Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,264, for Pierce Powers, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Navy (N.H.)

Powers, Pierce
Furber, Mary (former widow)

NUMBER
W.24264

CONTENTS
Page 2

4588
New Hampshire
Mary Furber for'y widow of Pierce Powers who died on the 29th June 1780 of Stafford in the State of NH. who was a midshipman in the Ship Ranger commanded by Captain J. Paul Jones of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Revolution for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth at the rate of 144 Dollars [blank} Cents per annum, to commence of the 4th day of March ,1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of July 1848 and sent to Richard Russell

Arrears to the 4th of Present
Semi-annual allowance ending [blank]
Payable to John W. Furber Guardian for sole use and benefit of said Mary Furber.
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 183 Section the 3
Recorded by Tho Lumpkin
Book C Vol 1 Page 26

Reported
Page 3

May parents by 
Asenetty Mr 
John Wingate born
Dover May the 5th 1730 Departed this life March the 15 1776
Elizabeth Wingate born loved January the 5th 1727
Page 4

the age of my parents by afenity
Mr John Wingate 
Born Dover May the 5th 1720 Old Stiel Departed this Life March the 15th 1776 New Stiel

Elizabeth Wingate born Dover January the 5 1727 Old Stiel and Departed this life December 8th 1811 New Stiel
Page 5

Betsey Furber has married to Doctor [illegible] March 15th 1826

John W Furber moved from Gilmatown March 14th 1826 to my house in Farmington

Pierce P Furber moved his Famley [isc] from Farmington to Dover in the state of Main in May 17th 1827
Received his first letter 4 day of June 1827 the second and third 20 of Augest  [sic] 1827

Richard Furber Jun Born Newington September the 20th  1753 on Thursday

Alice Furber Born Newington May the 13 1756 on Thursday

Newington June 18: 1780 on Sunday morning Nine Clock we was married

Rochester October 4: 1780 When we moved on our farm from [illegible]

Alice Colman Furber born May Thursday the 10 1781 at two Clock in the after noon

Alice Furber my first wife departed this life May the 28d 1781 Monday morning Break of the day
Page 6

Mac briary October
Thursday 12d 1786
Six flock in the afternoon I was married to Marry Powers who is my second wife and her second husband
Pierce Powers born Dover 1756 and departed this life June 29 1780 at Boston
Mary Wingate born June the 26 1756
Macbury Sunday after married Powers
Rochester October 31 1780 when moved my life from Macbury on to our farm in Rochester
Richard Furber born June the 11 1787 
Monday morning to [illegible] and departed this life March the 3d Monday morning one flok with the Sunday
Perice Furber born Wedsday August 20th 1788 eight o clock in the afternoon
Richard Furber third child born Apriel the 3 1790 on Satday at one clock in the morning Departed this life July the 18 1790 on Sunday after noon 5 clock with the Bloodey pirgen
Elisabeth Furben
born May Sunday [illegible] 1791 two clock in the morning
Page 7

John Furber born Apriel Tusday the 3d five in the afternoon 1798
richd Furber Jener born September the 6d 1725 & departed this life on Sunday half past seven in the morning on the 8 day of March 1807 aged 81 years six months or their about
Elizabeth Furber born Livington May the 2d 1728 and
departed this life September the 12d 1793
Aged 64 years eight months and 20 days the cause of her death was by the prick of a fork in her [illegible]
Temprance Furber born Otober 5d 1741 at Portsmouth which is the second wife of Richard Furber Tener
Page 8

April 1796 when I raise & our new [illegible] and mooved into it in October 17976
The town of Farmington was incorporate the 13 of December AD 1798
at Concord by my undertaking the pensions
Siter a[illegible] killed by the Litting [lightning?] in my field June the 13d 1799 Aged about 21 years

Elizabeth MeCrillan departed this life December the 20th 1832 and has five children [illegible] by her side the oldest about four years eight or nine months old

She was the wife of Foster McCrilles
Page 9

Pierce Furber married to Methable Furber October 12 1811
and mooved her hom November 28 1811
the ages of P Furbers children
May W Furber born September 11th 1812
Tosehk M Furber born Aug 29 1814
Thedore Furber born March 15th 1817
Samuel W. Furber born May 2th 1819
Olive W. Furber born January 21th 1822
Richard Furber born December 20th 1822
Methebal Furber born Dover December 24th 1827 in the state of Main
Page 10

John F. Timber born
September1830
Richard Furber
Departed this life
Febuary 6th 1832
had been living
with his Gaind
parents about 16 moth
his father com after
him but he was buried
two days before he
got to Farmington
this was the first
him
he returned
after he moved to
over which was all
most five years
[illegible]
 Thurber
and wife come
not as the first
him shee fom to
us after they
moved to the Est
at heir in in
October 20 day
and stayed all the
2d of November
Page 11

[illegible] Joseph Adams of Livington Departed this life May 28 178[illegible] the 35 years his age
Deacon Benjamin Adams Esqr of Livington Departed this life March 24th 1803 in the 75 of his age
Page 12

September 1811 their was a blazing Star rose at first in the East and got in the northeast but keept moving to the right the light was seen for three month or more

September 23th 1815 When their was a Hurricain from the provicance of Main to Providence and to the State of Vermount which distroed a Saint number of shipping orchards groths of all kinds farmer blown down a vast number of buildens and a great number of lives both of men woman & cattel said winds was from the south east
Page 13

May the 19d 1780 There was a [illegible] Darkness over all North America for 24 howers [sic]

October 22d 1785 When there wase [sic] a Delouge [sic] of Waters over this land or a preachett uncommon

July the 5d 1803 when Farmington Meeting House was raised

October the 9d 1804 when there was a snow storm said to be one feet deep in [illegible] [illegible] attended with Thunder & litting [sic] to a great degree and a uncommon [illegible] and did a great deal of dammage by Sieg's land
Said snow said to be four feet in the State of Vermont

December 26 1802 when their was a conflagration by fier [sic] Portsmouth

December 24 1806 when their was another fier in Portsmouth

December 22 1813 their was the gaties fier in Portsmouth that ever was known consumed about three hundred buildens

January 12 1814 another fier burnt the Borwalk

January the 19 & 20 1810 was a colder tiem of wather ever knows and the hight wind blowed down many buildens on brought many more and many people parished [sic] and were frozen

June the first 1811 when their was a great fier [illegible] as ever was known in thie countary in Newbury Port consumed near three hundred bualdins of all kinds
Page 14

yr AD
Rochester May the 14d 1784 when Theodor Furber returned from London and was gone eight years and ten months

May the 10th 1790 when Cat Thodour Furber wife Mary Departed this life at Saint Johns; On bord [sic] the Ship Thomas

December 8-9th 1839 2 1/2 of snow fell in 36 hours
Page 15

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE

I Josiah Stevens, Jr. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that John L Whitehouse is an acting Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Strafford duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the fourth day of July 1841 and will expire when the said Whitehouse shall have attained to the age of seventy years and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this third day of [illegible] 1842
Josiah Stevens Jr Secretary of State
Page 16

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford ss
Farmington April 7th 1842

On this seventh day of April A.D. 1842 personally appeared before George L Whitehouse a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County and State, Mary Furber a Resident in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged eighty five 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 the July 4th 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed March 3d 1837. That she was married to Pierce Powers of Dover in said County and State. Who was a midshipman on board the Continental Ship of War Ranger Commanded by Captains John Paul Jones and Thomas Simpson and that the said Pierce Powers served as midshipman on board said Ranger from October 1777 to May 1780 inclusion. That in March 1778 the said Pierce Powers had his right arm shot off in an engagement with the Enemy. She further declares that she was married to the said Pierce Powers in Dover on the twenty fifth day of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine and that her said Husband the Pierce Powers died in Boston on his way home from Charleston South Carolina, where he had been take prisoner by the enemy. On the 29th day of June 1780 of yellow Fever, and that she was afterwards married to Richard Furber on the 12th day of September 1786 with whom she is now living and that she was not the mother of any child or children by the said Pierce Powers and that she has two children now living by the said Richard Furber
Mary Furber
In presence of
Richard Russell
John W Furber
Page 17

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. April 7 1842 The within named Mary Furber being unable from bodily infirmity to attend Court, appeared at Farmington in said County and after due caution and careful examination being first duly sworn made and subscribed the within declaration before me
George L Whitehouse Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Strafford
Page 18

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

I Josiah Stevens, Jr. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Richard Russell is an acting Justice of the Peace & Harmony in and for the State of N.H. duly Commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 21st day of May 1839 and will expire on the 21st day of May 1844 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this third day of May 1842
Josiah Stevens Jr
Secretary of State
Page 19

I George Piper of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire testify and say I am Clerk of said Dover and that I have in my possession the records of said town of Dover, and that I find recorded on said records under the head of Marriages by the Rev. Jeremy Belknap minister of Dover the following
"A.D. Seventeen hundred and seventy nine Oct twenty fifth Pierce Powers & Mary Wingate"

and I certify the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair and legible figures as follows
"A.D> 1779 Oct 25."

I George Piper above named depose and say I hold the office of Clerk in the town of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me.
Dated at Dover aforesaid this thirty first day of March A.D. 1842
Geo Piper Clerk of the town of Dorset

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
Dover March 31 1842
Then personally appeared the above named George Piper & made oath that the foregoing extract & cerificate by him signed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 20

I Meribah Maine of Rochester in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire seventy years old depose and say that I was personally acquainted with Mary Powers widow of Pierce Powers about the time the Revolutionary war closed and that she afterwards married with Richard Furber there of this town & now Farmington and that they are now living together in said Farmington to the best of my knowledge & belief
Meribah Main

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
Rochester April 9 1842 Then personally appeared the above named Meribah Main a credible person to me known and made oath that the above affidavit by her signed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 21

I James Chesley of Rochester in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire ninety two years old depose & say that a few years after the close of the Revolutionary War I attended the wedding of Richard Furber and Mary Powers, widow of Pierce Powers, in the Town of Madbury in said County and State and that the said Richard Thurber and the said Mary his wife who was the said widow of Pierce Powers have lived in Farmington ever since said marriage and are now living to the best of my knowledge & belief 
James Chesley X his mark
Attest
James Horn
Mary Horn

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
Rochester April 12th 1842
Then personally appeared the above named James Chesley a credible & intelligent man and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 22

I, Ezra Green of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire ninety five years old depose and say that in 1777 I entered as surgeon on board the Continental Sloop of War Ranger. John Paul Jones Commander and sailed in October of the same year and continued as Surgeon onboard said Ranger untill 1780. that I was acquainted with Pierce Powers, who was a midshipman onboard the said Ranger during the above mentioned time from October 1777 to 1780 and that in the month of March 1778 the Ranger Captured the English Sloop of War Drake in the Irish Channel and that the said Pierce Powers had his right hand shot off and I amputated his arm above the elbow. The Ranger returned to Portsmouth New Hampshire in the fall of 1778 under the command of Captain Thomas Simpson & he continued her commander untill she was taken at Charleston South Carolina and that I understood that the said Pierce Powers died in Boston on his way home from Charleston after the said Ranger was taken.
Ezra Green

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
Dover March 31 1842
Then personally appeared the above named Ezra Green a reputable man and made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 23

July 14 /48

Mrs Mary Furber
Arres

Richard Russell
Somersworth
N.H.
Page 24

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
Strafford County ss.
I, Enoch Berry Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Strafford, hereby certify that, on the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight, John W Furber was duly appointed by the Judge of said Court Guardian of the Person and Estate of Mary Furber of Farmington in said County of Strafford an Insecure person and gave bond, to the acceptance of said Judge, for the faithful performance of said trust according to law.
I do further certify, that it appears by the records and files in the Probate Office of said County of Strafford, that said appointment still remains in full force, and, in no wise, revoked, reversed or annulled.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at the Probate Office aforesaid this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
Enoch Berry
Register of Probate for said County of Strafford
Page 25

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the Act of the 4th July 1836 and of the first section of the Act of 3d March 1837.

State of New Hampshire
County of Stafford ss

On this fifth day of July 1848 personally appeared before the Court of Probate holden in Manchester in and for said County John W Furber of Farmington in said County, Guardian of Widow Mary Furber of said Farmington. Aged fifty years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath in open Court 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 the said Mary Furber was married to Pierce Powers of Dover in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire who was a Midshipman at that time and belonged to the Continental Sloop of War Ranger commanded by Captain John Paul Jones on her first cruis and afterward by Captain Thomas Simpson. That he commenced serving on board said Ranger in October 1777 and continued to serve on board said Ranger untill May 1780 at which time the Ranger was Captured of Charleston South Carolina by the British Navy that he was a midshipman all that time. That in April 1778, the Ranger Captured
Page 26

the English Sloop of War Drake and the said Pierce Powers lost his right arm in the engagement. 

He further declares that he has no documentary evidence of the services of the said Pierce Powers in his possession. That in 1842 the said Mary Furber presented a Petition to the Honl Senate of the United States, praying for a Pension on the account of the services of the said Pierce Powers. together with the evidence of the service of the said Pierce Powers and her marriage with him. Which he prays may be used in this, her claim, the deponents being dead.

He further declares that the said Mary Furber was married to the said Pierce Powers of Dover on the twenty fifth day of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine and that her Husband the said Pierce Powers died on Boston Massachusetts on the 29th day of June 1780 of yellow Fever. on his way home from Charleston S.C. where he had been taken prisoner. That she the said Mary Furber was afterwards married to Richard Furber on the 12th day of September 1786 and that he the said Richard Furber died on the 14th day of March 1848

And that the said Mary Furber is now living and is a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
The words "on his oath" inserted before signing.
John W Furber

Subscribed & sworn to the day &  year first above written before me
C W Woodman Judge of Probate
Page 27

State of New Hampshire
Stafford ss.
I Enoch Berry Register of Probate for said County of Stafford hereby certify that C. W. Woodman is a Judge of Probate within and for said County of Stafford and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is Genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate this Eighth day of July A.D. 1848

Enoch Berry Register of Probate for said County of Stafford
Page 28

No 13617
Mary Furber
N. H.
Let to Hon J. P. Hale
May 12th 1848

Act 7 July 1838
Page 29

Revy Widow &C
File No 24264
Mary Furber formerly wid of Pierce Powers
Midship rev

Act July 4th 1836
Index: Vol A, Page 259
(Arrangement of 1870)
Page 30

(SENATE)
(32)
27th Congress,
3d Session.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

January 6, 1843
Mr. Bates made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Mary Furber, report:
The first husband of the petitioner was a midshipman in the naval service of the United States in the war of the Revolution. He served on board the Ranger, under the command of John Paul Jones, and died in 1780. The petitioner seeks to obtain a pension under the act of July 4, 1836, and the explanatory act of March 3, 1837. She has a second husband now living. 
Therefore,
Resolved, That the prayer of her petition ought not to be granted.
Thomas Allen, print.
Page 31

I Daniel Fowler of Barrington in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire aged eighty five years depose and say that in 1780 I engaged to labor for John Wingate of Madbury in said County & State on his Farm and commenced work in June 1780 & worked for him three. When I began with him and while I was with him, his Sister Molly alias Mary Powers lived in the same house with the same John Wingate.

Not long before I commenced work with Mr Wingate he and his sister Mary Powers had been to Boston on account of the sickness of Mr Powers and when they came back they said that Powers was dead. There were military clothes hanging in my chamber at Wingates which had belonged to Powers I was informed. The widow Powers had good to sell while I understood fell to him said Powers from Prizes which he had been engaged in capturing from the enemy, among the [illegible] were [illegible] & tea. Mrs Powers remained a widow a few years & then it was said married Richard Thurber a man with whom I had some acquaintance and I saw his death in the newspaper about three months ago. My father and John Wingate lived one & a half mile from each other at the time above mentioned
Daniel Fowler
The widow Powers [illegible] before spring
Attest Richard Russell
Page 32

State of New Hampshire
Stafford County ss
June 12 1848
Then personally appeared the within named Daniel Fowler and makes oath that the within affidavit by him signed is true Before me
Richard Russell Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that I have been personally acquainted with the within named Daniel Fowler for the last twenty five years & know him to be a man of truth and of uncommon memory
Richard Russell

Washington City D C July 14 1848 I hereby certify that Richard Russell of Rochester N H is a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum throughout said state that his commission is dated the 20th day May 1844 and expires in five years from said date. that the signature of the above affidavit he has this day personal informed me is his & that it was placed there the day of the date of said affidavit
James H Johnson
MC of N.H.
Page 33

Dr Russell
Hon J L Edwards
Mrs Mary Furber
Dr Russell
July 9 / 46
Page 34

Concord NH
November 28 1842
Dear Sir
I take the liberty to inclose to you the memorial of Mrs Mary Furber with the evidence om which she asked that a pension may be granted. I think she makes out a strong case in equity and I hope you will consider it a strong appear to the justice of the County.

Will you have the courtesy to present the memorial and examine the papers
With much respect
My friend & servant
Frank Pierce

Hon Isaac C Bates
U.S. Senate
Page 35

J L Edwards
Pension Agent
May 6 1848
Page 36

Pension Office
May 12th 1848

Sir, 
I have the honor to return, herewith, Mr Russell's letter and to inform you that the papers in the case of Mary Furber, widow of Pierce Powers, have been examined and filed under the Act of 7th July, 1838.

Mrs Furber's declaration is defective. The regulations require, where claimants from mental infirmity are incapable of making their declaration themselves, a guardian, or Committee shall be appointed by a Court of record and authorized to assert their claims for them. It does not appear that Mrs Furber's son was authorized to make a declaration in her case, and it will be necessary before an adjustment of her claim can be made satisfactorily that this rule be complied with.

The papers now presented furnish no evidence of the rank or of the service of Powers; and, as it appears from the letter of Mr Russell
Page 37

that proof of the marriage of claimant with her first husband is to be found upon the records of the Church in Dover the entries in the book which accompanied the declaration in this case, being a private paper cannon be received as evidence upon this point.

It does not appear that the rolls or the Log book of the Ranger is now in this Office and we know of no evidence at our command going to establish the service of Powers as a Midshipman on board the Ranger.

The papers now on the files in the Senate, upon which the report of the 6th January 1845*, by *3 the Committee of Pensions of the 3d session of the 27th Congress in favor of Mrs Furber was made may possibly, if transferred to this Office furnish evidence both of the service of her husband and also of the date of their marriage.

I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
J L Edwards

Hon John P Hale
House of Represtatives
Page 38

Evidence in the case of Mary Furber, widow of Pierce Powers for a Pension
By Richard Russell
Somersworth N.H
July 17 1848

Mr Arne
Page 39

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
To all whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
I Certify, that the paper hereunto attached is a true extract from a paper on file in this Department among the papers of the Continental Congress which appears to be a copy of a letter from Commodore John Paul Jones dated May 27 1778, transcribed from & carefully collated with said paper.

In testimony whereof, I, James Buchanan, Secretary of State, of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Seal of the Department of State to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington, this seventeenth day of July A.D. 1848 and of the Independence of the United States of America the seventy third
James Buchanan
Page 40

Brest May 27 1778
"I lost only Lieutenant Wallingford and one seaman (John Dougal) killed and six wounded among whom are the gunner (Mr Falls) and Mr Powers a midshipman who lost his arm. One of the wounded "Nathl Wills is since dead. the rest will recover"
Page 41

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled

Your Petitioner begs leave humbly to represent that Pierce Powers of Dover in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire entered on board the Continental ship of War Ranger as a midshipman in 1777 and sailed from Portsmouth N.H. in October of the same year under the command of Captain John Paul Jones and that in March 1778 he had his right arm shot off in an action with the English Sloop of War Drake and that he continued to serve as midshipman on board said Ranger Captain Thomas Simpson commander untill the 12th day of May 1780 at which time he was taken prisoner at Charleston South Carolina. That your Petitioner was married to the said Pierce Powers on the 25th day of October 1779 and that in June 1780 your Petitioner was informed that her Husband was dangerously sick of Yellow Fever in Boston and that she immediately set out on horse back, there being no other mode of travelling at that early day and rode to Boston, it being eighty miles distance and when she arrived in Boston her husband the said Pierce Powers ad been dead two days and was buried.

Your Petitioner is now in the eighty sixth year of her age. infirm and passed all labor as also is her aged or Husband with whom she now lives.

Therefore your aged Petitioner would humbly ask that her case and condition may be taken under your consideration and that you may bestow upon her the benefit of the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836 and the explanatory Act of Congress passed March 3, 1837 granting half pay
Page 42

[illegible] Pensions to widows. Notwithstanding that she was not a widow at the time said acts were passed

Her Husband having served his country against the common Enemy for more that 30 months having lost his right arm in the early part of his service, having been made a prisoner in an unhealthy climate and having contracted a fatal disease to which he fell an early victim.

All which is respectfully submitted and as in duty bound will now pray.
Mary Furber
Page 43

No 7129
Mary Furber formerly wd of Pierce Powers
NH
Act 4 July 1836

Married 1779
husband died 1780
second husb died 1848

admd 2 years midshipman
$144.00 per an
Com 4 March 1831
Payable to John W Furber
Guardian

Richard Russell Eq
Present

13617
Mary Furber frmlly
widow of Pierce Powers
NH
Act 7 July 1838
Page 44

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the third section of the act of 4th July 1836 of the first section of the act of 3d March 1837

State of New Hampshire
County of Stafford ss
On this fourth day of April 1848 personally appeared before me Charles W Woodman Judge of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire John W Furber, a resident of Farmington in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire aged fifty years. Who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his 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. He the said John W Furber being the son of Mary Furber of Farmington in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire aged ninety two years whose mental faculties are destroyed by her age
He therefore declares that his mother the said Mary Furber was married to Pierce Powers of Dover in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire who was at the time of said marriage a Midshipman and belonged to the Continental Sloop of War Ranger Commanded by Captain John Paul Jones on her first cruis [sic] beginning in October 1777 and afterwards by Captain Simpson from the time Captain Jones left the Ranger in France in the fall of the year 1778 to May 1780 at which time
Page 45

The Ranger was captured off Charleston South Carolina by the British Navy the said Pierce Powers had served as a Midshipmen on board the said Ranger from October 1777 to May 1780 inclusive when he was take a prisoner by the enemy. That in March or April 1778 the Ranger Captured the English Sloop of War Drake and the said Pierce Powers lost his arm in the engagement.

He further declares that he has no documentary evidence of the service of the said Pierce Powers. That in 1842 his mother the said Mary Furber presented a Petition to the Hon'l Senate of the United States praying for a pension on the account of the services of the said Pierce Powers together with the evidence of the service of Pierce Powers and her marriage with him which he prays may be used to support this declaration, the evidence supposed to be on file in the Senate Records, and the deponant Doctor Ezra Green surgeon of said Ranger being dead

He further declares that his mother the said Mary Furber was married to the said Pierce Powers in Dover on the twenty fifth day of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine and that her Husband the said Pierce Powers died in Boston on the 29th day of June 1780 o yellow Fever on his way home from Charleston South Carolina where he had been taken prisoner.

That she was afterwards married to Richard Furber on the 12th day of September 1786 and that he the said Richard Furber died on the 14th day of March 1848 and that she is now a widow.
John W Furber
Page 46

Sworn and subscribed to in open Court now sitting on the day & year above written and I hereby certify that satisfactory evidence hath been adduced to prove that the above named Mary Furber is rendered incapacitated by mental infirmity to make a declaration and that the above named John W Furber is the reputed son of the said Mary Furber and that said Richard Furber died on the 14th day of March last, and that said Mary Furber is still living and is a widow
C.W. Woodman
Judge of Probate

I certify that John W Furber aforesaid is personally known to me & his statements are entitled to credit.
CW Woodman Judge Probate

State of New Hampshire
Stafford ss
Probate Office for the said County of Stafford April 5th A.D. 1848. I Enoch Berry Register of Probate for said County hereby Certify that Charles W Woodman is Judge of Probate for said County duly Commissioned and qualified, and that the above signature purporting to be his is true and Genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this fifth day of April A.D. 1848.
Page 47

State of New Hampshire Stafford ss
At the house of John W Furber of Farmington in said County personally appeared before me George L. Whitehouse one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County Mary Furber widow of Richard Furber late of said Farmington deceased; and from a careful examination of the said Mary Furber I am satisfied that from mental infirmity the said Mary Furber is incapable of making a declaration at the present time to avail herself of the benefits of the law granting Pensions to widows of deceased Revolutionary Soldiers.
March 20, 1848
G L Whitehouse

State of New Hampshire
Stafford County ss
On this fourth day of April 1848 personally appeared the above named George L Whitehouse and made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 48

The State of New Hampshire
Stafford ss. Court of Common Pleas
Clerk's Office
I John H. Smith, clerk of said Court hereby certify George L Whitehouse is one of the Judges of said court within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified and that the within signature purporting to be his, is true and genuine.

And I further certify that Richard Russell is a Justice of the Peace throughout the said State, duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission is dated May 20th 1844 and will expire May 19th 1849 and that the within signature purporting to be his, is true and genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 4th day of April 1848.
John H Smith, Clerk