Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14503, Samuel Downing, N.H.
Page 1

(8-1776)  SERVICE NUMBER
N.H. Downing, Samuel W. 14503
Corser, Mary
(Former Widow)
CONTENTS
Page 2

2275
Concord N. Hamp
Mary Corser formerly widow of Saml. Downing dec. who died on July 1777 of Merrimack in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain … of the … commanded  by …in the N.H. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord NH at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1834
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Aug. 1838 and seal J.W. Kelly Salisbury N.H.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838        $560.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept.   40.00
                                                                     ————
                                                                   $ 600.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3
Recorded by illegible Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 23
Page 3

State of New Hampshire Merrimack Ss.
On this first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty eight personally appeared before me Horace Chase Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack, Mary Corser a resident of Boscawen in said County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire aged ninety three years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4.1836, and the act explanatory of said Act, passed March 3. 1837.
That she was married to Samuel Downing who was a Drummer or Private Soldier in the war of the Revolution. That in the spring of the year 1775 he left Kingston N.H., where he and his family then lived, as a volunteer and joined  the army at Winter Hill, that he continued in the service, excepting a few days he was at home on a furlough, till some time in the summer of 1777 when he died at or near  Lake Champlain, in New York of the Small Pox, that at the time of his death he was attached to the Revolutionary Army. That she has no documentary evidence of his said service, nor can she state the name of any officer under whom he served, that it is not in her power to state more particularly in relation to his service than that he was in the Army and died then as above stated. She further declared that she was married to the said Samuel Downing a number of years before the commencement of the Revolutionary War, that after she had by said Samuel Downing four children when joined the army as before stated . That she was married in Sandown in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire by the Rev Mr. Cotton, what year, month or day she does not illegible, nor can she state, That all she can state with certainty about her marriage with the said Samuel Downing is generally that she was lawfully married to him and lived with him several years before the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and that when he went into the service he left her with four small children, That her husband the aforesaid Samuel Downing died at or near Lake Champlain of the Small Pox in the summer of 1777 (crossed out) she thinks in the month of July that she was afterwards married to Thomas Corser who died in Boscawen in said County of Merrimack on the eleventh day of December
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December 1892. and that she was a widow on the 4th July 1836 and still remains a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Mary Corser
Witness 
Horace Chase
Wyatt Borden
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year written 
Before Horace Chase Judge of Probate
I certify that by reason of the infirmity and advanced age of the above named Mary Corser her aforesaid declaration was taken out of Court, at her residence in Boscawen in said County of Merrimack
Horace Chase Judge of Probate
I further certify that the aforesaid interlineations wit, “N.H.” he and his family “that at the time of his death he was “ and “she thinks in the month of July” and the unsure of the words “the month or day of the month she cannot tell were all made upon signed & sworn to.
Horace Chase Judge of Probate.
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I Thomas Carter of Kingston in the county of Rockingham, State of New Hampshire aged seventy six years, testify and say that I well knew a man by the Samuel Downing who lived in this town before the commencement of the War of the Revolution in 1775. I well know that said Downing married Mary Carter a cousin of mine that said Downing had three or four children by Mary his wife before the commencement of the War of 1775 that said Downing at the news of Lexington Battle volunteers with a number of other men from this town, and went to join the army at Winter Hill, that said Downing was at home but once on a furlough than but a few days, he then started again to join the army, that I and my Brother, went with him as far as Haverhill Massachusetts, that he never returned to his family after that the report was that he died in the service a year or two after which report I never heard contradicted, that his widow Mary Downing married Thomas Corser of Boscawen in the county of Merrimack in the State of New Hampshire, that report was that said Corser died died a few years since, that said Mary is now his Widow if living, there never was any other man who lived in this town by the name of Samuel Downing except the one above illegible to to my knowledge.  Thomas X his mark Carter
Attest, Sam Webster
Page 6

Rockingham [co?] February 28, 1838

Personally appeared Thomas Carter within [illegible] [illegible] made oath that the within affidavit by him signed by making his mark is true before me

William Badger justice of the peace

Rockingham [co?] February 28, 1838
I certify that I am well acquainted with Thomas Carter who signed the within affidavit and that his character for truth is good 

William Badger justice of the peace

[sideways] Thomas Carters [afft?]
Page 7

Rev
WIDOW, & C
File No. 145-03
Mary Corser
widow of Samuel Downing
Pri Rev War
Act: July 4th, 36
Index:  Vol. A, Page 147
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 8

Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Page 9

Salisbury, N. H. July 25th, 1830
Hon. J. L. Edwards
I forward you the declaration of Mary Corser for a pension, an account of the service of her first husband, (Samuel Downing) in the Revolutionary War.
The evidence in support of her claim has been performed at great expense of labor, although we have not able to find one person living who  (illegible) or known to have been in the same company with him, still we think the evidence where conclusively, that the Samuel Downing entered or volunteered on the 20th of April 1775 and that he remained in the service until he died in 1777-being something over two years
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The only difference in the testimony is try and to the length of time he remained at home when on furlough, but as Thomas Butman had the best means of knowing this, living in the same house with, or where Downing was, while sick and attended by Doctor Gale, there  can be no doubt that he is most correct in that particular-but all agree in the fact that he entered the service in April 1775-I Thomas Haines & Moses Sleeper knew him in the service in the summer of 1777 at war Lake Champlain and that he died there in the last (illegible).
Others knew him at Wester hill and in Bunker Hill battles.
I hope the evidence will be satisfactory and that a certificate will be issued and forwarded. 
Did with as little delay as possible, or her
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advanced age sarrequent debility, renders it very doubtful, (in the opinion of her guardian) whether she will live long enough to see the certificate, if the problem should lay over any considerable time.
If a certificate is granted please enclose it to -- Israel W. Kelly - Salisbury, N.H. or if any further communication be necessary, please advise as above.
With the utmost confidence & highest [undecipherable] I am yores abts Levuet

Israel W. Kelly

N. B. Abundance more evidence [ink smeared and cannot read words] -- way, can be provided if necessary.


Fold3 File #16455986Additional names: Israel W Kelly, Israel W Kelly. Image provided by Fold3
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3683
Mary Corser
[ferncy] Widow of Saml Dowing died
Married ____before 1775 
Died 1777

Allow $80 per annum
No deduction for 2 years
N.H. levi Militia

J W Le;;u Esq
Salisbury N.H.




Fold3 File #16455992Additional names: Saml Dowing, J W Kelley, Mary Corser. Image provided by Fold3.
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[space at top left for a stamp that you can see the edges of]

State of New Hampshire
Secretary of States Office
I hereby certify that the within named, Ezra B. Gale, William Badger, Isaac Webster and Josiah Chase are Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Rockingham, S. T. W. Sleeper, Robert Smith and John Jones are Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Grafton, William G. Webster, Isaac Dow and Israel W. Kelly are Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Merrimack are duly qualified and their signatures annexed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set the seal of the said State this twenty fifth day of July Anno Domini 1838.
Jno Whipple Depy. Secy
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Joseph Webster
John Davis afft
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I John Davis of Kingston in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire being in the eighty their year of my age, depose and say that I knew a man by the name of Samuel Downing who resided in the town of Kingston before the commencement of the Revolutionary war in 1775.  Said Downing married Mary Carter of this town and has severed children by her before the war broke out in 1775.  Said Downing and a number of other men of this town on the arrival of the news of the battle at Lexington, volunteered to join the army at winter hill.  I never saw said Downing after he went to winter hill.  The report was that he died in the service with the small pox, at or near Lake Champlain a year or two after entering the service.  Where has no other man by the name of Samuel Downing ever lived in the town of Kingston, except the one alluded to above to my knowledge.  What the said Mary the widow of the said Downing, married Thomas Courser of Bascranven in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire.  Said Courser died a number of years sence and left the said Mary his widow.
February 27, 1830.
Witness, Saml Webster

John Davis his mark X

Rockingham Js.  February 27, 1832.
Personally appeared John Davis and made oath that the above affadavit by him signed is true, before me.
Issac Webster, Justice of the Peace.
Rockingham JS.  February 27, 1832.
I certify that I am well acquainted with John Davis, who signed the above affadavit and that his character for truth is good.
Isaac Webster, Justice of the Peace.
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Joseph Webster of Kingston in the County of Rockingham & State of New Hampshire in the seventy seventh year of my age testify & say that Samuel Downing formerly of this town was an uncle of mine a brother to my mother, that he
married Mary Carter, that they were married and kept house & had four children before the War of the Revolution broke out in 1775. That I well remember that in the month of April 1775 on the alarm of Lexington battle reaching this town, the said Samuel Downing, John Polland,
Webster Davis, Greely Silloway and a number of others went as volunteers to join the army at Winter hill, that the said Samuel Downing
remained in the service of the United States as a Drummer or a Private, never having been at home but once, and then on furlough and
staid with his family one or two days, that the said Samuel Downing died in the service at Lake Champlain in the summer of 1777-
That his widow to wit Mary Downing
after the death of the said Samuel married Thomas Corser of Boscowen, County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire
that the said Thomas Corser died about eight years ago, and the said Mary is now his widow if living. There has no man of the name of Samuel Downing resided in
Kingston from before the commencement of the Revolutionary War to the present time other than the one above named, who married
Mary Carter
February 27. 1838

Witness
Sally C. Webster

Joseph Webster
his mark
Page 17

Rockingham ss. February 27, 1838
Personally appeared Joseph Webster [illegible] named and made oath that the within affadavit by him signed by making his mark is true, before me 
Isaac Webster, Justice of the Peace.

Rockingham ss. February 27, 1838
I certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Webster who signed the within affadavit and he is entitled to credit.
Isaac Webster, Justice of the Peace
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I, Thomas Butman of the [ ]field in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire (formerly of Kingston N.H.) seventy nine years old last October
depose and say that I was well acquainted with Samuel Downing formerly of said Kingston from my boyhood till the time of his death in the war of the Revolution.
I well recollect that he married Mary Carter of said Kingston, they were married went to house keeping and
had four children before the War of the Revolution broke and their childrens name were as follows to wit -
Thomas Jonathan, Richard & Mary.  I was born and brought up within one mile of where he lived in said Kingston & within three fourth of a mile of where she (the said Mary) lived before she married said Samuel. after the said Samuel Dowing died, his widow (the
said Mary) Married Thomas Corser of Bonan[  ] N. H.
In the alarm of Lexington battle reaching Kingston the said Samuel Downing turned out with many other
and went to join the army then enlisting at or near said
Lexington, Winter hill & Cambridge-- in the fall of the same year the said Samuel Downing came home on furlough (his family then lived in my Fathers house in said Kingston) was sick & was attended by Doctor Gale of said Kingston, when he had so far recovered as to witness to the
[illegible].  I heard him ask Doctor Gale for a certificate to share the reason of his over staying his furlough. The
Doctor Gale write a certificate and give it to said [illegible] said Samuel Downing then left his family to return & John the army & I never saw him afterwards, he never returned again to his family, & the report was & it was always believed that he died the service of the War of the Revolution
The reason of Samuel Downing wife & family living at my Father was this- a person in Kingston was taken with the
small pox & the [illegible] agreed with my Father to take Downings family & they put the person having the
small pox into Downings house, it being in [illegible] place. 
There was never any person by the name of Samuel Downing who resided in said Kingston, after the one above alluded to, who married Mary Carter
Thomas Butman
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State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss June 18th, 1838
Personally appeared the within names Thomas Butman, (with whom I am personally well acquainted & have been for many years past & know his character to be good & his statements within to credit), subscribed and made oath in due force of law, to the truth of the foregoing affidavit.
Before me
John Jones Jus. Peace


Thos. Butman
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Rhoda Hoyt
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I Rhoda Hoyt of Bonaven in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, eighty eight years of age in May next depose and say,
that I was born in Newtown adjoining Kingstown New Hampshire and was well acquainted with Samuel Downing of said Kingston & his wife,
whose name before she was married to the said Samuel Downing was, Mary Carter, they lived within one mile of me, that the said Downing went off from said Kingston to join the army of the Revolution & left his wife, the said Mary there or four children in a very destitute situation- there was a good deal said about it at that time, that he had enlisted during the war on for three years, & his family were helped by the neighbors, the said Samuel Downing went to
join the army about the time of the news of Lexington battle reached Kingston & Newtown & it was always said that he died in the United States
service in the war of the Revolution. After the said Downing died, his widow, the said Mary married Thomas Corser of Boscawen
aforesaid, and the said Thomas Corser died about seven years
ago, and left the aforesaid Mary Carter, who was the widow of Samuel Downing his widow, she now remains the widow of the said Thomas Corser, not having intermarried with
any person since the decease of the said Corser.
She is now living about one mile from me & should think her about one hundred years old
the words " was"-- Thomas Corser interlined before
singed & sworn to
Witness
Hudah H Whittier
[     ]W. Kelly

Rhoda Hoyt
her mark
Page 22

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County, ss. Boscowen April 5th 1838

Personally appearing the within named
Rhoda Hoyt, (who is of good reputation for truth) subscribed & made oath in due form
of care that the within affidavit was true.
Before me Israel W. Kelly Jus. Peace
Page 23

Peter Peasley
Page 24

I Peter Rosley of Hill in the County of
Grafton & State of New Hampshin eighty
ten
years of age this month depose & say that
I was born & brought Newton N. Hamp
adjoining Kingston in said N.H. within
half a mile of when Samuel Davenwas
born I brought up & within a mile
a half of where Mary Carter was born
brought up in said Kingston about
the year A.D. 1763 or 64. my father moved
from Newton to Sandover N.H. about a
year after we moved to said Sandarren,
the aforesaid Samuel Downing & Mary
Carter came from Kingston to Sandover
were joined in marriage by the Revd
Mr. Cotton, then minister of said Sandover, the said Samuel Downing & the said
Mary a his wife came to my fathers &
staid the first night after they were married
slept together. I saw them in bed together
the next morning-- they went house
keeping & had a number of children before
the war of the Revolution broke out.
I worked with the said Downing
I ate & drank at his house before the war
on the town of Lexington battle in 1775
in the month of April, the said Lieutenant
[illegible] with others, went from Kingston
+ it was always said & believed, joined the
army as a private father at Winter hill
that he was never at home after April
1775 but one & them on furlough for
a [illegible] went with the army to Ticonderoga & Mount Independence & three died
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of the small pox in the service of the Revolution in the summer of 1777
I was well acquainted in Kingston and
never knew any other man of the name of
Samuel Bowing to reside the other
then the one above mentioned-
HIs
Peter Peasler
Mark
Witness, Robert Smith
John Austin
Mark
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss. March 2d 1830
Personally appeared the above named
Peter Percy, whose character for truth
& veracity is good, subscribed on the
in due form of law that the above made oath
in  [illegible] that the above affidavit was true
Before me
Robert Smith Jr Pears
Page 26

Samuel Huse
Affidavit
Page 27

I Samuel Huse of Kingston in the State of
New Hampshire and County of Rockingham being eighty years of age, depose
and say that I know a man by the name of
Samuel Downing, and that he married
Mary Carter, they both were of the town of
Kingston, And he married her and she
had several children by him before the
year 1775. The said Downing and a number of
other men or the arrival of the news of
the battle of Lexington, Volunteered their
services to join the army at Winter Hill
in the spring of 1775 in April I think
and
not any knowledge of any other man living in
the town of Kingston by the name of
Samuel Downing at that time nor since
except the above mentioned one who mar
in the said Mary Carter,
Samuel Hage
Rockingham ss. February 26, 1838.
Personally appeared Samuel Huse and made oath
that the above affidavit by him signed is true
before me.
Isaac Webster, Justice of the Peace
Rockingham ss. February 26, 1838.
certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Huse who
signed the above affadavit and that his character for truth is good
and he is entitled to credit.
Isaac Webster Justice of the Peace.
Page 28

Certificate of Congregation
Church Kingston
Page 29

I Calvin Thayer Clerk of the congregational
Church in Kingston, County of Rockingham and
State of New Hampshire Testify and say that I have
this twenty ninth day of May A.D. 1838. examined the
Church Records of said town of Kingston and find
on Record the marriage of Thomas Corsen, and
Wd Mary Downing, but cannot find any record of
the marriage of Samuel Downing and Mary Carter
and further testify that there are but few marages
Recorded in the Church Books, from 1755
to 1777
Calvin Thayer Clerk of the Con
Church in Kingston
---
Rockingham ss. May 29th 1838
Personally appeared the above named Calvin
Thayer and made oath that the above affidavit by
him subscribed is true, before me
Ezra B. Gale Justice of the Peace
I certify that Calvin Thayer who has sworn and
subscribed the above affidavit is Clerk of the Congregational
Church in Kingston -
Ezra B. Gale Justice of the Peace
Page 30

Moses Steeper
Page 31

I John Steper of Alexandred in the County
&
of Grafton & State of New Hampshire eighty two years
old last Sept depose & testify, that in the commencement of the war of the Revolution I resided in the
town of Sandover N.H. adjoining Kingston
as well acquainted with the inhabitants of
Kingston as I was with the inhabitants of said
2
Sandover that in the month of July 1776 my
brother John Sleeper enlisted as a private in Co
Nathan Brown's company and Col Peter Long
Regt for the war of the
Revolution for the term
of our year, he was so young & all that the muster
matter would not pass him & the family were not
willing that he should go into the war and it was
concluded that should to be his place which I didwas
permitted to remain at home one month and
to go on and join the Compy & Regt at Mount independence I went on & joined the Regt some time in
the month of August 1776. when I joined the
Mount independence Samuel Downing of Kingston was then as a private soldier, it is my before the
he belonged to Col Langs Regt, but of this Tamball
positive, but that he was there as a private soldier
I am quite certain for I was frequently of duty
him, & was once on the picket guard with
placed next to him on [illegible] in the woods, and
that the old posted & Downing thought the Indian
were coming & left his post, but I received it
[cut off] 
same time in July 1777 a few days before my time
was out said Samuel Downing & myself was called
upon by the Surgeon to more some of chests [illegible] to the medical department & having opened
Page 32

a box containing small pox matter, took the decease and
I understood died he was removed from
army & died some where near the lake (Champlin)
Witness J.W. Sleeper
Beny C Slyer
His
Moses Sleeper
Mark
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County, ss. Alexandria March 2nd 1838
Personally appeared the above named Moses
Steeper who is a man of undoubted character for truth & veracity, & has been a member of the [illegible] Church for thirty seven years last part, and
whose mind is uncommonly clear & covert and
subscribed and made oath in due form of law,
that the foregoing affidavit is time-
Before me. P.S.W. Sleeper Justice Peace
Page 33

John Elliot
Page 34

I John Elliot of [illegible] in the County
of Merrimack & State of New Hampshire
eighty two years of age last May depose and
say that in April 1775 I was a soldier at
winter bill in Col Storks Regt & well known a man there as priate soldier from
by the name of Samuel Downing
I saw
him frequently & was on duty with him
in diging intrenchments &c. and saw
him in the battle of Bunkerhill and
know that he was a private, doing duty
in the army them during the same
fall of that year. I served as a private
months
them eight & know the said Downing
was then all the time that I was
the said having was from Kingston
New Hampshire
The war months was interlined before
signed & sworn to
John Elliott
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss. July 17, 1830
then personally appeared the above
named John Elliot whose [illegible]
for truth & veracity is certify is good, and
made oath in due form of law, that the
above affidavit by him subscribed is true
before in
Isaac Dow Jus. Peace
Page 35

Thomas Haines
Page 36

I Thomas Haines of Concord in the County
of Merrimack & State of New-Hampshire
aged twenty seven years last July depose and
say that I entered into the service of the U.S.
as a private in the War of the Revolution
in the year A.D. 1775. & continued in the
Avery six years from after that time, that in
joined the army at Ticonderoga in that year,
and was well well acquainted with Samuel
Downing of Kingston New Hampshire, who
was there as a private in that detachment of
the army I think he belonged to Col George
Reads Regiment let of this I am not certain,
but I am very certain that said Samuel
Downing was a soldier at Quandooga, Mont.
independence &c, and well remember that he
died of the small pox near Lake Champlain
in the month of June or July A.D. 1777. I was
often on duty with the said Downing from
the time I joined the army in 1775 untill the
time of his death in 1777 - that the said Samuel
Downing often told me that he enlisted
posed for
as he suffered for them years) but was returned
for & during the war the said Samuel Davenwas
then said to be a married man, and to have
left a wife & a number of childred in Rigston
N. Hampshire
-
Momas Harney
Merrimack ⌨ Feb 20th 1838 Personally appearing the said
Thomas Haines made oath that the above statement by
him subscribed is true
Before me
W. G. Webster Jus Peace
Page 37

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss Feby 28th 1838 I hereby certify that the
interlineation of the words "I think, and the erasure on
the sith & seven lines from the bottom of the written affidavit were made previous to said Haines signing
making oath to the same and I also certify that
1
the within named Thomas Hains is of reputable character
& standing
Wm G. Webster Jus. Peace
Page 38

Certificate of [illegible]
Clerk of [illegible]
Page 39

I Josiah Host Town Clerk of the town of
Sandover, County of Rockingham and State of
New Hampshire, testify and say that I have this
thirty first day of May AD 1838, examined the records
of said town of Sandover and that I can not
find a record the marriage of Samuel Downing
and Mary Carter. and further testify that the
are but very few marriages recorded in said
town of Sandover to
Josiah Hoit Town Clerk
of the town of Sandover
Rockingham ss. May 31st 1838
Personally appeared the above named Josial
Hoit and made oath that this affidavit by
him subscribed is true before me
Josiah Chase Justice of the Peace
I certify that Josiah Cort who has sworn
and subscribed the above affidavit is the Town
Clerk of Sundown legally sworn as appears
by the records of said town.
Justice of the Peace
Josiah Church
Page 40

Certificate of Town
Clerk of Kingston
Page 41

I Samuel Webster Town Clerk of the town of
Kingston, County of Rockingham and State of
New Hampshire, testify that I have on this
twenty eighth day of May AD. 1838, examined
the Records of said town of Kingston and that
I can not find on record the marriage of
Samuel Downing and Mary Carter in the
town records of the town of Kingston. And further
testify that the records of marriages up to the year
1777 are very imperfect and not but few on record.
on said town records
Samuel Webster Town Clerk
of the town of Kingston
Rockingham ss. May 28, 1838
Personally appeared the above named Samuel Webster
and made oath that this affidavit by him subscribed
is true before me
William Bader Justice of the Peace.
I certify that Samuel Webster who has sworn
and subscribed the above affidavit is the same
Clerk
of Kingston legally sworn
William Badger Justice of the Peace,
Page 42

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County
the subscriber Register of the Court
of Probate for said County of Merrimack hereby
certifies and attests that Horace Chase, Esquire,
is Judge of Probate for said County of Merrimack
that full faith and confidence may and ought
to be given to his acts as such, and that his sign
to the declaration hereto annexed is his gamine
signature-
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
00
the seal of said Court of Probate this
fifth day of April, in the year of
one Lord one thousand eight him
dred and thirty eight
H.B. Chase,
Register of the Court of
Probate for the County
of Merrimack
[seal affixed]