Good, President
J.W. McAdams, Vice President
O. M. Good, Cashier
C. E. Hadley, Asst. Cashier
Citizens State Bank Peru Nebraska
[handwritten: Rev War -1- illegible initials]
Peru, Nebraska Nov. 1 - 1918
Will you please send me all the information relating to Joshua Church who served as a private soldier from New Hampshire in the American Revolution? He was, I think placed on the pension roll of state of New York July 3 - 1833. I am needing this information very much and an early reply will greatly oblige Yours Truly, Ida Church Good
Page 26

Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Washington
Dear Sir - Will you kindly give me the pension record of Joshua Church, pensioner of the Revolution Orleans Co. N.Y. Placed on
roll July 30. 1833. Pension commenced March 4, 1831.
April 11 - 1917
Yours Truly,
Mrs. F. A. Stuart
Marshall, Michigan
Page 27

Revy [Revolutionary] Widow, &c.
File No. 6649 Jane Church Wid. [widow] Joshua Church Pvt. [Private] Rev.' [Revolutionary] War
Act: Feby. [February] 3rd 53 [1853]
Index:-Vol. A, Page 115
Arrangement of 1870
[handwritten mid page vertically: 1917 Apr. 11.  Hist [history] to Mrs. F. A. Stuart. On 1918 Nov. 29 Hist. to Ida Church Good. 1937 Dec. 15 Hist [history] to Mr. J. Herbert Johnson. MLB]
Page 28

In the matter of Joshua Church
[illegible] 40H
Page 29

State of New York Orleans County Clerks Office I Abraham B Mills Clerk of the said County do certify that William James before whom the preceding declaration was made in the matter of the application of Joshua Church for a pension and also before whom the preceding affidavits were sworn was at the date of the same a Judge of the County Courts in + [and] for the said County, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits and the certificate of investigation of the said proceedings to be be his proper hand writing and signature Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 8th day of March A.D. 1833 - A. B. Mills Clerk 
State of New York Clerks Office Orleans County 
I Abraham B Mills Clerk of the said County do certify that Horace Hibbard before whom the affidavit of William James purports to have been sworn - was at the date of the same a Justice of the peace in + [and] for the said and that I am acquainted with his hand writing or his name subscribed to the said affidavit to
be his proper hand writing and Signature
Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 8th day of March 1883. A B Mills Clerk
Page 30

State of New York Orleans County
On this 1st day of June in the Year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me William James a Judge of Orleans County Courts Joshua Church the declarant in the foregoing Declaration to which this affidavit is attached to me personally
known who being first duly sworn by me according to law doth on his oath make the following addition to his foregoing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832 He says he knows of no Surviving Witness that can be found or obtained who can
testify to the services rendered by this applicant in the Army of the United States as set forth in his
Declaration nor any part thereof yet He did serve the length of time and at the different periods as he
has set forth in the foregoing Declaration and the said declarant further says he is unable to attend a court of Record in consequence of old age and bodily infirmity
at this time And the said applicant further says on on his oath that on reflection since he made oath to the foregoing declaration he is of the opinion and believes that
at the time he was draughted in Capt Quimbys company in the year 1777 and during that period of service which was three months he was attached + [and] belonged
to Colonel Kelleys Regiment who commanded Regiment of Drafted Militia of this however he is
not certain it might have been some other Colonel for he was frequently shifted from one Regiment to an other but he is now of the opinion it was Colonel
Kelleys Regiment of Drafted militia
As to the other periods of service
he has given all the names and rank of the officers that he can recollect at this time and
Page 31

particularly as to the period of three months
in the year 1780 while at West point in the
command of Arnold untill he fled to the British 
in New York it is impossible for this applicant
recollect his Captains name the Colonels
name he thinks was Sparks and he believes he
was attached to his Regiment - The Reason he
thinks of his not being able more particularly
to recollect the officers names under whom he
served at this period of service is because
soon after he joined the army at this time he
with a number of other soldiers was put to
the duty of turning wooden dishes and kept at 
that business nearly the whole three months by order of his commanding officers
Joshua Church
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 1st day of June in the Year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred of and thirty three - William James A Judge of Orleans County County Courts
Orleans County Clerks Office 
I Abraham B Mills Clerk of said County Do hereby certify that William James before whom the preceeding additional proceedings to the original declaration in the matter of the application of Joshua Church for a pension purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Judge of the County Courts
in + [and] for said County - And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge + [and] verily believe that his name subscribed to the above proceedings in the proper hand writing of the said Judge 
Witness my hand and seal of Office June 20th 1833
A. B. Mills Clerk
Page 32

26616
Rev Army
Page 33

House Oct 9th 1855
J. Minot Esq
Com of Pensions
Dr Sir
Yours of recent date in relation to claim of Jane Church No. 58099 for the bounty land has been recd [received]  You state that the
revolutionary service of Joshua Church husband of the claimant does not appear of record in the office   Said Church, as also the claimant as you will observe from the enclosed affidavits held a pension certificate + [and] drew a pension which it seems to me would not have been the case if such service had not been rendered + [and] the proof made satisfactory to the department  Should the additional
evidence, which I enclose he unsatisfactory what else will be required?  I think however that this must establish the justice of the claim + [and] trust that a Warrant will be opened without delay
Respfy [respectfully] Being
Geo. [George] H. French
Page 34

58099 Jane Church Wd [widow] of Joshua Church  Boyington Sept. 1 of 55 Last Action Oct 16th
614063 Betsey Rosetter Wd [widow] Asher W H 
on Register no action
Page 35

Homer April 3rd 1855 
L. P Waldo Commissioner of Pensions 
[illegible] Sir
Enclosed find declaration of Jane Church for bounty land which please acknowledge + [and] return warrant to me + [and] oblige Yours Geo. [George] H. French 
Homer Cal. [Calhoun] Co. [County] Mich. [Michigan]
Page 36

Pension Office March 22|54 [lightly written: 22 March 10 May 41]
Sir: Please report time of last payment to, or death of within named pensioner. Yours, [illegible] F Burt Esqr [Esquire] 3 aud Present. [illegible] Cole for commn [commission]
Joshua Church Act 1832 $40 per annum. Died f10 May 1841. paid. F Burt Auditor
Page 37

Hon [Honorable] L. P. Waldo Comr [commissioner] of Pensions
Washington City March 20, 1856
Sir  I enclose herewith the application of Mrs Jane Church for Pension under the Act of Feby [February] 3, 1853
Yours Respectfully
R.W. Bates
Page 38

Brief in the case of Jane Church widow of Joshua
Calhoun County and State of Michigan
act of February 3, 1853
Claim, ("original" or "for increase".)
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband a pensioner under act of 1832
at $40 per annum Allowed $40 per an [annum] to com. [commence] Feb 3, 1853 Marriage proved by credible witnesses (If for increase.) 
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Death of husband proved by credible
Witnesses Identity + [and] Widowhood proved by credible Witnesses
Name and residence of Agent
R.W. Bates
Washington D.C. Examining Clerk. J.S. Gray
Page 39

Geo. [George] H. French  Home Michigan
Jane H Church Wd [widow]
Joshua Church No 58099
Betsey Rossetter Wd [widow] A W H. Rossetter 
No 164063
Page 40

Homer Calhoun Co. [County] Mich [Michigan]
Jany [January] 12th 1856
J. Minot Esq [Esquire]
Com. [Commissioner] Pensions
Dr [Dear]  Sir
Allow me to enquire what has been done in relation to the claim for Bounty Land of Jane Church wid. [widow] of Josh. [Joshua] Church
No. 58.099 also claim of Betsey Rossetter
wid. [widow] of A. W. H Rossetter, No. 164.063
The first named application under date of
April 3/55 - the second June 4/55
Please reply and oblige
Yours Respfy [respectfully]
Geo. [George] H. French
Page 41

MECHANICS + [and] FARMERS' BANK,
Albany Pension Agency,
Sept. [September] 18 1837
JAMES L. EDWARDS, Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir, 
In reply to your letter of the 14th inst.
I have to state, that Joshua Church
a Pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832 at forty Dollars per ann [annum]:
the 4 day of Sept [September] 1836
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully
Your ob't [obedient] serv't [servant]
Tho [Thomas] M Leutt
Pres't [president], and Pension Agent
Page 42

State of Pennsylvania Erie County Application for a Transfer
On this 1st day of September 1837
before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Erie personally appeared Joshua Church who on his Oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Danford in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcom in the Service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from
whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State Pennsylvania County of Erie town of Springfield where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future the following on his reasons for removing from the State of New York to the State of Pennsylvania his children reside here + [and] he wishes to be near them
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid David G Webber J P [Justice of the Peace] Joshua Church
Erie County SS on the 1st day of September 1837 before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County personally came Enos Baker who on his oath declares that he is personally acquainted with Joshua Church and that he well knows him to be the identical person described in the above affidavit. Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid David G Webber J.P [Justice of the peace] Enos Baker
Page 43

State of of Pennsylvania Erie County SS
I David G Webber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Erie do certify that I am well acquainted with Enos Baker that he is a man in
whom the utmost confidence may be placed
for truth and veracity and that he duly
Subscribed and testified to the facts set forth
in the last foregoing affidavit Given under
my hand at Springfield this 1st day of
September 1837 David G Webber J.P [Justice of the Peace] and the said Joshua Church further
saith on his oath that he drew his pension up to September 4th 1836 from the New York Agency at Albany and no longer Sworn and Subscribed before me this 1st Sept. [September] 1837
I further certify that this last declaration of Joshua Church was taken + [and] subscribed at the the date thereof before me.
David A Webber J.P [Justice of the Peace]
Page 44

State of Pennsylvania Erie County
I William Kelley Prothenatary [prothonotary] of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do certify that David G. Webber
Esq. [Esquire] who has certified the probate the foregoing affidavit + [and] in his own proper handwriting to me well known, was at the time and still is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn, to all where as such full faith and credit is due
Given under my hand and seal of office at Erie
September 2, 1837
William Kelly Pro [Prothonotary]
Page 45

Honl [Honorable] James L Edwards
Commission of Pensions Washington
[postmark: Albion NU Feb [February] 26] 
20036 [stamped image: Free]
[left side vertical handwritten: Mar [March] 4 Joshua Church NY for [illegible]]
Page 46

Jas [James] L Edwards Esq.
I herewith send an application for a new certificate in the case of Joshua Church, which you will recollect was rejected in Oct. [October] last, because the applicant did not mention in his affdvt. [affidavit] the names of the officers under whom he served. I believe according to the sheet of printed, instructions which I rec'd [received] from your office, the enclosed papers are correct. The reason of my using the blank, + [and] of the affidavits not being all taken before one officer is, [crossed out: as you] because Church lives in Ridgway where the Justice before whom he made [afft] affidavit off also resides and Church being prevented by bodily infirmity from leaving home, I was obliged to go + [and] see him. I hope the application will not be again rejected unless there is something palpably wrong, as Church is a poorman [poor man] + [and] needs the arrearages (three payments) as soon as possible for his support I am [illegible] Very Respectfully Your Humb [humble] Servt [servant] Geo. [George] F. James
Albion Feb. 27 1836
Jas [James] L Edwards Esq [Esquire] Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Page 47

State of New York Orleans County SS 
John Jay Orton of Albion in said County being duly sworn doth depose + [and] say that in October or November 1834, he this deponent as agent for the within named Joshua Church, received from the said Church a Certificate of which the following is a true copy:  War Department Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the Law of
the United States of the 7th June 1832 Joshua
Church of the State of New York, who was a
private in the Revolutionary army is entitled
to receive Forty Dollars per annum during his
natural life, commencing on the 4th of March
1831 + [and] payable semi annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year. L S. Given at the War Office of the United States this 30 day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. John Robb Acting Secretary of War. "Examined + [and] countersigned J. L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions"
that on such certificate + [and] as such Agent he obtained payment of $20, on such pension; that since that time this deponent thinks he has delivered the said Certificate to said Church but is not certain
Page 48

 + [and] if he has not it is irrecoverably lost as this deponent believes for he has made frequent and unavailing search for the same; that he is acquainted with the said Church + [and] knows him to be the identical person mentioned in the following affidavit &+ [and] who was mentioned in the original
certificate hereinbefore mentioned. And further
this deponent saith not.
Subcribed + [and] sworn this 24th day of February A.D. 1836 before me J. Jay Orton
A Hyde Cole one of the Justices of the peace of Orleans County New York
Page 49

County of Orleans SS
On this Eighteenth day of February 1836, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Orleans personally appeared Joshua Church who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Danford in the
regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcomb
in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York  that he received a certificate, of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate,
on or about the fifteenth day of September 1834 at or near Albion in said County of Orleans he this deponent delivered the said Certificate to John Jay Orton mentioned in the foregoing affidavit who obtained a payment of $20 [twenty dollars] on the same; that deponent has often called on said Orton for said certificate + [and] has always been informed by said Orton that he, Orton, had delivered it to this deponent but deponent has never seen said certificate since it went into the hands of said Orton
Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Zerah Webb Justice
Joshua Church
NOTES. -- The last four blanks are left for the applicant to set forth the time, place, and manner of the loss or destruction of the original certificate. The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be properly
authenticated.
If the Pensioner has never received a formal certificate, but has drawn his pension on a mere notification, as was the case in a few instances many years ago, he should leave out the above words in italics, and insert, in lieu thereof, "but has never received a formal certificate, and now wishes to obtain one."
The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the
deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, setting forth that the officer before whom the affidavit may be made is a Justice of the Peace, Judge or Notary Public, as the case may be.
When a person acting as an agent or Attorney for a pensioner, loses the certificate, the affidavit of that person is also required, which must be authenticated as above.
In every case where the Clerk of the Court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should be sent with the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers. -- In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a peace  of tape or small ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate
No attention will be given to applications from persons who act as agents, unless they are known at the War Department, or are vouched for as respectable persons by some one who is known to the Department.
Page 50

State of New York Orleans County SS
William James of Albion in said County being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Joshua Church mentioned in the foregoing affidavit + [and] who has signed the same, + [and] knows him to be the same person described therein, + [and] also knows
him to be the identical person mentioned in the original certificate named in the foregoing 
affidavit for deponent was Church's attorney in
procuring said certificate from the War Office
of the United States. And further this deponent
saith not   William James
Subscribed + [and] Sworn to me this  [crossed out: eighteenth] twenty fourth day of February 1836 before me A. Hyde Cole Justice of the Peace of Orleans of NY [New York] The word eighteenth erased + [and] the words "twenty fourth" made by me A. Hyde Cole Justice 
This may certify that I am acquainted with
the persons who have signed the foregoing  
affidavits + [and] know them to be persons of truth + [and] veracity Dated February 24th 1836 A. Hyde Cole Justice of Orleans for NY [New York]
Page 51

State of New York and County Clerk's Office SS
I certify that Zerah Webb Esquire before whom one of the annexed affidavits purports to have been taken, + [and] A. Hyde Cole, Esquire, before whom the other two annexed affidavits were taken +[and] the annexed certificate signed by him at the date of the same, both justices of the peace in + [and] for said County, the said Zerah Webb residing in the town of Ridgway, + [and] the said A. Hyde Cole residing in the town of Barre in said County + [and] legally authorized to take the same and that I am well acquainted with both their hand writings + [and] verily believe the signatures to the jurats of the foregoing affidavits, by them subscribed, + [and] the signature of the said A. Hyde Cole to the foregoing certificate, are genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Albion in said County this nineteenth day of February A.D. 1836 - A. B. Mills Clerk by S. E. Church Deputy
Page 52

State of Michigan County of Calhoun  SS
On this 6th day of October AD. 1855
before me a Notary Public in and for said County appeared personally Jane Church who being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that she is the identical Jane Church named in the original certificate in her possession of which the following is a true copy "Department of the Interior Widows Pension I certify that in conformity with the 2d [second] section of the act of February 3, 1853
Jane Church Widow of Joshua Church who was a private in the revolutionary war is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Forty dollars per annum, commencing on the 3d [third]
of February 1853 and continuing for life unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage
Given at the Department of the Interior this twenty eighth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty four R. McClelland Secretary of the Interior
Examined and Countersigned L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Numbered "3.937" On back of said certificate is the following endorsement "Payment to be made at Detroit by Elisha Taylor Esq. [esquire] Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Michigan Payable on the 4th [fourth] September and 4th [fourth] March Recorded in the Pension Office on the Roll of Pensioners under act February 3d [third] 1853 Page 202 Vol. [volume] A, H. R. Weightman, Clerk
Page 53

and she further deposes and says that she has received a pension in accordance with said certificate for the time since its issue and that her husband Joshua Church also received a pension for three or four years previous to his death and further this deponent saith not
Jane Church
In presence of Geo. [George] H. French  Royce Lewis
Sworn and subscribed before me this 6th [sixth] day of October A.D. 1855 Geo. [George] H French Notary Public
State of Michigan County of Calhoun S.S.
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Notary Public in and for said County Andrew
S. Church who being duly sworn accord to law
deposes + [and] says that he is the son of Joshua Church deceased, mentioned in the foregoing Pension Certificate and that the said Joshua Church held a pension certificate
for revolutionary service as above sworn to by Jane Church Andrew S. Church In presence of Edward Lewis  Geo. [George] H. French
Sworn & subscribed before me this 8th [eighth] day of October A.D. 1855 Geo. [George] H. French Notary Public
I hereby certify that the preceding copy of Pension certificate in favor of Jane Church is a true duplicate of the original one in her possession + [and] that to my knowledge she has received a pension on the same for the last year  Geo. [George] H. French Notary Public
Page 54

State of Michigan, Calhoun County Clerk's Office. SS.
I Samuel S. Lacey, Clerk of said County, do
hereby certify that George H. French, whose name is inscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Notary Public in and for said county, and sworn and duly authorized to take the same, according to
the laws of this State. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Notary and verily believe the signature to the said Certificate is genuine, and that said acknowledgment is executed according to the laws of this State. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of
said county, this [blank] day of [blank] A.D. 185
Samuel S Lacey Clerk