Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 18319, Eli Bickford, N. H.
Page 1

(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE 
N. H. 

CONTENTS 

Bickford, Eli 

NUMBER 
S 18319 
B.L. Wt 5455-160-55. 
carded ok
Page 2

No. 18471 
Vermont 

Eli Bickford 
of Caledonia Co. in the State of Vermont 
who was a Private in the company commanded 
by Captain Adams of the Regt commanded 
by Col. Poor in the N. Hamp. Troops 
for 10 months 

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont 
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Sept. 1833 and sent to Amos Paul 
Danville Vt.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 83.33 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 1834 16.66 [total]    $99.99 

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 53
Page 3

No. 5031 

Eli Bickford 

Declaration

(Pension Office)
July 23, 1832
Page 4

State of Vermont 
District & County of Caledonia } ss
On this 16th day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared 
in open Court before the Hon Benj. F Deming Judge of 
the Probate Court for the District of Caledonia aforesaid 
now sitting Eli Bickford a resident of Danville in the 
District and County aforesaid aged seventy seven years who 
being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath 
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit 
of of [sic] the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. 

That he entered the service of the United States under 
the following named officers and served as herein stated 

That at Durham in the State of New Hampshire about the first of June 1775 he enlisted in the New Hampshire troops 
for the term of seven months in the Company of Capt Adam 
L. Griffin in the Regt of Col Poor. Lt Col. McDuffie 
Maj. Cilley - marched to and was stationed at Winterhill 
near Boston marched immediately after, Bunker hill battle 
remained at said Winterhill until the first of Jany 1776 
when he was discharged. Recollects the following Captains 
belonging to the same Regt Capt Gilman, Capt Clough 
Capt Rowe Capt Saltridge 

That at said Durham the place of his then residence 
in the month of September 1776 he enlisted in the N.H. 
troops for the term of three months - marched by the way 
of Concord & Worcester Mass. & Hartford and New Haven 
Conn to Peekskill N.Y. the regiment was divided. part was stationed at Fish kill the other part in which 
was this declarant was stationed about eight miles below 
Peekskill to watch a British man-of-War which lay in 
the river. He served in the Company of Capt Smith Emerson 
Lieut. Thomas in the Regt. of Col. Tash, Major McGregor - remained to the end of his term when he was discharged 
at a place eight miles below Peekskill, name not
Page 5

recollected. He recollects hearing the cannon at the time 
of the battle at White plains 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares 
that his name is not on the roll of any agency in any State
Eli Bickford 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year last aforesd. [aforesaid]
Before Benj F Deming 
Judge of Probate 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion 
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary 
Soldier and served as he states 

I Amos Paul Register of the Court of Probate 
for the District of Caledonia aforesaid do 
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original 
proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Eli Bickford for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
my hand and seal of office this 16th day 
of July A.D. 1832 
Amos Paul Register 

State of Vermont 
District & County 
of Caledonian ss }
On this nineteenth day of June A.D. 1833 
Before the Hon Benj F Deming Judge of 
the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid 
now sitting Eli Bickford a resident of Danville in said District 
and County who being first duly sworn according to law doth 
on his oath make the following additional and explanatory declaration to wit. 
That he was born at a place now called Lee formerly Durham 
in the State of New Hampshire in the month of September
Page 6

1754. has a record of his age in his family bible Was living when called into the Service at Said Lee - 
removed from sd Lee to Deerfield N.H. in the year 1783 
where he resided two years then removed to London 
N.H. where he resided about Six years - then removed 
to Danville Vermont his present residence where he has 
resided for more than forty years past. 
Entered the service by voluntary enlistment and was not a substitute 
Recollects that Col Stark's Regt was Stationed a little northerly 
of the Regt in which he served - there were other Regts in 
the vicinity but he cannot give the names of the commanding Colonels- He served seven months in the 
Campaign of 1775 and three months in 1776 
For a further answer to the 5th interrogatory he refers 
to the foregoing declaration. 
He never had a written discharge - So far as he can recollect. He refers to the Hon Samuel Sias and the Revd.  
Archelaus Sias as persons who can testify to his character 
and their belief of his services. He does not know of any 
person living who can testify to his services. 
Eli Bickford 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Before Benj F Deming Judge of Probate 

We Archelaus Sias a Clergyman residing in Danville 
aforesaid and Samuel Sias residing in the same Danville do hereby 
certify that we are well acquainted with Eli Bickford who 
has made the foregoing declaration and have known him more 
than forty years past - that we believe him to be seventy 
nine years of age that he is reputed and believed in the 
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the 
revolution and that we concur in that opinion. We further 
certify that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity 
and we have no doubt but that he served as he has stated in the foregoing declaration 
Archelaus Sias
Saml Sias
Sworn to and Subscribed this nineteenth day June A. D. 1833
Before me Benja. F. Deming Judge of Probate
Page 7

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after 
the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories 
prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant 
was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states 
And the Court further certifies that Archelaus Sias who has 
Signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Danville 
aforesaid and that Samuel Sias who has also signed the same 
is a resident in said Danville, is first assistant Judge of Caledonia County Court, is a gentleman of respectability 
whose statement is entitled to credit 

I Amos Paul Register of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains 
the further proceedings of said Court in the matter of 
the application of Eli Bickford for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and 
seal of office at Danville this 22d day of June A.D. 1833. 
Amos Paul Regr
Page 8

3031 
Eli Bickford 
k l m
Admit 
10 mos private.

A. Paul 
Danville Vermont
Page 9

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
May 10 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).
You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A STATEMENT showing the Service of Eli Bickford Caledonia Co., Vt.
Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.
Months
Days.
Rank of the claimant.
Names and rank of the Filed officers under whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Jun '75
---
7
---
pri
Capt Adam [Illegible
Col McDuffe
77  N.H.
None

Sept '76 
---
3
---
pri
Capt Emerson
Col. Tash
77  N. H.
---

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.  L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Mr. Eli Bickford
Page 10

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c.  Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of }
County of                              }  ss.

On this___ day of___ personally appeared (a) before ___ 
A. B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___ 
and State, Territory or District of ___
aged (c) ___ 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 June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___, with ___ and served in the ___ (e) regiment of the ___ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State
of ___. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I ___ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day 
of ___ & c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___
and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that 
A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___ and that
 C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ___ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, ___  Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ___ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal ___ of office, this ___day of ___ 
&c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
 If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 11

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
   To an Officer.
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:___For___year ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ __.  For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___ ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany 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 of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
 The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] The traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and the to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 12

42905 Act Mar 3/58
Apl 14/58
Eli Bickford  
Priv
Capt Emerson
Capt Adams
Col Poor
Ent.           }  N.H.
Dis.           } Mil.
Rev War

Rev Pensioner
N. H. Mil.
AO: 160 l  Sept 4/55
Blyth
Sam'l R. Marttock
Danville, Vt
Vol:  B   137
Vt. Act 1837  No. 18471

(Written across paper: No. 5455 ss Sept  5/50

priv
Capt
Co
adjond
for
Ent.
Dis.
B
W
Rev War
Priv
R
N.
d
18
Mil
of
Pensioner
H. Pil;
to
the
1455 in Sept 1775
R
Same
R. Mattock
Danville of
3
B. 137
Page 13

42905
Page 14

State of Vermont 
Caledonia County ss }
On this 7th day of April 1855 
personally appeared before me 
Saml B Mattock a Justice of the Peace within & for the County aforesaid Eli Bickford aged one hundred 
years in September last a resident of Danville in said 
County who being duly sworn according to law 
declares that he is the identical Eli Bickford who was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served Seven months in the N.H. line in the year 1775 in the Company 
of Capt. Adams, & under Col Poor - and three months 
in 1776 in Capt Emersons Company, & for which Service he now receives a pension of $33.33 per annum - as will appear by reference to his 
declaration & the files & records of the War department , to which he refers - that he has never 
received nor applied for and is not entitled to bounty 
land for any other service; That he makes this 
declaration for the purpose of obtaining the 
Bounty land to which he may be entiled [entitled] under 
the act of March 3d 1855 and he prays that the 
certificate thereof may be sent for him to S. B. Mattock 
Eli Bickford his X mark
Signed in presence of 
John Bickford 
G. H. Bickford 

We Trew Morrill & W. C Stearns 
residents of Danville in the County of Caledonia & State of Vermont upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was Signed and acknowledged 
by the said Eli Bickford in our presence, and that 
we believe from the appearance & Statements of the 
applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.
Trew Morrill 
W. C. Stearns 

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written
Page 15

and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible 
persons, that the claimant is the person he represents 
himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim 
Saml R. Mattock Justice of the Peace 

State of Vermont
Caledonia Coss.[?]⎬ I, G. A. Burbank, Clerk of Caledonia 
County County Court in the State of Vermont, do hereby 
Certify that Saml B. Mattock Esq whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace duly commissioned and qualified in & for said County.
Witness my hand & Seal of sd [said] Court Apl. 11. 1855 
G. A. Burbank 
Clerk
Page 16

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Eli Bickford a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S.18319
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
STATE.
June 1775
7 mos.
Private
Adams
Poor
N. H.
Sept 1776
3 mos
----
Smith Emerson
Tash
---

Battles engaged in
(shows check mark)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, 
Lee, New Hampshire
Date of application for pension,
July 16, 1832 His claim was all  [Illegible]
Residence at date of application,
Danville, Caledonia Co. Vt.
Age at date of application, 
b. in Sep 1754 at Durham, N. H. (later called Lee)
Remarks:
He died May 5, 1856 (Agency book)
No fam data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 17

18319 
INVALID. 
File No. 18319 
Eli Bickford 
Pri  Rev War 
Act: June 7” 32 
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 426
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1915 Nov 9. Brief hist to W H Taylor 
letter in W 21287 Pearly Harris [symbol for cent]

1923 Aug 17 Hist to Mrs. J C Parrish and check for $4 returned to her. aw
Page 18

No. 42905 
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855. 
Received April 14, 1855. 

Eli Bickford 
Revolutionary War 
Warrant No. 5455-160-55 

Sam'l R. Mattock 
Danville 
Vt
Page 19

5455

160 Acres
Page 20

M233
BUREAU OF PENSIONS 
Finance Division 
AUG 16 1923 192 
Chief of Rev. War Section 

Sir: I have this day received 
from Mrs. J. C. Parrish 
Check No. —
for $4 00/100 requesting 
Copy as per letter herewith . 

Respectfully, 
O. J. RANDALL 
J. J. C.
Chief Finance Div.

[Handwritten note:] 
Check returned & Finance Div Notf.
aw
[Stamp] REV WAR SECTION
Page 21

42905
Page 22

Danville, Vermont, 
April 11th 1855 

To the Commissioner of Pensions 

Dr Sir,
I enclose herewith 
the declaration of Eli Bickford a 
Revolutionary Soldier & Pensioner, for 
the benefit of the act of March 3 
1855 giving Bounty Lands. 
When the claim is allowed please 
forward the certificate or warrant to 
Your Obt Servt 
Saml B. Mattocks 
Danville 
Caledonia Co 
Vt.
Page 23

[stamp:] After 10 days, return to 
[handwritten:] Mrs. J. C. Parrish 
Vandalia. Missouri 

[stamp:] LONG BEACH CALIF. AUG 11 1923


[?] to Vandalia, Mo 
(Long Beach, Calif. 
Aug 10, 1923)

Revolutionary War Records Section 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions 

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly let me have a statement 
of the Revolutionary War services of the following: 

1. Eli Bickford 
born in Durham N.H. Sept 29,1754 
married Abigail Rand ? 
died May 5th 1856 

2. Capt. Caleb Pillsbury 
born Newburyport Mass. Jan. 26, 1717 
married Sarah Kimball Amesbury Mass July 3, 1742 
died Amesbury Mass. (?) 

3. Samuel Chamberlain 1st Sergeant 
born Hopkinton Mass. - May 2, 1750 
married Martha Mellon (?). 
died Danville Vt. Sept 12, 1812 

4 Nathaniel Kelly 
born County Down Ireland 1734 
married Ann Smiley 1756 
died Westmoreland Co Penn. 1826. 

Please find enclosed a cheque[check] for four dollars. 
Very sincerely
Mary Alice Parrish
(Mrs. J. C. Parrish)

[Stamp:] 
FINANCE DIVISION 
AUG 16 1923 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Page 24

Rev. War Section.   aw

Aug. 17, 1923.

Mrs. J. C. Parrish, 
Vandalia, Mo. 

Madam: 

I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Caleb Pillsbury, Samuel Chamberlain and Nathaniel Kelly described by you. 

You are herewith furnished the history of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Eli Bickford, for which no fee is charged. 

Herewith is returned your check on the Vandalia Banking Association, for four dollars, drawn to the order of the Bureau of Pensions, Department of Interior.

Respectfully, 
Washington Gardner 
[Signature appears to be rubber stamped]
Commissioner.
Page 25

Sur. File No. 18,519, Rev. War, Eli Bickford who was born in September 1754, at Durham, New Hampshire. enlisted June 1775, as a Private in Captain Adam's company, Colonel Poor's regiment of New Hampshire troops and served seven months. 

Enlisted in September 1776, in Captain Smith Emerson 's company, Colonel Tash's regiment and served three months. 

In 1832, he resided at Danville, Caledonia County , Vermont, and died May 5, 1856. 

- 2 -

[Note:]
Letter in W 21287 Pearly Harris