Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,104, John Ferguson, Mass. N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass.
N H

Ferguson, John
Furguson


NUMBER
S.13,104
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

10,855
Jno Ferguson
Private
18 mos
Admd

$60

Chas F. Gove
Goffstown NH
Page 3

BRIEF in the case of John Ferguson
of [blank] in the State of [blank]
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court 

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily injury? [blank] 

3. How old is he? 75

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Apl or May '75 - 8 months - private -Cap Geo Read  Col Stark
thinks Jany '76 - 2 Months - [private] - Cap Allen 
Augt '76 - 3 months - [private] - Capt Raynel, Genl Stark's brigade
July 77 - 2 months - [private] - ditto  ditto
Augt '81-Nov 25 81 - 3 months - [private] - Capt French {Col Jackson, Lt Col Putnam

5. In what battles was he engaged?  Bennington

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Londonderry

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Document  4 living witnesses 

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and, if so, how? all right

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
[signed] Wm C Easton  Examining Clerk.
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No. 5. J. Ferguson
10.855
Page 5

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
County of Hillsborough, SS.
 At the County aforesaid, On the application aforesaid, the following interrogatories were proposed to the said John Ferguson  and the following answers given [inserted "on oath"] to wit: 

1. Where, and in what year were you born? Answer, I was born in Pelham New Hampshire August 11th 1757

2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it? Answer, I have a record of my age in a bible.  The bible was my grandfathers and my father made the record., and I have the bible now at home and I think there is  a record of my age on the town Records of Pelham.

3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer, I was living at Londonderry New Hampshire when called into the service  Since the Revolutionary war I have lived in Pelham and Dumbarton and now live in Bedford New Hampshire

4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom? Answer, I volunteered each time of my enlistment

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 Service? Answer, Col John Stark and Gen Warren Capt George Reid at Bunker Hill Capt Allen at Temple house, Capt Raynels in my third enlistment Gen John Stark & Col Nichols and Capt Raynels in my fourth enlistment Capt French Col Putnam & Col Jackson  I don't recollect the number of Regiments   I was in the battle of Bunker Hill and Battle of Bennington was at the [?] of a schooner at [illegible] ferry

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer,After my fifth enlistment had ended I received a discharge signed by Enoch Putnam Lt Col and M Jackson Colo which discharge is hereto annexed Dated 
Nov 25 1781

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 service as a Soldier of the Revolution? Answer, William Moor  William Riddle  James M K Wilkins

Certified by [signed] C. H. Atherton Register
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
County of Hillsborough ss. 
On this Twenty seventh day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate, now sitting at Amhurst within and for the County of Hillsborough, in the State aforesaid, John Ferguson aged seventy five years Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say, 
1st - he enlisted under Capt G Reid of Londonderry for Eight months He thinks in the month of April or the first May in the year 1775 and marched from Londonderry in New Hampshire to Medford in Massachusetts and was stationed there until after Bunker hill battle . He was then stationed on Winter Hill until discharged he thinks in december 1775 Having served Eight months[.]   Capt Reids Company belonged to Col John Starks Regiment.  He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He belonged to Londonderry Newhampshire when he enlisted
2d  Also he enlisted under Col Allen of New [Salem?] for two months he thinks[;]  he enlisted in January in the year 1776 was stationed in Temple house near Winter Hill and Having served two months was discharged in the last of March or first of April 1776 after the British left Boston
3d He enlisted in August 1776 at Londonderry under Capt Dan Reynels [Reynolds?] for three months marched from Londonderry through Massachusetts and Connecticut into New York to the north River up river to Fishkill then down north River to Peekskill and stationed there until discharged having served three months from his enlistment
4th He enlisted under Capt Daniel Reynels of Londonderry in July 1777 for two months marched from Londonderry to Charleston then across Connecticut River into Vermont to Bennington and stationed there until a few days before his discharge then marched to Stillwater and discharged having served two months Capt Reynels company was in General Starks Regt and  that he was in Bennington Battle
5th He enlisted in August 1781 under Capt French for three months marched through Massachusetts Connecticut to West Point in New York and was stationed there until discharged Nov 25. 1781 which discharge he has
[signed] John Ferguson
Page 7

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  
[signed] John Ferguson
[signed] Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate

We, Thomas Savage, a Clergyman residing in the town of Bedford, in the county of Hillsborough aforesaid, and William P Riddle residing in Bedford aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Ferguson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid} 
[signed] Thomas Savage [and]  William P. Riddle
[signed] Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and 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 Thomas Savage who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Bedford and that William P. Riddle  who has signed the same, is a resident in the town of Bedford, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
[signed] Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate for said county of Hillsborough.

I, CHARLES H. ATHERTON  Register of the Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Ferguson for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[signed] C. H. Atherton, Register of Probate, for said county of Hillsborough.
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2617
New Hampshire
John Ferguson
of Hillsboro in the State of N Hamp who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Reed of the Regt commanded by Col Stark in the N Hamp* line for 15 mos
* N.H. and Mass.
Records completed Jany 29/06  js

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Hampshire at the rate of 60 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3d day of Dec 1832 and sent Chas F Gove Goffstown N.H.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 - - - -  - $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34 - - 30.00
[total] $120.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk
Book D  Vol.1st  Page155
Page 9

Rev War
INVALID.
13,104 aw
File No. 13,104
John Ferguson
Pri. [private] Rev War

Act: [blank]

Index:--[blank], Page [blank]

[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.
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10,855
Jno Ferguson


Chas F Gove
Goffstown NH
Page 11

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jno Ferguson which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

V. *Has he mentioned 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? Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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[Page] 2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [blank]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? [blank]

XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes 
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
 *QUERE V. 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.”
Page 13

[page] 3

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. 

+QUERE XIV . Proof of Service. 
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants 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.

++QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
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I Robert Morrison of Londonderry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire of lawful age on my oath depose and say that in the year 1777 I was drafted with some others to furnish a man to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and it fell to me to serve and I enlisted under Capt Daniel Reynolds of Londonderry in the County and State aforesaid to go to Bennington in Genl John Starks Brigade and I served the whole of the campaign which I think was three months and that John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of  Hillsborough and State aforesaid was a Soldier in the same company of Militia with me the whole of the above mentioned campaign and I was regularly discharged 
[signed] Robt Morrison

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss.  Augt 18-1832 Then personally appeared the above named Robert Morrison & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me
[signed] John N Anderson  Just Peace
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No 3
Page 16

I Robert Wilson of Derry in the County of Rockingham and State of New-Hampshire, aged seventy three years, depose and say that I served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, in the year 1776 in the company commanded by Captain Daniel Runnels, and that John Ferguson now present aged about seventy five years, served as a private soldier in the same Company at the same time, and was discharged at the same time with me.   I think the term of our enlistment was three months
[signed] Robert Wilson

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss August 15. 1832 Then Robert Wilson made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
[signed] Isaac M. Gurd Justice of the peace
Page 17

I Robert Morrison of Londonderry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire of lawful age on my oath depose and say that I served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war in the year 1776 in the company commanded by Capt Daniel Reynolds of Londonderry County and State aforesaid and that John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of  Hillsborough and State aforesaid served as a private Soldier in the same company at the same time and was discharged at the same time with me - I think the term of our enlistment was three months
[signed] Robt Morrison

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss.  Augt 18-1832 Then personally appeared the above named Robert Morrison & made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me
[signed] John N Anderson  Just Peace

I hereby certify that the above named deponent is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity
[signed] John N Anderson  Just Peace
Page 18

I Thomas Spafford of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire Gentleman of lawful age on my oath depose & say that men were called for from this town to go to Charlestown in Massachusetts. I do not recollect the year we were called for, but I distinctly recollect we were there at the time the Brittish left Boston. Capt. Allen commanded the company to which we belonged. I served as Ensign - Capt John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough & State aforesaid came soon after we arrived at Charlestown.  
If  I rightly recollect the time for which we engaged was two months. Capt Ferguson continued to do duty in the Company as long as the rest of us & I have no doubt but he served the time out for which he engaged which as I before stated I think was two months. [said Ferguson -smudged out?]
[signed] Thomas Spafford


State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss August 16th 1832
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Spafford & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me [signed] Saml M Richardson Just. Peace

I hereby certify that the above named Thomas Spafford is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity-
[signed] Saml M. Richardson Just. Peace
Page 19

I Asa Senter of Windham in the County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire, aged seventy five years, depose and say, that I was knowing to John Furguson's serving as a soldier in Capt George Reads company and in Col John Starks Regiment in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, as to the particular time, the said Furguson served, I at this time cannot particularly recollect. But have a full belief that he served out the full time of his enlistment which was eight months
I further say that I am now drawing a Captains pension under the act of one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
[signed] Asa Senter

State of Newhampshire
Rockingham ss August 16th 1832 Then Asa Senter made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
[signed] David Armstrong [?] Justice of the peace
Page 20

I Asa Senter of Windham in the County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire, aged seventy five years, depose and say, that I was knowing to John Furguson's serving as a soldier in Capt George Reads company and in Col John Starks Regiment in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, as to the particular time, the said Furguson served, I at this time cannot particularly recollect. But have a full belief that he served out the full time of his enlistment which was eight months
I further say that I am now drawing a Captains pension under the act of one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
[signed] Asa Senter

State of Newhampshire
Rockingham ss August 16th 1832 Then Asa Senter made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
[signed] David Armstrong [?] Justice of the peace
Page 21

I Edmund Tenney of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire of lawful age on my oath depose & say that in the year A.D. 1781 men were called from Newbury Port in Massachusetts to go to West Point.  I engaged for one of them, and John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough aforesaid also engaged at the same time.  We enlisted for three months & belonged to Captain French's Company.  I continued to do duty in the line until I was taken sick & messed with said Ferguson.  After I was sent to the Hospital said Ferguson called to see me several times before our times were out.  I have therefore no doubt but said Ferguson served in the war of the Revolution at this time for the term of three monmths
[signed] Edmund Tenney

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. - August 16th 1832
Then personally appeared the above named Edmund Tenney & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me [signed] Saml M. Richardson Just. Peace

I hereby certify that the above named deponent is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity
[signed] Saml M. Richardson Just. Peace
Page 22

State of New Hampshire Secretary's Office  Sept 4, 1832
I certify that the within named David Armstrong & John Anderson, and Isaac McGaw are Justices of the Peace for our County of Rockingham and the within named Samuel W Richardson is a Justice of the Peace for our County of Hillsborough duly constituted and sworn and their respective signatures as such their genuine handwriting.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set the seal of the State.
[signed] Ralph Metcalf  Secretary.
Page 23

This may certify the bearer [Illegible] 
(Document is faded and as such unable to transcribe)
White Forsyth [Illegible]
File W13104
John Ferguson 
N. H.
Page 24

John Ferguson  served in War in Capt. Enoch Putnam Reg, Militia is discharged.
[Illegible] apply [Illegible]
Enoch Putnam Lt. Cole Com
[Illegible]

(Paper is faded and unable to read)