Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 54,424-160-55, Josiah Hart, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.H.
Hart, Josiah
Center, Ruth Former Widow
NUMBER B.L.Wt.54,424-160-55
CONTENTS
Page 2

251. 568
[illegible] 3 [illegible]
July 11, 16
Ruth
Center for
wid. of 
Josiah
Hart
[illegible]
Capt.
Bellows or Chase
N. H. Ma.
11
Revy War.
[illegible]
H. H. Sylvester
Charlestown
N. H.
Set. H.H. Sylvester Sept. 29/56
E Butts
Vol H1 Page 56.
Page 3

Ruth Center former

Wife of Josiah Hart

New wife of Judah Center

Canada Wash [struck]

St Andrews P.O.
Chatham
Canada Eash [unclear]

751.56f

H H Sylvester
Charlestown N. H.
Page 4

State of New Hampshire.
Sullivan Co
On the 28th day of Sept 1855, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, under and for the County aforesaid Ruth Hart aged seventy five years a widow of [illegible] who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Josiah Hart deceased who was a private in the company commanded by Capt _____[blank] and  commanded by Col Bellows or Chace of the  N Hampshire militia during the war of the revolution. That he was listed under or about the ___ day of ___ [blank]and continued with the  [blank]  in the service at least fourteen days; that he resided in Charlestown NH during his whole life, and did about the year of 1832; and at that time [illegible] Center.
1He died 19th Feb 1834  And she then ran a  Indian and [illegible] school from the 5th of  March 1835. She further
1808 - That before her marriage her name was Ruth Gr...[illegible]
County Land she check she may be [illegible] March 5 1853
[signed] Ruth Clemeter
Page 5

We Jeremiah Gurnell and Jonathan Baker residents of Charlestown, NH upon an oath declare that the [illegible] declaration ... and acknowledge Ruth Hart Carter is one person and that [illegible] she appears  [ illegible]  identical person she .... known on our personal knowledge that she widow of J Hart which we also know, that ... years age; and she has .. was a widow.
Jonathan Baker
J. H. Guinnell
The fo... delcaration and affidavit was sworn before the  [illegible] I know the applicant to be ... I am about 70 years of age and I have always lived in Charlestown, Nh. H. & was personally acquainted with the said  [illegible] Heart and his wife who is now the  widow of Josiah [illegible]
signed Enos Storms Justice Peace
Page 6

State of New Hampshire
County of Sullivan 

I, T.M. Gilmore Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, certify that Enos Stevens Esq before whom the foregoing acknowledgment was made was as is date an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the said County duly qualified to take such acknowledgements and that his signature thereto is in my belief genuine.

[illegible] under my hand and the Seal of the Court the 27th day of May AD 1856
T. M. Gilmore Clerk
Page 7

Application Ruth Hart
widow 
Josiah Hart, dec
251. 568
N.H.
[Stamp] Charlestown N.H. May 30
Boynton
Revolutionary
M Rhett
Hon J Minott 
Comm Pensions
Washington
DC
free
H.H. Sylvester
Charlestown
N.H.
Ruth Center
[Stamp] Charlestown N.H. May 30
Hon. Geo. C. [illegible]
Comm Pensions
Washington DC
Page 8

v
84,424
[illegible]
Page 9

Charlestown NH
Jany 14 1857
Hon G C. Whiting
Sir I have the honor to enclose
herewith your letter of 1829 Sept last
as an affidavit of the Hon E[illegible] S[illegible]
together with the certificate of Geo Metcalf
touching his character standing
This affidavits & intended to meet
the requests in your letter [illegible]
proof of identity in the case of the
claim of the Widow of Josiah Hart
You are well aware that no other
than what is termed traditionary
can be had. of this I myself furnish
any [illegible] from any the old
acquaintance [illegible] of Hart. should
any thing further be required. I knew
Hart personally from 1815 till he died and 
knew his reputation as a revolutionary soldier,
[illegible] my agency on behalf of the
[illegible] properly [illegible]
Page 10

My testimony to the facts
I hope Sir that you
may find this presents proof [illegible] [illegible] 
[illegible] satisfactory
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
[illegible]
H H Sylvester
Page 11

[illegible]
Ruth Hart of Josiah
Page 12

Pension Office
September 29 1856

Sir,

The bounty land claim of Ruth Center, as the widow formerly of Josiah Hart has been examined and [unknown].

Proof should be filed, which will identify her husband and the soldier who performed the Service Certified to by the Secretary of State of New Hampshire. 

Yours Respectfully,
C. H. Rhett
[unknown]
Page 13

Charlestown NH May 30 1856

Hon J. Minot
Comm P.
Sir
Enclosed herewith are the papers of Mrs Ruth Hart, widow,
in her claim for bounty land: I drew up her declaration in Sept,
last, and thence stated that her late husbands service was supposed
to have been under Col Bellow in Chase, Colonels, commanding Regiments
of local militia, in this part of the State; but it appears
from the Secretary, certified that Capt Walkers company was party
unde [under] Col Hobarts Regt. upon & served at Saratoga in 1788, and
that he was not when in [underlined] service under Col Bellow, all the lay
company was includ'd [included] within the County of his Regiment's when
at home.
You are, I believe Sr. [Sir] well acquainted with
Mr Stevens the Magistrate, of this town, and probably have some
recollection of the parties or some of them; from your once
temporary sequester among us. But whether that be the case a
[illegible], we have a [illegible] of you [your] [illegible] here, stamped
for all time upon our [illegible] rocks, that of "Minolts-falls",
now a household word with us of old "11-. 4" [11-:4]

I have the honor to be
Respectfully
H. H. Sylvester
[flourish under signature]
Page 14

Ruth Center
[illegible] Janet Ha{illegible}
Charleston NH
Page 15

Contelle Chatham May 21st 1856
H.H. Sylvester Esqr
Dear Sir
I received your letter in due time and immediately bet about getting the evidence you required in legal form. You will find enclosed the documents which I think will answer the purpose for which they are intended.
I was informed before I left last fall for home that If I could draw a land Warrant. I could draw a pension in money as some widows has drawn for their husbands services during the revolution those men served with Mr Hart no
longer than he did.
I would wish you would make the trial
for the pension also.
I know of nothing more I can say at
present [can't read] the result of the incloset
documents
With much respect Yours
Ruth Center
J H H Sylvester Esqr
my address St Andreas C E
Page 16

Artifacts of Service
Secy of State NH
Page 17

State of New Hampshire
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military services in the war of the Revolution, which remain in this office, it appears that the name of "Josiah Hart"
is borne upon the Pay Roll of Capt.
Abel Walher's Company, as a Private in said Company, Vol. 1 Page 4 [illegible]
"Pay roll of Capt. Abel Walker's Company in 
[llegible] David Hobart's regiment in Gen Starks
Brigade which Company marched from Charleston and Towns adjacent in the State of New Hampshire July 1777 and joined the northern Continental Army at Saratoga".
"Engaged July 21st.Time in Service "2 mo"
"Names" Josiah Hart "[illegible] Private Time of
discharge 1777 Sep! 20"
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of sad State, this First day of February 1856
Samuel N. Patt[illegible] Secretary of State.
Page 18

[illegible]
Mr {illegible] [illegible]
Page 19

Rigaud 11th Oct 1855 [underlined]

We the undersigned John Crosby
and fmr. Jane Crosby of the
Parish of Rigaud Dostrict [District] of Montreal
E. E Stage Proprietors do here by certify
that we were preasant [present] at the house
of William Berly Esqre [Esquire] in Hawksbury [Hawkesbury]
Canada West and saw the late
Judah Center Married to Ruth
Grout Widow of the late Mr Heurt
of Vermont Us : [marks] [flourishes]
John Crosby
Annjane Crosby,

Sworn to before me at Rigaud
this 11th day of October
1855 Robert Simpson J. P.
S
I certify that Judah Center of the
County of Two Mountains District of Montreal
Died Feby 19th 1854 and that Ruth
Grout Wife of the late Judah Center
is now a Widow
Robert Simpson J. P.
St Andrews October 11th 1855
Page 20

[illegible] Death,
A. B.
Page 21

On this fourteenth day of the month ┃
of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and fifty - four
Before the Subscribing Notaries-
Public duly commissioned and sworn in and for
that part of the Province of Canada heretofore
called Lower Canada residing in the district of
Montreal, in the said Province
Personally came and appeared
of
The Reverend John Dempsay, and Joseph
Faller, Blacksmith both
residing in the
parish of the Saint Andrews in the aforesaid district
of Montreal. Who being duly sworn on the
Holy Evangelists by the said Notaries severally declared
That they were well acquainted with
the late Judah Centers Esquire, in his
lifetime of the Township of Chatham, district aforesaid and Dave Ruth Grant, his wife.
That on the nineteenth day of
February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, the said Judah Center departed this life, at the Township of
Chatham aforesaid leaving the said Ruth Grant his widow
That the said Judah Center
was interred in the parish of Saint Andrews,
district aforesaid on the twenty third day of sum [Can't read]
month or thereabout, he the said John
Dempsay, having officiated at the funeral, as
Minister of the Gospel
They also declare that no
official entry or register was made of the
deceased or burial of the said Judah
Center and that consequently, the procuring
of any more authentic certificate thereof than
the foregoing would be impossible-
They furthermore declare
that the said Ruth Grant is still alive and in
widowhood
of all which they have required [can't read}
Thus due, sworn and executed at
Page 22

N. H.   Hart, Josiah  BLNT 54,424-160-55

Center, Ruth

Farmer, Midow
Page 23

Marriage Ruth Center

W. B.
Page 24

"acquainted.
J C
H. G. J.
E.N.F.  H.H.

On this twenty ninth day of
the month of April in the year of Our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty six.

Before the Subscribing Notaries
Public duly commissioned and sworn in and for
that Part of the Province of Canada heretofore
called Lower Canada residing in the district of
Montreal in the said Province

Personally came and appeared
John Crosby of the parish of Sainte Magdeleine
de Rigaud, in the aforesaid district of Montreal
Yeoman, and Ann Jane Swail, his wife.
Who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists,
by the said Notaries severally declared, that they
were for many years previous to the year Eighteen
hundred and thirty Eight "with the late Judah
Centers [Center] Esquire" thus of the Township of Chatham
since deceased.

That they were also acquainted with
Mrs. Ruth Grout thus of the Township of Hawkesbury
in that part of the Province of Canada Edward
Upper Canada, widow of the late Josiah Hart
in his lifetime a resident of the United States of America Wheelwright -

That on the twenty Eighth day of
February eighteen hundred and thirty Eight, they
were personally present at the marriage of the
said Judah Centers with said Ruth Grout which
was duly solemnized in the Township of Hawkesbury
aforesaid by the Reverend Franklyn Metcalf
a duly ordained Minister of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church and duly empowered by Law
to marry

That they further believe that the
procuring of a certificate of the Marriage -
aforesaid would be attended with a deal of
difficulty if not altogether impossible; the said
Reverend Franklyn Metcalf being now deceased.

Of all which they have required
[illegible][altc?]

Thus done, sworn and Executed.
Page 25

We the undersigned Henry Howard and Eugene N Tournier, Notaries public, in and for the Province of [illegible] Canada, (severally declare that we are personally acquainted) with John Crosby and Ann [illegible] Swail his wife, whose names are subscribed to the forezaicez ache; and that full faith and [illegible] may be given to their declaration and affidavit therein contained.
Page 26

[this page contains no text]
Page 27

I Enos Stevens of Charlestown NH before whom the
declaration of Ruth Center, a widow, formaly of Josiah
Hart dea on the 28th day of September last, was made
and sworn to further declare that Josiah Hart died
aforesaid, was the only person bearing that name in said
town of Charlestown, except a son of his who died some
years since, and after the manner of her father with Ruth
Grant: that I was personally acquainted with [illegible] Hart
from my youth up, and until his death: and that I have
no doubt as to being the identical person whose name
is borne upon the Muster roll of Capt Abe Walker, who
commanded a company of Militia in the town during the
war of the revolution, and with whom I was well
acquaint until his death in 1815
Enos Stevens
Charlestown NH
May 3 1854
Page 28

Provence of Canada Montreal Board District of Montreal Notaries.
The undersigned "Henry Lappare, Secretary of the Board of Notaris for the district of Montreal, Provence of C. [district] [Lans] Canada, do hereby certify and attest unto all to whom it may concern, that Henry Howard and Eugine N. Fournier who have signed the two foregoing acres marked A B and the certificates at the foot thereof, are sworn and duly Commissioned Notaries Public in and for the want province of Lower Canada, are under the jurisdiction of this Board and that the names of the said Henry Howard and Eugine N. Fournier set and subscribed to the foregoing acres and certificates one of the signatures and in the proper hand writing of the said Henry Howard and Eugene N. Fournier respectively the whole of which appears by the registers of said Board, and that to all acts, thus by their signed full faith and credit are ought to be given in Indications and thereout. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set and subscribed my name and the Seal of the said Board of Notaries on this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six. H. Lappare [esq] M.B. N.
Page 29

State of New Hampshire
Executive Department
December 9th 1856.
I have long been personally and well acquainted
with Hon. Enos Stevens, of Charlestown
N.H. who has given the aforesaid affidavit. Charlestown
being my native place. No person in the community has ever enjoyed a more [?unexceptionable] [illegible] in all respects than he has. He has nearly his whole life time
been connected with the municipal affairs of [illegible] his
native town and has filled several offices of honor
and trust in the State, among them that of Executive
Councillor and has often been the Whig candidate for
member of Congress and Governor. He has probably
done more town business and has had a far more
extensive and familiar acquaintance with the
people of Charlestown than any other man living
or dead and his recollections are proverbial for
accuracy as well as extent; and any asertion of
his, the [illegible] of which depended [illegible] his acquaintance with the affairs and the people of the town
would now be doubted by any one who knows him
Ralph Metcalf
Governor.
Page 30

I Enos Stevens of Charlestown in the
County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire
 of lawful age testify & say that I
was born in Charlestown in the year 1780 and
have resided in said town from that person
that I have been extensively acquainted with
the citizens of the State & with nearly all in the
County and personally with all the legal voters
of the town for for the last fifty years that I
was well acquainted with Josiah Hart the husband 
of Ruth Grout now Ruth Center from my
early youth that he was the only person I ever
knew by that name except a son of his now deceased
I am very certain that there never was any other
man that resided in Charlestown by the name of
Joseph Hart except those named above
I was always acquainted from my earliest
recollection with Colo. Abel Walker who was a
near neighbor and that said Walker was
Capt in the New Hampshire Militia during the
war of the Revolution as established by history
and tradition that said Walker & Hart during
both their lives & lived within two or three miles of
each other that the said Capt Walker died in the
year 1815 & that I have no doubt but the said
Hart was the identical person who performed
Military service by that name under the said
Capt Abel Walker as appears as I am informed
Page 31

From the militia roll in the office of the secretary of State at Concord New Hampshire
December 28, 1856
Enos Stevens 
State of New Hampshire Sullivan Co on the second day of December A.D. 1836 the above named Enos Stevens, personally appearing made oath that the forgoing affidavit by him subscribed was to the best of his knowledge and belief true. 
before me
E.L. Cushing
Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
Sullivan County 
TM Gilmore clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county certify EL Cushing Esq before whom the above acknowledgement was made was at its date an acting Justice of the Peace for the said County duly commissioned and authorised to take such acknowledgements and that his signature thereto is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of the court this 11th day of December AD 1856
TM Gilmore Clerk