Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 25047, for Samuel Spears, New Hampshire
Page 1

SERVICE: N.H.
Spears or Spear or Speer, Samuel (Lydia)
NUMBER: W 25047
Page 2

Reported

5171
Vermont Montp'r.
Lydia Spear
widow of Samuel Spear
N.H.
who was a Private
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to 
commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the
29th day of March, 1844
and sent to Sewall Fullam, Ludlow VT

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol 1 Page 33
Page 3

Samuel Speer 
was born May 14th 1755. 
Lydia Walker 
was born September 20th 1763 
They were joined in matrimony 
September 19th 1782
Page 4

[advertisment - family records apparently kept on reverse & following blank pages]

BOOKS,
A large Assortment are kept up for Sale by
ISAIAH THOMAS, in WORCESTER.
Among them are the following in
DIVINITY.


At bottom: Spears, Samuel
N.H. W25047
Page 5

Eben Speer
Died Septemr 25th 1791

Eben Speer 2th [2d]
Was born August 4th 1792
Died Septemr 19th 1792

Alva Speer
was born Septr 22d 1793.

Sally Spears was born
March 3 1796 and
departed this life 1796
7 April following
Page 6

Lydia Speer 
was born October 14th 1783 
and died November 3d 1783. 

Dolly Speer 
was born May 29th 1785. 

Samuel Boid Speer 
was born March 26th 1787. 

Selene Speer 
was born January 15th 1789 

Eben Speer
Born  Sept [?] 1790

Crosswise: Spears, Samuel
NH W25047
Page 7

Charlotte Speer
Was born May 21 1797

Eban Speer 3d
was born July 21st 1799

Otis Speer
was born August 20th 1802
Page 8

I Eben Spear of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawful age do testify and say I am the son of Samuel Spear ^dec'd and Lydia Spear now a resident of said Ludlow, that said Samuel died at Cavendish in said County March 10 1813 that I was present and saw him die, and that mother Lydia Spear, has never since the death my said father intermarried but continues the widow of the said Samuel Spear 
I further testify that the record hereunto ^annexed has from my earliest recollection been the family record of my said fathers family, and that I fully believe it is the true record of what it purports to be. 
I further testify that my father had a scar on his head which he said was caused by a musket ball, which was shot into it at the battle of Bennington, and that I have often seen the ball which my father and mother informed me was cut out of his head.
[Signed] Eben Spear 

State of Vermont} 
Windsor County ss} at Ludlow in said County Octr 2nd 1839 - personally appeared the above named Eben Spear and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth 
Before me [Signed] Sewall Fullam Jr. Justice Peace 
I hereby certify that the above named Eben Spear is a credible witness and that his testimony is entitled to the utmost credit 
[Signed] S. Fullam Jr. Justice Peace
Page 9

769
Lydea Spear
Wid of Samuel
Vermont
Act July 7 1838
Page 10

State of Vermont} 
Windsor County ss}  On this Tenth day of August AD 1840 personally appeared before the Hon the Probate Court for the District of Windsor in said County, Lydia Spear a resident of Ludlow in said County of Windsor, aged Seventy Six years last September, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled "an act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Samuel Spear who was a private in the New Hampshire ^line of the army of the Revolution and that he entered the service of the United States in the fall of 1776 in Captain Runnells Company, as she thinks, and went to New York and continued in the Army until the battle of Bennington, where he was wounded in the head by a musket ball and came home on a furlough, had the ball cut out of his head, which ball was kept by this declarent more than forty years, and that at the time the said Samuel entered the service as aforesaid he resided in Londonderry in the County of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire she does not know how long he served under his first enlistment, but she does know that he was in the Army the most of the time until the close of the war. She thinks he enlisted twice, or three times and served under different officers the names of whom she cannot recollect except Capt Runnells and Lieut. M Clarren, she thinks he went from Peterboro, once and that his last Term of Service was for three years in Col Jackson's Regiment. 
She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Spear on the 19th day of September (1782) One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Two, but that there is no record thereof in the Town Clerks office in New Ipswich New Hampshire, where she was married, but that she has a record thereof in her family bible, which is hereunto annexed. 
That her husband the said Samuel Spear died March 10th AD 1813, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, and now is sole and unmarried, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the
Page 11

service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 - namely at the time above stated
[Signed] Lydia Spear 
Sworn to and subscribed by the said Lydia Spear on this 19th day of August, 1840, before me, [Signed] Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of the said Probate Court 
I, Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of the Probate Court for the district of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that Lydia Spear, [who] has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration, is a person of truth and veracity, and that the statements by her made, are entitled to full credit and belief. 
[Signed] Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of said Probate Court. 

State of Vermont,}
District of Windsor ss.} Probate Registry for said District 
I Salmon F. Dutton Regis[ter] of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor aforesaid, hereby certify that Thomas F. Hammond, before whom the foregoing Declaration of Lydia Spears was sworn to and subscribed, and who has certified to the credibility of the said Declarant, is Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor aforesaid, which Probate Court is a Court of Record; and that the signature annexed to the foregoing certificate of the oath and of the credibility of the said Declarant, purporting to be the signature of him the said Thomas F. Hammond, is his own proper and Genuine Signature. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said Probate Court, and subscribed my name at Cavendish in said District this tenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty 
[Signed] Salmon F. Dutton, Register
Page 12

Nov 6, 1906
T.
Page 13

Spears, Samuel 
His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid pension returned by the District Court for the District of Vermont, submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War Feby 21, 1795 and printed in the American State Papers, Class 9, page 155 

Rank; Private, 
Regt. Col. Nichols's; Capt Runnell's comp 
Disability: Is subject to fits, and his sences and memory impaired, occasioned by being wounded in his head with a musket ball. 
When and where disabled; August 1777, Bennington 
Residence; Cavendish. 
To what pension entitled; One-half. 
Remarks; Militia 
Evidence incomplete, viz. 1st, No evidence of three freeholders to prove the fourth requisite of the law. 2d, No evidence of two credible witnesses to prove the continuance of his disability, from the first two years after leaving the service
Page 14

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Samuel Spears Wid. File 25047
name also appears Spear and Speer

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED (Capt/Col) | STATE
Fall of 1776 | Aug 16 1777 (wounded in head at battle of Bennington) | Pvt. | Capt. Daniel Runnels/Col. Thomas Task | N.H.
--- | 3 years | -- | Col. Jackson | --
[Note to transcriber:] Be careful in writing this again (referring to "3 years"?), as this serv. belonged to Samuel Spear S. 43171 (Inf. from Mrs. A.G.D. as she was writing it for her records MMHF)

Battles engaged in, blank [but s/b Bennington]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Londonderry, Hillsborough Co N.H.
Date of application for pension, Aug 10 1840. Her cl was al. 
Residence at date of application, Ludlow, Windsor Co Vt.
Age at date of application, She was born Sept 20, 1763.
Remarks: Soldier ^was born May 14 1755 and married at New Ipswich NH Sept 19 1782 Lydia Walker.
He died Mch 10, 1813 at Cavendish Vt. Their children were Lydia b. Oct 14 1783, died Nov. 3 1783; Dolly b. May 29 1785; Samuel Boid b. Mch 26 1787; Selene b. Jany 15 1789 died Mch 14, 1789; Eben b. Sept __ 1790 died Sept 25 1791; Eben (2) b. Aug 1792 d. Sept 19 1792; Alva b. Sept 22, 1793; Sally b. Mch 3 1796 died Apr. 7 1796; Charlotte b. May 21 1797; Eben (3d) b. July 21 1799; Otis b. Aug 20, 1802.
Very respectfully
Page 15

Agent notified Feb 14 '42 

6545 
Vermont
 Lydia Spear 
widow of Samuel Spear 
and who died on the 13 March 1813 
of Windsor in the State of Vermont 
who was a private in the Comp. commanded 
by Captain Runnells of the regt. commanded 
by ---- in the Militia of N.H. for 6 months. 

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont, (Montp'r) 
at the rate of 20 Dollars per annum to commence 
on the 4th day of March, 1836. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Feby 1842 
& Sent to Paul Gerrish Esqr Townsend Mass. 

Arrears to the 4th of March '41 100.00 
Semi=annual allowance ending --- 
[=] $100.00 
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by Theo L Moody Clerk, 
Book A. Vol. 2 Page 57.
Page 16

Return of Officers and Men belonging to, and part of the Quota of the State of New Hampshire in the additional Regiment and Independent Corps of the Army with the  Towns and Counties to which they belong taken from the several Returns remaining in the War Office 
Names. Samuel Spear Rank Private
Corps. Jacksons - Town Peterborough 
Counties - Hillsborough 
War Office March 1st 1784 
A true Copy from the Records of the Office 
[Signed] Jos. Carleson Secy 

State of New Hampshire 
Office of Secretary of State Sept 16-- 1839 
[SEAL] I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the original now in this office 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said State
[Signed] Josiah Stevens Jr Secy of State
Page 17

Samuel Spear 1d 813 
Lydia Spear m. 1782
Runnells, N H Militia 
Fall 1776  
and contin'd in the army 
till the Battle of Bennington
16 Augt. 1777
Resided in Londonderry NH
Thinks he went from Peterboro, , and then NY last term of service was for 3 ys. in Col. Jackson's Regt.

Cert of Secy State NH
Saml Spear Sept 26. 1776 Runnels Task 
Saml Spear 1781. Depreecher[?] £38.7.7 
Col Jacksons Regt 16 [?] 1781. 
Depreecher[?] for 1780 & 1781 24.0.0
28 Oct 1784. 4.9.4
[=] £88.94

Crosswise: Saml Spear on Runnells Roll Col. Stark Sep 1777
2mo. 9 days - see note on file Jan 1842
Page 18

Wid. declares that her husband lived in Londonderry and so says witness Mr Atwood, until after the war closed. 
Alva Speer the son states ^orally that his Father lived in Londondery:- that he was in the service twice, to wit in 1776 and 1777 at Btl. Bennington, when he was wounded, and that he never went into the army afterwards - The Saml Spear of Peterboro in Jacksons Rgt entered in 1778 for 3 years. Dec 6 1841 
See papers Act '36 No 4745 
Let. S. Fullam 
Dec 2d 1839 & Jany 4 1840 
Original papers ret'd [?]
Proof of identity req'd
Page 19

Sewall Fullam Jr Justice Peace 
State of Vermont}
Windsor County ss}
[SEAL]  I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that Sewall Fullam Jun. is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission was dated on the Seventh November AD 1838 and will expire on the thirtieth day November next and that his signature above written, is genuine. 
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court at Woodstock, this fourth day of September in the year of an Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine 
[Signed] N. Williams, Clerk
Page 20

Revy WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 25047 
Lydia Spear 
Wid of 
Samuel Spear 
Priv Rev war 
Act Mar 3rd 1843 
Index: Vol. S, Page 236 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 

1908 Oct. 13 Hist to Chas Alva Spear v.l.m.
1908 Dec 2 & Hist to Harold Tappin v.l.m.
1909 June 25 Harold Tappin that no name is given as to the relatives of Soldier's mother &c. v.l.m.
Page 21

Rev
TAPPIN & SMITH, 
COUNSELORS AT LAW
15 WILLIAM STREET,
NEW YORK. 
HAROLD TAPPIN 
ADELBERT J. SMITH 

June 15/09

V. Warner Esq 
My Dear Sir; 
I have been informed that the papers in Wid. File 25047 Rev. War contain the information that Samuel Spear's mother died when he was a mere child and that he was brought up by a relation of his mother's in Londonderry -  Would you be so good as to let me know if the name of this relative is mentioned or if it states more particularly what relation ^he or she was ? 
Thanking you in advance 
Yours very truly 
[Signed] Harold Tappin

w.25047
U.S. PENSION OFFICE JUN 16 1909 [receipt mark]
Page 22

Nov. 25/08
TAPPIN & SMITH, 
COUNSELORS AT LAW
15 WILLIAM STREET,
NEW YORK. 
HAROLD TAPPIN 
ADELBERT J. SMITH 

P.S. Perhaps your records show where Samuel Spear and Lydia Walker were born and then I could find out from those places who their parents were.

V. Warner Esq.
Dear Sir:
I am trying to find out something about the ancestry of my great-great grandmother Lydia Walker, the wife of Samuel Spear, who fought in the battle of Bennington. I know that she applied for a pension in Aug 1840 and that it was allowed. I thought perhaps at that time she has to give the names of her parents in order to prove her identity and that you might still have a record of them.  
I should be very greatly indebted[?] to you if you would give me all the data you have about both Samuel Spear and his wife Lydia Walker. Perhaps you can suggest to me some other place where I might get some information. 
Hoping that I am not causing you much inconvenience and thanking you in advance for your [illegible],
believe me most sincerely
[Signed] Harold Tappin
Page 23

3 - 082. 
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Widow File No. 25,047 
Rev. War 
Certificate No. _________
NAME OF SOLDIER, 
Samuel Spears 
Capt Daniel Runnels Co. Col. Thos. Task's Regt N.H. Mil 
INFORMATION DESIRED. 
Residence of Soldier:
Hillsborough N.H. 
widow: 
Lydia (Walker) Spears 
Papers 
[Signed] E. W. Foster

[receipt marks:]
Army & Navy Division, RECEIVED Jun 5 1909
CHIEF'S DESK. U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS. ARMY & NAVY JUN 5 1909
FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JUN 5 1909
Page 24

3 - 871. 
RECORD DIVISION. 
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 

Briefed by L.D. L. 
Claim No. [blank]
Certificate No. [blank]
Claimant [blank]
Soldier Saml Spear 
Service NH [?]
Additional Service Rev War 

REMARKS: 
No claim 
Try Wid # 25047
Page 25

N. Y. City Sept 30. 1908 
201 West 91 St

Hon Chief 
Pension Bureau 
Washington D.C. 

Hon Sir,
Can you kindly oblige me by sending a copy of the Records of Samuel Spear of Cavendish Vt. who enlisted at Londonderry and served as a private under Capt Daniel Runnel's company Col Moses Nichols Reg't belonging to Gen Stark's Brigade in the Continental service. By conferring this favor I will thank you. 
Yours Respectfully, 
[Signed] Charles Alva Spear
Great Grand Son
Page 26

Record Division. 

June 25, 1909.
Mr. Harold Tappin, 
15 William Street, 
New York City, N. Y.

Sir: 
In reply to your letter dated the 15" and received the 16” instant, you are advised that in the claim of Samuel Spears, Wid. File No. 25,047, it is stated that "Samuel Spears lived in Londonderry, New Hampshire, from the time he was a small boy until after the War of the Revolution, with the relatives of his mother, who died when he was an infant". 
No names are stated, and no further data as to said relatives. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
Page 27

Ludlow Vt. Aug 3d 1841 
Sir 
I forward the deposition of Martha Atwood to show that the late husband of Lydia Spear was the identical person who formerly lived in Londonderry and was a Soldier of the Revolution. I think this, with the testimony heretofore forwarded, must be amply sufficient to show that Samuel Spear would if living be entitled to a pension. 
I have always supposed, that when a person was shown to be a resident of a town at the time the services were rendered and that a person of the same name and town rendered services, it was sufficient to entitle such person to a pension, unless it should appear that two persons of of the same name resided in the same town. 
I hope a certificate may in forwarded to Mrs Spear, as soon as convenient, for it is desirable to obtain her pension sometime during her life 
Respty Your Obt Servt 
[Signed] Sewall Fullam Jr

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Page 28

I See no objection to the
admission of the claim of
Mrs Lydia Spear
J.L.E.
Page 29

Vt - act 1838 -7697 
Lydia Spear - Samuel 
Let to Sewall Fullam Jr 24 March 1841. 
do to same Augst 27th 1841 
to Alva Speer 6 Dec. 1841 
" Paul Gerrish. Jan. 31, '42

act 7 July '38
Page 30

Lydia Spear 
Wid of Samuel 
Vermont 
Act July 7 1838 
Allow 6 ms $20 
pri Capt Runnells Co 
NH Militia on
rolls, Col[?] 

Paul Gerrish Esq 
Townshend Mass.
Page 31

CONCORD N.H. SEP 7 [postmark]
10 [postage]
Mr Eben Spear
Ludlow 
Vermont
Page 32

Muster and Pay had of men [named?] in Col Thornton & Webster's Regiment in the State of New Hampshire to serve at New York in Capt Daniel Runnel's Company in Col Thomas Task's Regiment September 26, 1776 
Men Names -}
Daniel Runnel Capt}  Advance to Officers & Bounty to Soldiers 
Samuel Spear Bounty 6-  [illegible-Batteling?] 2.8 
Total 8.8

order made out by the President & Chairman of the Committee of safety for the [illegible] due for Depreciation [?] to to the Army agreeable to an Act of the General Court Passed 16 March 1780 
1781 Nov 16 Samuel Spear 38-7-8

(The following is an Extract from the Act of March 16th 1780) 
"And the President of the Council or the Chairman of the Committee of Safety is hereby empowered and requested to issue his Warrants in favor of the said officers & soldiers upon its being certified to them by a Committee of this Court to be appointed to adjust the Amounts of the said Officers & Soldiers what is the Balance due to each of them respectively provided it shall appear by a Return made by a General Officer or the commanding officer of a Regiment, that any such Soldier, Staff, or Commissioned Officer belongs to this States Quota of the Continental Army, and that
Page 33

such non Commissioned Offices and private Soldier hath enlisted & been Mustered as one of this States Quota of the Continental Army for the terms of three years, or dureing [sic] the war, such returns specifying to what Company and Regiment or Corps they belong."
 
State of New Hampshire Exeter 16 Nov 1781 
To Nicholas Gilman Esq Treasurer 
Pursuant to an Act of this State, issue in Notes to Samuel Spear a Private in Col Jacksons Regiment, thirty eight pounds seven shillings and eight pence being the Ballance due to him for Depreciation[?] as reported by a Committee on said Amounts  [Signed]  M. Wease President 
£38-7-8 

State of N Hampshire Oct. 28 1784
To John T. Gilman   (£24-0-0 & 4-9-4)
The Committee for settling Depreciation, having certified that the ballance due to Samuel Spear for Depreciation in 1780 is twenty four pounds and in 1781 four pounds nine shillings & 4 pence. You are hereby directed to pay him on his order, the said sum and interest thereon agreeably to an Act of General Court passed March 23 - 1782 
By & with advice of Counsel [Signed] M. Weare  President
Page 34

State of New Hampshire 
Office of Secretary of State 
September 6 -1839 
I hereby Certify that the foregoing are Extracts from the originals now in this Office 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said State 
[SEAL]
[Signed] Josiah Stevens Jr  Sect of State
Page 35

L. Spear

$20 per an

Sewall Fullam
Ludlow Vt.
Page 36

Ludlow Feb 17. 1844 

Sir
I herewith return the Declaration of Esther Knight and Lydia Spear, I have amended my certificate as requested 
I am Sir Very Respectfully 
Yours 
[Signed] Sewall Fullam 

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Page 37

5587
Lydia Spear's
Declaration
Page 38

State of Vermont}
Windsor County ss} 
On this Fourth day of August AD 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber Sewall Fullam one of the Justices of the peace within and for the County of Windsor aforesaid Lydia Spear a resident of Ludlow in said County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged Seventy Nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3d March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. 
That she is the widow of Samuel Spear who was a private in Capt Runnels Company, in Starks Brigade she thinks but does not remember the Regiment, and that she heretofore received a pension of twenty dollars per annum from the United States under the Act of July 7 1838  She further declares that she is still a widow
[Signed] Lydia Spear
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before 
[Signed] Sewall Fullam Justice of the Peace 

I hereby certify that the above named Lydia Spear is personally known to me, and has been for more than thirty years past, and is the widow of Samuel Spear, and that she heretofore received pension from the United States as such widow, under the act of Congress of July 7 1838.  [Signed] Sewell Fullam  Justice of the Peace
Page 39

Pension Office 
Jany 31. 1842 

Sir,
I have received your letter on the subject of the claim of Mrs Lydia Spear and also the roll of Capt Daniel Runnell's for the year 1777, bearing the name of her late husband, Samuel Spear and have filed it with her original papers under Act of July 7, 1838 
A certificate for five years pension at the rate of $20 per annum, may be issued in the name of the widow, upon her advising the Department, that such is her wish. 
I am, very Respectfully 
Your Obed Ser,
[Signed] J L Edwards

Paul Gerrish Esqr 
Townsend Mass.
Page 40

Townsend Harbor Mas.}
Jan 23}

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Crosswise:
Jan 28 1842
Mass.
Lydia Spear
Page 41

Townsend Harbor Mass Jany 24 - 1842 

Dear Sir I have been requested by the friends of Lydia Spear widow of Samuel Spear who was a Soldier in the army of the Revolution to assist her in procuring evidence for the services of her husband in order to entitle her to a pension 
I suppose from a letter of Alva Spear to Samuel B Spear ^which I enclose that 4 or 5 months Service is already proved and I suppose from what information I can get that all the necessary papers in the case are on file in your office except proof of further service I suppose by the enclosed Copy of the rools [rolls?] of Capt Runnels Company in Stark's Expedition in 1777 will prove 2 months & 9 days service ^of said Spear in addition to what is already proved.
You will please forward the certificate to me if she is entitled to one if not write me what is wanting more
I am Sir your Obt Servant
[Signed] Paul Gerrish
 
J.L. Edwards Esq.} 
Commissioner of Pensions}  
P.S. Direct your Communications to Townsend Harbor Mass
Page 42

Lydia Spear now resides in Ludlow Vermont
Page 43

Townsend Harbor Mas.}
Feb 7}

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Crosswise:
Spear
Mass Feb 12 1842.
Page 44

Townsend Harbor Mass   Feby 7 - 1842 

Dear Sir in the case of Lydia Spear widow of Samuel Spear I am Requested by her son to say to you that he knows of no further evidence he Can obtain in her case except what is now in your possession he thought the evidence on file would prove more than 6 months service but if it does not, he wishes you to enclose a certificate to me for whatever service is proved 
I am very Respectfully 
your obt Servant 
[Signed] Paul Gerrish

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 45

Ludlow Windsor Co. Vermont 
February 9. 1841- 

Sir
The papers in the case of Mrs Lydia Spear are again forwarded to you with a new declaration, I am unable to show that Samuel Spear who enlisted at Peterboro N.H. was the declarants husband. I have however sent the certificate of his services, and a declaration under the Act of July 7. 1838. 
I think it must be manifest that the declarent is entitled to a full pension for six years, as the sums allowed Samuel Spear for depreciation alone would pay him for over Nineteen months service. 
Please forward a certificate as soon as practicable
I am, Very Respty. 
Your Obt Servt 
[Signed] Sewall Fullam Jr 

Hon J. L. Edwards 
Comr of Pensions
Page 46

BOSTON DEC 14 [postmark]
Mr. Samuel B. Spear
Townsend Harbor Mass
Page 47

Baltimore Dec 7 1841 

Brother Samuel
On my way to Florida & turned off here & went to Washington to see about Mothers application for a Pension.  The papers which they have had from the Secy of States office in N Hampshire show to their satisfaction that father served in 1776 4 or 5 mos. but they did not show that the served under Stark or that he was in the expedition to Bennington at all, they also show that one Saml Spear enlisted in 1778 in Peterboro, but there is nothing to show that he was the same one who enlisted at Londonderry in 1776 - now we must prove by the papers to be found in the archives at Concord, or in the hands of Issue of Starks decendents or by the parole testimony of some person, that he served in Starks expedition in 1777, two months or more; & we can get her name on the list; do not you know some one at Springfield [?] that would know the fact of his having been in that expedition, & being wounded; Some one who knows it was matter of general notoriety 40 years since; if you do, or can find any one, I wish you would communicate it to E F Parker Post Master, Proctorsville, by [cut off]
Page 48

would not she that was Aunt Spear, or the persons (I dont remember their names) who bought fathers house when he left New Ipswich, know this fact? I wish you would take some pains about this, that the papers may be had as soon as possible; or, if we could show that father served from 1776 when the papers shall that he was in service, to the termination of Bennington Battle, that would do; the papers also show that a Saml Spear enlisted in 1778 at Peterboro, but he is put down as a Peterboro man; if we could show that he was our Saml Spear, that would do; but we must show, somehow, that father served 6 mo, or we can not get mothers name onto the roll.
There is in the Pension Office as head clerk, a Mr Sylvester, who knows you; I think he is a son in law of Hubbard of Charleston, a pretty clever fellow - he will help us along all he can; also, a Mr Hiland Hall from Bennington, a Member of Congress; he will assist us & he may be written to in his official capacity if necessary; letters to him go post free 
I think you can help us to all this testimony by taking a little trouble & I hope you will not fail to do so; we then can
Page 49

get for her five years pay, at least [best?]. 
I leave here for Norfolk this day on my way to Florida & New Orleans, & hope to be back in March, when I hope to find this business all arranged, or in such a state that I can complete it.
The two Houses of Congress organised yesterday, & J Q Adam's through [threw?] in his everlasting Bone (of contention), abolition, & all members set afoul of it as so many mastiffs upon a Rabbit & had not disposed of it when I left 
Wishing you all health & hapiness untill I have the pleasure of seeing you I am 
Yours &c 
[Signed] Alva Spear
Page 50

Depo.
Lydia Spear
Page 51

I Martha Atwood of Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged Seventy one years do depose and say that I have been acquainted with Lydia Spear of Ludlow in said County, whose name before her intermarriage with Samuel Spear was Lydia Walker, about sixty Four years, and that I was acquainted with Samuel Spear aforesaid in his lifetime and lived in the said Samuel Spears family about fifty six years ago and for several years immediately after that time. I well recollect of hearing of the marriage of the said Samuel & Lydia about a year before I lived with said family, they were married in New Ipswich NH where they lived when they were married, and when I lived in their family. I further say that said Samuel Spear lived in Londonderry N.H. from the time he was a small boy until after the Revolutionary war, with the relations of his mother, who died when he was an infant as I was then informed. I further say that I was informed and now believe that said Samuel was a soldier of the Revolution during the time he resided in Londonderry, and that I know that said Lydia Spear is the widow of the said Samuel and is the same person that I lived with soon after her marriage with the said Samuel as above stated 
[Signed] Martha Atwood 

State of Vermont} 
Windsor ss}  At Cavendish in said County of Windsor this 2d day of August AD 1841 personally appeared the above named Martha Atwood, well known to me as a credible witness and made oath in due form of law that the above deposition by her subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth 
Before me
[Signed] Sewall Fullam Jr Just Peace