Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 44506, for James Laighton, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3-1776)    
Service                                        Number
Navy       Laighton, James         S. 44506
NH          Leighton
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                                        9603
                       New Hampshire

James Leighton,
of Durham, in the state of N:Hamps.
who was a mariner
onboard of the ship Ranger, Capt. J. Paul Jones
for the term of one year   NH

described on the Roll of New Hampshire
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on 3rd of April, 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 19 of April '19
and sent to Daniel M. Durell,
judge, Dover, N. Hampshire

Arrears to 4th of March, 1819 ...     88.50
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4. Sept.       48 "
 10 mo.  28/30                  1819  $ 136.50
& 4/31
            Revolutionary claim,
            Act 18th March, 1818.
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Notification sent to a Peace Esquire
Dover, N.H. July 19, 1820
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INVALID

Navy
File No. 44506
James Leighton
Mariner
Ship Ranger
Revolutionary
---
Act March 18. 1818
Index: Vol.  Page
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Durham, NH
James Leighton
Mariner
Ship Ranger
Capt. J. P. Jones
1 year
---
3d April, 1818.
Wanting the judges certificate
of the
reduced circumstances
of the applicant.

Adm C
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State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. on the third day of April 1818 before me the sub
scriber Chief Justice of the Court of Common
Pleas for the first district in said State personally appeared
James Leighton, aged sixty Eight years, resident in Durham
in the County of Strafford in said district, who being by me
duly sworn according to Law did, on his oath, make the following
declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late
act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the land and naval service of the United States
in the revolutionary war. That he the said James Leighton
some time in August or September 1777 entered the said service
as a mariner on board the Continental ship Ranger of twenty
guns, then lying in the harbour of Portsmouth New
Hampshire, and commanded by Capt John Paul Jones. That
early in November of the same year he sailed from said
Portsmouth in the said Ship Ranger upon a cruise against the
common enemy, that the said ship, on that cruise went to
France, cruised in St. Georges channel, made a descent upon
the coast of Scotland and among other prizes, captured the
British Sloop of War Drake and returned again to France
when Capt Jones left her and that he the said James Leighton
returned to said Portsmouth, in the said Ship Ranger then
commanded by Capt. Thomas Simpson sometime in the autumn
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Autumn of 1778 when and where he was discharged after an absence of one year, during all which time he continued to
serve on board said Ship Ranger in the service of the United States
And that he had previously enlisted into said service
as a soldier in June 1775 in the company commanded by Capt.
Winborn Adams of the New Hampshire Regiment commanded
by Col. Enoch Poor and that he continued to serve in the
said corps in the service of the United States in the American
army before Boston from June 1775 until April 1776 when
he was discharged from said service in Boston State of
Massachusetts And that he is in reduced circumstances and
stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support.
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid
I, Daniel M. Durell, Chief Justice of the Courts of
Common Pleas for the first district in the State of New Hampshire
as aforesaid do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction,
that the said James Leighton did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration, against the
common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress
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In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand, and caused the seal
of said Court for the County of
Strafford in said district, to be
affixed to the same, this 17th
day of April  A.D. 1818.
        D.M. Durell

Attests Dan Waldrone Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas for said
County of Strafford

---
State of New Hampshire
 First (UNKNOWN) district of March 31. 1819
 I D.M. Durell Chief Justice of the Courts
Common Pleas for the district aforesaid do
certify that it has been made to appear to my
tisfaction that James Leighton who made the
foregoing declaration, is in reduced circumstances
and in need of the assistance of his country
for support
D.M. Durell
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I John Ricker of Somersworth
in the County
of Strafford & State of
New Hampshire depose & say that I sailed in the 
continental Ship of war Ranger, as sergeant of marines upon the
within mentioned here, & do know that the within
named James Leighton sailed in and served on board
the said ship, upon premise, as stated in his
declaration hereto prefixed
John Ricker

State of New Hampshire
Strafford (UKNOWN). June 27, 1818 Then John Ricker made
all that the above Deposition by him signed
is just true before me
D.M. Durell Justice Peace
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James Laighton

9603

Sept. 1819







Not Entitled
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Tto the Justices of the Court of Common Plea sitting at Dover within and for the County of Strafford
and State of New-Hampshire, on the first Tuesday of July, 1820.
James Laighton aged Seventy, resident in Durham in said County, comes
into court, and in pursuance of an act of Congress passed on the 1st day of May, 1820, brings with him, and in his
proper person exhibits to said Court a Schedule by him subscribed, containing his whole Estate and Income - his
necessary clothing and bedding excepted - as follows: --
1 Clock 10 Common Chairs, tables, 1 old Looking Glass
1 old Dork 2 tables, 1 Look, Glass, 1 Stand, 1 Bureau
12 chairs, 10 table Chest of Drawers, 3 Chairs
1 horse 6 cows, & Oxen 22 Sheep, 4 Goats, 4 Steers
9 heifers, 1 old Chaise Cart 4 wheels, (UNKNOWN)
about Eleven acres of land in Durham aforesaid
with a house and out buildings thereon
Also 111 acres of land situate in the back part of Durham
my wife is entitled to an annual income of about
$30 per annum from about 35 acres of land in Durham
the property of her first husband
and I am indebted to sundry persons in the
sum of not less than 564 Dollars
And the said James Laighton

And the said James Laighton in pursuance as aforesaid produceth to said Court the following oath by him duly taken and subscribed :--viz.

I James Laighton do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my
property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act
of Congress, entitled ""an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States
in the revolutionary war,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in
trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained
in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
       James Laighton

     And the said James Laighton  doth here in Court further declare on oath, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows, viz.
he entered the service in June 1775 in the Company
of Capt. Winborn Adams in Col Poors Reg. in the New Hampshire
line and served therein seven months, - after which
he again entered said Company for one year and was
regularly discharged
he entered on Board the United States Ship Ranger
in 1777 under Capt John Paul Jones and served on
board said ship in the capacity of or sailor for a
term of more than one year
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That the date of his original declaration in order to obtain a pension is 3 April 1818 and the number of his pension certificate is 9603
That his occupation is that of a Laborer but not
able to perform any labour whatever that the number and names of
his family residing with him, and their ages and capacities to contribute to their support, are as follows, viz.
his wife aged 40 years out of health -
Daughter Dorothy aged 25 years
son Ebenezer aged 23 years out of health -
Daughter Hannah aged 14 years as assistance
Daughter Susanna aged 8 years need assistance

Wherefore he prays the opinion of the said Court as to the value of the property contained in the said schedule,
and that the same, together with a copy of the premises be duly certified to the Secretary of War.
Sworn and declared before the said court the Sixth day of July 1820.
James Laighton
Attest A. Peirce, Clk.

STATE OF NEW IMPSHIRE. STRAFFORD SS.
AT a Court of Common Pleas holden at Dover
within and for the county of Strafford and state of
New-Hampshire, on the 6th day of July 1820 before

     DANIEL M. DURELL, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
     VALENTINE Smith, Associate Justice of said Court.

The aforesaid schedule and oath and the above declaration duly subscribed and sworn by the said James Laighton
having been by him exhibited in person, and presented to the Court, and the same being seen and considered, it is the opinion of said Court that the value of the property contained in said schedule is fourteen hundred
dollars twenty five cents for the Court order that of the other
proceedings thereon be duly certified to the Secretary of War.
$1462 property
annual income from wife 30 Dollars
Attest A. Peirce, Clerk.
Debts owing $1564-

STATE OF NEWHAMPSHIRE. STRAFFORD SS.
I. ANDREW PEIRCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the
County of Strafford, being a court of record, do certify that the foregoing schedule and oath, and the declaration annexed, with the proceedings and opinion of the court thereon are true copies from the Records and files of said court.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
said Court, the 6th day of July 1820
A. Peirce, Clerk.