Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19171, Peter Woodbury, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Woodbury, Peter
10009
NUMBER
S. 19171
carded
CONTENTS
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Vermont 18.682
---
Peter Woodbury
of Windsor Co in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Wilder of the Regt commanded
by Col. Dolittle in the Mass ma
line for 11 mo. 28 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 39 Dollars 74 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept
1833 and sent to Oel Billings
Royalton Vt
Arrears to the 4th of Sept '33. $99.35
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '36 19.87
___________
$119.22
___________
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Eli Brown. Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 98
May 7, 1833.
date of death 
From A Book
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9316
Peter Woodbury
Admit
11 mos 28 ds
Return the Certificate
to Oel Billings
Royalton Vt
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
further proof or explanation.
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Peter Woodbury which
require
1. 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?
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 amout 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
VI. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than   
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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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?
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?
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
No as to first witness.
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
 XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 

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
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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 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 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.
[Graphic of pointing finger] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
[There is a hand drawn graphic of pointing finger to Quere XIV Proof of service information, and note indicating: Is now done Oel Billings]
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9316
Peter Woodbury
Bethel Vt.
To return to Oel Billings Royalton Vt.
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STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS.
On this 25th day of August
A.D. 1832 personally appeared
in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of the District of Hartford
now sitting, Peter Woodbury
a resident of the county of Windsor
and State of Vermont, 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 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.
In the year 1775 in the month of April. He enlisted at Cambridge Massachusetts as private for the term of Eight months and the reason he enlisted at said Cambridge was in the town of Royalton and other towns their men who stood as minest [minute] men armed & equipt ready to march at a moments warning. Their [there] was an alarm at Boston
and we repaired to Cambridge aforesaid and there enlisted as above in the company of Capt Wilder at Allen and Ensign Pike in Col Dolittle Regiment. He continued in and near said
Cambridge untill called into Battle on Bunker Hill and was in and through the whole battle on Bunker Hill and expended all the ammunition. After the Battle was stationed at Winter Hill in Charlestown Mass untill the Eight months expired and then without having the army again enlisted for one months and was
under Ensign Isaac Nichols and sent on fatunge [fatigue] duty to Mistuki now Medford to cut wood for the army and remained in this
duty until verbally discharged have served nine months
(See deposition of U. Green)
In the year 1777 the fore part of July he volunteered at Royalston Mass as private in the militia for the term of two months in
the company commanded by my father Capt. Peter Woodbury Lieut. Stearns Ensign Rogers in Col Cushing Regiment I believe
Said company at Royalston aforesaid and was
hurried on to Bennington where we stayed about four weeks and then were ordered to march and join the American Army on north River and crossed the Hudson at half morn then called when we were ordered back by Genl Lincoln to Bennington and
arrived soon after Bennington Battle as they were bring in the prisoners, their [there] we stayed to guard said prisoners untill our two
months expired and dismissed
(See deposition of J. Nichlos)
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was born at Sutton in the County of Worcester and State of Mass on the 14th day of March 1755. At the commencement and through the Revolution I lived in Royalston County and State aforesaid and since I lived some at Fetckwilliam [Fitzwilliam] N.H. and
now live in Bethel in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont and have lived in said Bethel thirty six years last past,
I know of no further testimony to substantiate my service I have no discharge and never had one no documentary Evidence. The record of my age I suppose is in the town Clerks office in Sutton Mass. Read Asahel C Washburn and John Wallace can testify as to my character
for truth and veracity and of the general belief in the neighborhood of my service-
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present,
and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Peter Woodbury
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
L A Marsh
Register
 
We, Asahel C Washburn, a Clergyman residing in Royalston nigh Bethel and John Wallace hereby certify, that
we are well acquainted with Peter Woodbury who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid,
A.C. Washburn
John Wallace
LA Marsh Register
I Isaiah Raymond Judge of the Probate Court of the Court of the District of Hartford herby certify that Peter Woodbury the above applicant is unable from bodily infirmities to appear in open court. 
Isa Raymond Judge

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 Asahel C. Washburn who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Royalston and that John Wallace
who has also signed the same, is a resident in
Bethel and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
L A Marsh, Register
I Lyndon A March Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Woodbury for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this
25th day of August A.D. 1832.
L A Marsh, Register
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I Uriah Green of Pitsfield [Pittsfield] in the County of Rutland and state of Vermont depose and say that I served in
the Revolutionary war in a Regiment
of State troops Remanded by Col Dooleth [Colonel Ephraim Doolittle] in Capt
Wilders Company so troops were raised in the state of Massachusetts and that Peter Woodbury now of Bethel in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont served in the same Company with me for the term of Eight months from the twentieth day of April 1775 to the first of January 1776 being stationed at Cambridge and in vicinity 
I further say that I was knowing to the sd Woodbury's enlisting for another month after the Regmt months were out and further say not
 Hazziah Green [check mark pencil]


State of Vermont 
Windsor County Ss.⎬
at Bethel July 11th 1832 Then personally
appeared Uzziah Green and made solemn
oath the above affidavit contains the
truth & nothing but the truth before me 
Walter Perrin Justice of Peace

I further certify that the above Uzziah
Green is a person of good caracter [character] of truth and veracity
Walter Perrin Justice of Peace

I Isaac Nichols of Brenton in the County of Orange and State of Vermont
Depose and say I lived in Royalton in County Wooster and State of Massachusetts
and that Peter Woodbury lived in said  Royalston and now in Bethel the County of Windsor State of Vermont
and I was nowing [knowing] to his going into the Revolution services at Bennington or half moon in the year 1777 and contained
there about two months and I remember the said Peter Stayed on the way to help and Jesse Woodbury home that was taken
sick the said Jesse Woodbury lived in the house with me
Isaac Nichols

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS
That August 10 1832 Isaac Nichols Personally
appeared and made solemn oath that [illegible] affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth
before me
Jonathan Marsh Justice Peace
I hereby certify that the above said, Isaac Nichols is a compatant [competent] witness
Jonathan Marsh Justice Peace
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State of Vermont 
Windsor County  Ss,
Woodstock County Clerks Office 27th August 1832
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, do hereby
certify that Walter Perrin & Jonathan Marsh are Justices
of the Peace within & for said County, and that the within are their signature
In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said Court
and subscribe my name the day & year above
State of Vermont Woodstock County Clerks Office 27th August 1832
Windsor County
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, do hereby certify that Walter Perrin & Jonathan Marsh are Justices of the Peace within & for said County, and that the within are their signature
In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said Court and subscribe my name the day & year above
Benjamin Swan
[Illegible paper seal attached]
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19171
INVALID.
File No. 19,171
Peter Woodbury
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7 '32
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 418
(Arrangement of 1870.)
1926 Mar. 10. Tombstone data to aw
Paul F. Wilson Bethel, Vt.
see letter in John Moody W 20261.