Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,583, Constant Bliss, N. H.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE.
N.H.

Bliss, Constant
Dame, Elizabeth
Levi (with an arrow pointing to  Dame)
Former widow

NUMBER
W.14,583

CONTENTS
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151.8 New Hampshire (Concord)
Elizabeth Dame formerly widow of Constant Bliss who died on the 1781. of Grafton Co in the State of N. Hampshire who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Nelson of the Regt commanded by Col. N.H. in the N. Hamp line for eight months.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per [annum] to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of Oct 1837 and sent to D. C. Churchill Esq Syme, N.H. Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $173.33 Semi=annual allowance ending 4 March '38 $13.33 =  $186.66 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d} 
Recorded by Wm A Clauson Clerk 
Book A Vol. 2 Page 24
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the 3d section of the act of Congress of the 4th July 1836 ~ State of New Hampshire Grafton County, Ss. On this 10th day of June A.D. 1837 personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Grafton, Elizabeth Dane a resident of Orford in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged ninety years who being first Duly sworn according to Law Oath on her auth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. That she was once the widow of Constant Bliss who was a private and Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution, in the year 1775 he joined a company of Militia and marched to Ticonderoga and from thence to St John's in Canada and was absent from home on this for a term not less than ten months- she further states that her said husband Constant Bliss was out and engaged in the service of his country at various other times and places during the Revolutionary war but she cannot state when & where he went but is confident he was out more than two years previous to his Death which took place in the summer of 1780 or 81- he started from said Orford with three others for Vermont on a scouting execursion and in the Towns of Greensborough or Hardwick VT-he and his party were fired upon by a party of Indians one of them was instantly killed said Bliss was  badly wounded and the other two were taken prisoners and afterwards,[illegible] said Bliss was barbarously mangled and tortoured having had a Tomahawk stuck into his head and other cruelties committed upon him until he died a most heartrending death as one of the captives told me on his return- She further states that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory she cannot state the names of any of his officers nor the times
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and places of her said Husband's service more than she has stated but relies upon the testimony of others to piece his services, she would also respectfully refer to the files & records of the war Department in support of her claim. She further states that she has no Documentary [not legible] in support of her claim and knows of no other person by whom she can prove her said Husband's service other than those whose affidavits are hereto annexed-  She further states that the suffered many hardships & [not legible] in this then wilderness country in consequence of the absence of her said Husband while in the service of his country. She further Declares that she was married to the said Constant Bliss on the 19th day of November in the year seventeen hundred and sixty seven. That her husband said [said crossed out] husband the aforesaid Constant Bliss died in the year 1780 or 81 as before stated. The precise date she cannot remember but he died in the service as before stated- and in April 1783 she was married in Deerfield N.H. to the Levi Dane who died on the 28th day of June 1809 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Elizabeth Dane 
her mark X 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas

I hereby certify that by reason of bodily infirmity the said Elizabeth Dane cannot attend the Court 
D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas~
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This certifies that Constant Bliss and Elizabeth  Palmer were joined together in Marriage November 19th AD 1767 as appears by the records of this Town - by Silvanus Osborn Paster Dated at Kent, Conn. August 11th 1837 Certified by Philip Judd } Town Clerk 

State of Connecticut, County of Litchfield} Ss. at Kent Aug 11th 1837- 
Personally appeared Philip Judd Town Clerk of said town of Kent to me well known as a person of truth & integrity, & made oath that the foregoing is a true copy of the original marriage record~ 
Before me Geo: P Tallmadge Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut  County of Litchfield} Ss. Office of the Clerk of the County Court in & for said County- 
I Origen S. Seymour Clerk of No. Court do hereby certify that Geo: P. Tallmadge Esq is, and from the 10th of June last passed, has been, a Justice of the Peace for said County duly qualified commissioned &c and that the foregoing is his genuine signature. 
Certified under my hand and the seal of said Court this 12th day of August AD 1837. Origen S. Seymore Clerk
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Hon J L Edwards Sir I herewith send you the cents in support of the widow Elizabeth James claim to a pension for your examination Decision which I hope will be a favorable one she is very aged and infirm and the witness also and aged as you will see by the affidavit they do not fix diffinately on the time of the service but and confident it was rendered, perhaps some account as may be found on the Records of the Yours very Respectfully D.C. Churchill Lyme N.H. June 17th 1837
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Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14583. 
Elizabeth Davis
Former Widow of 
Constant Bliss 
Pri Rev War 
Act: July 4th 36
Index: --- Vol. A,  Page 140 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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V Elizabeth V Dame 
New Hampshire 
--------
Suspended
        =
 See letter 22d 
July 1837 to D.C. 
Churchill.
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Lyme N.H. August 30th 1837
     Sir, 
              your communication relative to the widow Elizabeth Davies application for a Pension was duly received. I soon called on her to see if she could State any thing further relative to her claim but the was so unwell that she could not converse on the subject. Simion Dooby one of the witnesses died since he made his affidavit. Abel Sawyer can recollect nothing more Ichabod Palmer has made another affidavit which is herewith transmitted together with a new certificate of the marriage of said Elizabeth which I believe is properly authenticated. I sent the old one which you returned to me to George P. Tollmage the Magistrate who to administered the oath to the Town Clerk, requesting him to obtain the necessary certificate of the Clerk of the County court in the back of it ~ he says in a letter containing the new certificate,, the old certificate having become sailed by the mail have been obliged to go to Kent & obtain another-- I have paid Mr Seymour & Mr Judd 90 and you may send me $3.00 which will cover the whole -- your de 
Copy     Geo P. Tollmage,, 
from what I can learn nothing more can be obtained by way of testimony of Witnesses none can be found who served with him and you must decide the case on such as is now furnished
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although all the witnesses testify that he was very active and much engaged in the service yet none of them can be deffinite as to the period of his service 
I am Respectfully 
yours he 
D. C Churchill 

Hon~ James L Edward 
Washington D.C.
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I Ichabod Palmer of Orford N.H aged 81 years depose and say that same time in the month of May last I gave an affidavit relative to the Revolutionary services of Constant Bliss late of said Orford deceased I then stated among other things that his first term of service was in St Johns in Canada but could not tell when or under whom he served but that he was gone not less than ten months on this Tour. I am still of the opinion that he was absent at the time refered to at least two months- at time of executing said affidavit I was in very feeble health and my wife lay at the point of Death and died a few days after. I am very aged and have in some measure lost my memory. I then stated according to my best recollection. I now further state (that from circumstance which have refreshed my memory) that said Bliss enlisted in the month of June 1775 and James the Regiment of lot Timothy Beidel the Captains name I do not member but his Lieutenant was Abraham Palmer or Charles Nelson or both. I do not know how long said Bliss served in said Company & Regiment I was not with him but am confident that he was absent on this Tour at least ten months whether in said Beidels Regiment that term of time I do not pretend to know - he was verry active during the Revolutionary war was out in the service at various times and places and in fact almost all the time
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until he was killed by the Indians in a most ab- boracus manner. I think he must have been in the service in all more than two years but I cannot state the time and places more than I have in this affidavit nor the names of any more of his officers as I have before stated I was not with him in the service.
[signed] Ichabod Palmer 

State of New Hampshire Grafton County Ss. Orford August 28th 1837. Then personally appeared before me, Ichabod Palmer above named and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is in his belief true - and I further certify that the said Palmer is well known to me and is a credible witness.
D.C. Churchill Justice of the Peace 

State of New Hampshire Grafton Ss.  I Nathan B Felton, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, hereby certify that David C. Churchill, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate, was on the 28 day of August current, and still is, an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, and that his name so subscribed is his genuine signature, being in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 29th day of August Anno Domini 1837.  N. B. Felton Clerk
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I Ichabod Palmer of Orford N.H. aged eighty years depose and say that ever since I was ten years of age I was acquainted with Mr Constant Bliss late of Said Orford Deceased the said Bliss and myself formerly lived in what was then called Kent Town in the State of Connecticut He now moved to said Orford at the same time. I did which was in February in the year 1769-and this was the place of his residence until the day of his death. I was well knowing to his being out in the service as a soldier in the Revolutionary War at various times the dates I cannot recalled nor the officer under whom he served as near as I can recall the first term of his service was at St Johns in Canada, he was gone on this hour nor less than ten months his wife lived at my Father's the most of the time the said Bliss was gone on this tour- I further say that said Bliss was very active during the war until his death which was one of the most cruel kind he being massacred by the Indians in the most barbarack manner while out on a scout with others in the State of Vermont. I further say that I have no doubt but said Bliss was in the service in the Revolution more more than two years. I further say that I have always been acquainted with the widow Elizabeth Davis who was the widow of the said Constant Bliss, the said Elizabeth was married to the said Constant Bliss in the aforesaid Kent Town (now Warren) by the Rev Sylvanus Osborn I well account their marriage but cannot said  = but the date. The said Bliss was killed as above stated as near as I can remember about the year 1782 a few years after his death the said Elizabeth was married to Levi Dame.
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and the said Levi Daine said on the 28th day of June A.D. 1809 and the said Elizabeth Daine has remained a widow ever since that period.
Ichabod  [his mark] X Palmer
State of New Hampshire} Ss.
Grafton County}
Orford May 17, 1837
subscribed and sworn to before 
D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas
I certify that the said Ichabod Palmer is a candible witness.
D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas
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I Amelia Strong of Orford N.H. aged 74 years depose and say that ever since the year 1775 I was well acquainted with constant Bliss & his wife Elizabeth until the death of said Bliss and have ever since that period been acquainted with said Elizabeth Bliss (now the widow Levi Dane) the said Bliss & wife moved from Connecticut to Orford some time previous to the year 1775. the year I do not remember and his family and himself where at have lived on the farm adjoining my Father's said Bliss was gone from home a great deal of the time from the commitment of the Revolutionary War until the day of his death and I understood at the time he was a soldier in the army and I then believed and now believe that he was out of the service I frequently went to stay with Mr Bliss nights in the absence of her husband she having no children was afraid to stay alone I cannot remember the particular periods of the service of said Bliss but I know he was out a great seal and was verry Tealous and active in defense of his country until his death which was one of the most cruel hand he having been killed by the Indians while out on a scouting party in the State of Vermont as I was informed at the time.
Amelia [her mark] Strong 
State of New Hampshire Grafton County⎬ SS. Orford May 18- 1837 subscribed and sworn to before me, and further certify that the said Amelia Strong is a credible Witness 

D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas
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I Abel Sawyer of Orford N.H. aged 84 years
depose and say that I was well acquainted with
Constant Bliss & Elizabeth his wife from his
first moving into Orford until the day of his
death, and have been acquainted with the said
Elizabeth now Elizabeth Dame
ever since-
I further say that according to my best recollection
said Bliss inlisted into a company command by
Capt Charles Nelson and went as I understood to
Ticonderoga & St Johns in Canada he enlisted
in the year 1775 the month I do not recollect and
cannot say how long he was absent I was not
with him. I further say said Bliss was out in the
service in the Revolutionary war at various
other times but as I was out in other places
and not with him I cannot say when and where
he served but I always understood that he was by
active and frequently out in the service and
in the year 1781 or 82 said Bliss as Sergeant headed
scouting party went into Vermont in the Town of
Greensborough or Hardwick he with others were
found exposed and taken by a party of Indians said
Bliss and one other of the scout were barbarously
put to death and the others were kept prisoners a
while and then released this I had from one of the
party by the name of Powers who was
taken Prisoner and afterward released said
own related the story to me on his return from
his captivity. I further say that a few years
after the death of said Constant Bliss his widow
the
the aforesaid Elizabeth was married to one Levi
Dame who did serve time in the year 1809
the month I do not remember and the said
Elizabeth has remained a widow ever since
that period
[Signature] Abel Sawyer

State of New Hampshire
Grafton County  ss Orford May 18. 1837
subscribed and sworn to before me - I further
certify that the said Abel Sawyer is a credible
Witness
[Signature] D. C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas
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I Ann Sawyer of Orford N.H. aged 80 years
depose and say that I was born in Kent town in
Connecticut (now Warren) I was always acquainted with
Constant Bliss & Elizabeth Dame (who was
then the wife of said Bliss.) I further say that I
well recollect that the said Bliss was married to the
said Elizabeth (her name was Elizabeth Palmer
before her marriage ) the said Elizabeth is [illegible]
years older than I am and I do not remember
any circumstance whereby I can fix the date of
their marriage said Bliss was killed by the Indians
as near as I can remember in the year 1781 or
1782. I understood at the time he was out on a scout in Vermont when he was killed I recollect
that after he was killed a man came to
our house who said he was present with said
Bliss when he was massacred the man that
came to our house that told us about it said
he was taken prisoner at the same time and was afterwards
released and came home
[Signature] Ann her x mark Sawyer

State of New Hampshire
Grafton County  ss Orford May 18. 1837
subscribed and sworn to before
D.C. Churchill J C.C. Pleas
I certify that the said Ann Sawyer is a
credible witness
[Signature] D.C. Churchill J.C.C. Pleas
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I Simeon Derby of Orford N.H. aged 81 years
depose and say that some time previous to the
year 1772 I became acquainted with Constant Bliss late of said Orford deceased he having
moved from Connecticut prior that time and
sd Orford was the place of his residence from that
time until his death which took place in
the 1780 or 1781 he was killed by the Indians in
the most barbarous manner while on a scout 
in the State of Vermont in the Town of Greensborough or Hardwick. I further say that said
Bliss was actively engaged in the service of his
country from the time the war commenced
to the day of his death I have no doubt but said
constant Bliss was out in the service during said
war more than two years, but by reason of old
age and consequent loss of memory I cannot
State the time and places where and where he
served as I was not with him although I
was in the service at the same time but at
different places. I further say I have been
acquainted with Elizabeth Dame (who was
one the widow of of the said Constant Bliss
ever since the year 1772 a few years after the death
of said Constant Bliss the said Elizabeth Bliss
married to Levi Dame who died in the year
1809 and the said Elizabeth has remained
a widow eversince that period
further say that on hearing the news that Sergeant
Bliss and three others that were with him were lost
or killed I with a large number of others went in
seal of them but did not find them but after
wards learned that we went within about four
miles of the place where said Bliss & Staper were
killed and the two others Nahan Powers & Nath
in were taken by the Indians
Simeon Derby
State of New Hampshire Grafton County ss. Orford
May 19th 1837 Subscribed and sworn to before me
and I further certify that the said Simon Derby is a
credible witness
[Signature] D.C. Churchill J C Pleas
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2160
Elizabeth Dame
N.Hampshire
admitted for 8 months $22.66

State of Newhampshire
Grafton ss
I Nathan B Felton, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Grafton aforesaid, hereby certify that David C Churchill whose name is subscribed to the nine
certificates written on the foregoing pages of the packet was 
on the seventeenth day of May last past
and ever since has been a Judge of said Court,
and that his name so subscribed is his genuine
signature being in his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court the
seventh day of June AD. Eighteen hundred and thirty seven
[Signature] Nathan B. Felton Clerk
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State of New Hampshire
Grafton ss.
I Nathan B Felton Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas for said County of Grafton, hereby certify
that David C. Churchill whose name is subscribed to the
nine certificates written on the foregoing pages of this packet,
was on the seventeenth day of May last past, and has
ever since been, one of the Judges of said Court, and that
his name subscribed is his genuine signature, being in
his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court
this seventeenth day
June AD Eighteen hundred and thirty seven

[Signature] Nathan B. Felton Clerk