Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,979, for John Spencer, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn. 
Spencer, John
Mary
NUMBER R. 9.979

CONTENTS
Page 2

State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss

On this the Thirteenth day of September one Thousand Eigh hundred and thirty nine Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford in Hartford County now sitting Mary Spencer a resident of the town of Munford who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress
passed July 4th 1836

Her age is Eighty five years and she is a creditable person

She declares that she is the widow of John Spencer late a resident of the town of Hartford
in the County of Hereford in the State of Connecticut: That her husband was a soldier in the army of the Revolution; that he died at Hartford Conn. on the 12th day of September one Thousand Eight Hundred & twelve; That she was married to her said husband on the
seventh day of August One Thousand
seven hundred and seventy eight and
before the last period of his services in the
Revolutionary war; and that she has
remained his widow ever since his death
and has never again married; For the
proof of the services of her said husband in
the Revolutionary war, she refers to the
depositions and documents hereunto annexed
She was married by the Rev. Nathan Strong
then a Clergyman in the first Congregational Society in the town of Westford
Theodore Spencer a brother of my late husband was present at my wedding. There were others present who are since dead .None
of my children were born before my husband
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came out or went into the service. She has no record of her marriage and knows of none but remembers well that it was at the time above stated. She has never again married but remains the widow of the said John Spencer late of said Hartford now deceased Her husband was gone in the service in
the Revolutionary War six months
She was twenty four years of age when she was married
Sworn & subscribed the day
and year above mentioned
Before said Probate Court
Mary Y Spencer

Seth Terry Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the appropriate [illegible]
that the said Mary Spencer is the surviving widow of John Spencer late of Hartford in he County of Hartford and State of Connecticut Deceased married to him before the last period of his services in the army of the Revolution. That her said
husband is deceased and that she still remains his widow and has never again married
Seth Terry Judge
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I Nathaniel Goodwin Clerk of the Court of
Probate for the District of Hartford in said
County of Hartford and State of Connecticut
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceeding of said Court in the matter
of the application of the said Mary Spencer
aforesaid for a pension

And & further certify that Nathan Johnson
Esq before whom the depositions of Jonathan
Olcott Theodore Spencer
were taken is a lawful Justice of the Peace 
for the County of Hartford at this time and
has been for four months part last part
and that the signature of the said Justice
to the said depositions purporting to be his
is his genuine signature.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Court, and subscribed my
name at Hartford this 13th day
of September, 1839.
Nathaniel Goodwin, Clerk.
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I Jonathan Olcott of the town and County
of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged
Eighty one years and upwards being duly
commissioned do testify depose and say that
I was acquainted with John Spencer late of
said Hartford now deceased. In August 1776
I was drafted and went into the Revolutionary war in a company commanded by Capt
Ebenezer Barnard of said Hartford. I was at
that time in the service two months and
the said John Spencer was a member of the same Company and served for the same
time as abovementioned. In October 1777 the same company and commanded by the same
Captain was again drafted, we then
went on to the North River in the State of
New York and I then served Two Months
and according to my best knowledge recollection and belief the said John Spencer was a member of the same Company and
served for the same period as aforesaid
In the year 1779 and as I believe in the month
of August one half of said company was again
drafted and went to New [illegible] & Mitford and was in the service two months; we were
then relieved by the other half of the Company who continued in the service for the
some time; I was among the number
first called out. I did not at that time see
the said John Spencer in the service nor
did I see him soon after I returned home
but then and have ever since understood
and believed that the said John Spencer
was among those that went into the
service when the last half of the Company
was called out & that he was then in the
service two months and further the
deponent saith not
Jonn [Jonathan]  Olcott
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State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss
Be it remembered that on this the Thirteenth
day of September one thousand Eight
Hundred & Thirty eight personally appeared
before me Nathan Johnson Esq Justice
of the Peace within and for the County 
aforesaid Jonathan Olcott signer of the
foregoing deposition and made oath to
the truth of the same before me
I further certify that the said Jonathan
Olcott is a credible person and that
his statements are entitled to belief and credit
Nathan Johnson Just. Peace
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I Theodore Spencer of the town and County
of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged
Eighty one years and upwards being duly
mentioned do testify depose and say that
I was the brother of John Spencer late of
Hartford Deceased. and that Mary Spencer
now of said Hartford and who is made an
application for a pension is a widow of the
said John Spencer and has never married
will his death. I was present at the time
the said John and Mary were married; they
were married on the 7th day of August AD 1778 by the Rev Nathan Strong then a Clergyman
of said Hartford. I was drafted and went
into the Revolutionary war in Aug 1776 in
the Company commanded by Capt Ebenezer
Barnard then of said Hartford, we then went
to New York and were gone Two Months
The said John Spencer was a member of
the same company and served for the same
time above mentioned. In Oct 1777
the said John Spencer was again drafted in
the same company commanded by the same
Captain and went on to the North
River in the State of New York. I was at
home when he went away and when he
returned.. he was then gone two months
In the year 1777 I enlisted into the Continental
service for three years and served for that
time; Whilst I was then absent in the service
I heard that my brother John had been again
drafted and had gone to Milford & New [illegible] in the service. I have always understood from him and from others that he at that time served two months. I have frequently since heard him speak of this period of his service and further the deponent saith not
Theodore Spencer
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State of Connecticut
Hartford County
Be it remembered that on this the
the [illegible] day of September AD 1839 personally appeared before me the subscribing authority Justice of the Peace for Hartford County Theodore Spencer signer of the foregoing deposition and made oath to the truth of the same
I further certify that he is a creditable person
and that his statements are entitled to credit

Nathan Johnson Just. Peace

[written vertically in left margin]
Court 4738
Mary Spencer
Act 4 July 1836
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Rev. War Section.

May 8, 1923.

J. C. Capen,
488 Prospect Avenue,
Hartford, Conn.

Sir: --
In response to your letter dated March 3, 1923,
you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. File No. 2970, it is alleged that John Spencer entered the service in August, 1776, and served two months under Captain Ebenezer Bernard of Hartford, Connecticut; that in October, 1777 he served two months in the same company, and under the same captain; and that in August 1778
he again served two months in the same company.

He died September 12, 1812 in Hartford, Connecticut. On August 7, 1779, he married Mary------. She applied
for pension September 13, 1833 while residing in Hartford, Connecticut, aged 85 years, but her claim was not allowed, as she failed to prove 6 months military service as required by the pension laws. Children are referred to but no names are stated.

Very respectfully yours,
Commissioner.
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County Act 4 July 1836 _ 4738 _ Mary Spencer widow of John _ Lit to Johnson & Goodwin 29th Nov 1839-
9979
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J. C. CAPEN
400 PROSPECT Ave.

TELEPHONE CHARTER  4839

HARTFORD, CONN., March 3 1926

Pension Bureau
Washington D.C.

{Stamp]
PENSION OFFICE U.S.
MAR 6 1923


Gentlemen

Will you please send me copy of application
for Pension of Mary Spencer
widow of John Spencer of Hartford
Conn. Revolutionary soldier R.9979
and greatly oblige

Truly yours
J.C. Capen
488 Prospect Ave
Harford Coun
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[Crossed out: Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1878.]

REJECTED

9979.
P.O.
Mary Spencer
Service:

Enlisted:  , 18
Discharged:  , 18

Application filed:  , 18

Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: From book of Rej & Ins. Claims "Not 6 mos. service established-" Ew.

Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized
Contract
Cert. of Dis  Searched for    , 18
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Edward
on Pension

Washington
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Hartford, Sept 27, 1839

Sir

We here send you the application of Mary Spencer for a pension: any communications that you may wish to make upon the subject please direct to us.

Very Resp
Yours

Johnson & Goodman

Hon J.L. Edwards
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249

Depart. of War
Penn. Office
Nov 22, 1839

Sir

I have examined the claim of Mrs. Mary the widow of Jno Spencer and have placed her papers upon our files. The proof offered does not establish more than 4 mos. service. Neither Jonathan Olcott or Theodore Spencer had any personal knowledge of the alleged service of 2 mo. in the year 1779.

Record proof of marriage, shared behold if it be found; such as town or Church records a family record for register or another record having the birth or baptism of children for a  [illegible] Aug 1779

I am
AL
July 4, '36
4738

Witness: Johnson & Goodwin
Hartford Conn