Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,335, for John Shortridge, New Hampshire
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(3-1776)

SERVICE                           
N.H.

Shortridge, John
........................Margaret

NUMBER
W. 15,335

CONTENTS
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2215
Portsmouth New Hampshire
===========================
Margaret Shortridge 
widow of John Shortridge deceased 
who died on the 4th March 1819 
of Rockingham Co in the State of New Hampshire 
who was a private of artillery in the Company commanded by Captain Salters of the Regiment. commanded by Colonel Long in the New Hampshire line for 2 years 
Increased from $50:
============================
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire  Portsmouth,  
at the rate of 100 Dollars-cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
============================
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 8th day of Feby 1839 and sent Hon. J. Farrington  House of Representatives.
============================
Arrears to the 4th of September 1838.................$250.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 
4 March [18]39..................................................................50.00
................................................................................=====
................................................................................$300.00
................................................................................=====
(Revolutionary Claim,  )
(Act July 4, 1836,         )
(Section the 3d.           )

Recorded by D. D. Addison  Clerk
Book A   Volume 2nd.   Page 31
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I Margaret Neal, widow of the late Robert Neal of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged eighty six years, testify depose and say:--That we were married in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy eight, and that we resided at that time in Portsmouth near the Bridge, which connected said town to Janvrin's  Island on which was Fort Washington

I further depose that I was, at that time, well acquainted with John Shortridge and his Family:--His wife, the present widow Margaret Shortridge, being my husband's sister:  and that said Shortridge had before that time moved his family into the only dwelling house then on said Island when he was then stationed in said Fort as a Non Commissioned Officer or Soldier:--I further state that in the winter of Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine said Shortridge came from said Island in the night for me to go with him to see his wife, who was then confused with a daughter on said Island:  I went to his house near the said Fort and we occasionally visited each other until said Shortridge left the Fort in the Summer of 1779 and removed to Wolfborough:  By reference to the Bible records of the Shortridge family i find that the said daughter Polly was born on the 5th day of January seventeen hundred Seventy nine.
Margaret Neal X her mark   

Witnesses, Lemuel Adams
Tho's. L. Tullock-
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State of New=Hampshire
Rockingham County 
}Ss

Portsmouth   December 11th 1838.

Then Margaret Neal, personally appearing subscribed and made oath in due form of Law to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, before me.

I also certify that I have been acquainted with this Affiant for many years, and that she is, in my opinion, a credible and respectable Witness.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial seal the day & year last aforewritten
Wm. B. Parker
Notary Public.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
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I Lemuel Adams of Greenland in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire aged 70 years Depose and say That Mr. Joshua Brewster and Family moved into my dwelling House and took charge of my Farm, on the 1st day of April A.D. 1833. they brought with them their aged Mother, Margaret Shortridge, widow, who still continues to live under their protection, in my house, with me
I have ever found her regular, consistant. Honest and inteligent in relating the scenes which took place in the Family, in early life - and has never within my hearing, related an improbable or contradictory story respecting Her Husbands services in the Revolutionary War
She says that Mr. John Shortridge and Herself were both born and had always lived within two miles of Fort Washington untill the summer of A.D. 1779. that when the war commenced in the year 1775 Her Husband inlisted under Captain Ball, Dame, or Salter (she is not certain which) they were all of them at times, but Captain Salter, generally, and commanded them in 1779. And Mr. Shortridge helped them up the first breastwork at Fort Washington and continued to serve there, as gunners untill the summer of 1779 under several inlistments.
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she also says that Mr. Shortridge moved his Family into the only dwelling House on the Island, and near the Fort in the winter of 1777-8. and that her Daughter (Polly) was born then, the next winter, and was at the brest [breast] when she left the Island for Wolfborough New Hampshire after her husbands last inlistment had expired, in the summer of 1779.
I further depose that I made a rough draught of her declaration before the Court of Probate in April last and from the foregoing parts, and that old Family Records and handed it, to Justice Parker at Portsmouth to copy. and that I have no pecuniary interest in this, or any of Margaret Shortridges Concerns
Lemuel Adams
State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS
Portsmouth January 28th. 1839
this day personally appeared, Lemuel Adams and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the Foregoing Deposition by him subscribed.
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County SS.
Portsmouth January 28th 1839 I Certify that Lemuel Adams who signed the foregoing Deposition, is a Reputable man and I believe him to be a man of Truth.
Benjamin Penhallow Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
County of Rockingham Ss
On this eleventh day of April, in the year of Our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared befor eht Honourable John Harvey, Judge of Probate for said County, Margarett Shortridge, a resident of Greenland in the County and State aforesaid aged Eight seven years, who being first 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 4, 1836: -
That she is the Widow of John Shortridge, who was a private, gunner and, she believes, a Noncommissioned officer in the Revolutionary War: That he enlisted, in the summer of 1776 in Captain Titus Salter's company in Colonel Peirce Long's regiment of New Hampshire Troops for one year, and served under that and subsequent enlistments at the Forts in the Harbour of Portsmouth, New Hampshire four years or thereabouts.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Shortridge by the Reverend Samuel Haven D.D. then a settled Minister of said Portsmouth on the thirtieth day of August in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy: that her husband, the aforesaid John Shortridge, died on the 4th day of March Eighteen hundred and fifteen, and that she has remained a Widow ever since that period, as will more
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fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
witness
John Kelly
Margaret Shortridge her X mark

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written before me
John Harvey Judge of Probate
And the said Judge hereby declares His opinion that the above named applicant was married as above stated - that the said John Shortridge died as above stated and that the applicant has ever since his death remarried and still is his widow
John Harvey Judge of Probate
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I John Kelly Register of Probate for said County of Rockingham do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Probate Court for said County in the matter of the applications of Margaret Shortridge for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Probagte Court this eleventh day of April AD 1838
John Kelly Register of Probate
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I, James F. Shores of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, testify, depose and say: -That I am Clerk or "Scribe" of the South church in said Town and have charge of the Records of Marriage made or consummated by the respective Ministers of said Church: - That it appears from the records kept by the Reverend Samuel Haven, D.D., who was the settled minister of said church, that John Shortridge was married to Margarett Neal on the thirtieth day of August One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy, by said Haven: - I therefore certify, that the above is a true extract from the record with the exception of the date, which is reported on the record in fair legible figures as follows --
1770
Aug 30th John Shortridge and Margaret Neal
I James F. Shores above named, depose and say, that I hold the Office of Clerk or "Scribe" in the South Church in the County Town and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said South Church, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
J. F. Shores
Clerk of the South Church in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County Ss
Portsmouth N.H. 30th March 1838
Subscribed and sworn to before me, the day month & year but aforewritten
Wm. b. Parker
Notary public
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I, Titus Salter of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, Merchant, a Revolutionary soldier, testify, dispose and say: That I well recollect John Shortridge, of said Portsmouth, now deceased, that he served as a private and I believe afterwards as a noncommissioned officer, in my Father, Captain Titus Salter's company in Colonel Peirce Long's regiment of New Hampshire Troops in the War of the Revolution: To the best of my recollection said Shortridge served one and more years, commencing in the year 1776, but cannot state with precision how long, but should think at least two years, in Portsmouth Harbour in N.H.: - But the rolls of my said Father's company will shew, several of which were in my own hand writing and I have understood are now in the War Office at Washington
Titus Salter
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State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County Ss
Portsmouth the twenty seventh day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty eight: Then Titus Salter, personally appearing, subscribed, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the following affidavit, before me:
I also certify that I have been well acquainted with the affiant for upwards of Thirty years; and that he is, in my opinion, one of the most respectable persons and credible witnesses in this community.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notorial seal, the day, month, and year last aforewritten.
Wm. B. Parker
Notary-Public
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I Robert Neal of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged fifty eight years testify and say: That I am, and have been, ever since I was a child, well acquainted with Margarette Shortridge, the widow of John Shortridge deceased, a Revolutionary soldier, and who is about of applying for a pension, under the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836: Said John Shortridge died on or about the year Eighteen hundred and fifteen, and I know she has remained his widow ever since that period: Said Margarette being a sister of my father's, I was always well acquainted with her.
Robert Neal
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County ss
Portsmouth the second day of April 1838.
There Robert Neal, personally appearing, subscribed and made affirmation, in the form of law, to the truth of the above affidavit, before me:
I also certify, that I have been well acquainted with this affiant for upwards of twenty years, and that he is, in my opinion, one of the most respectable citizens and credible witnesses in this community. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
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set my hand, and affixed my notarial
seal, the day, month and year, last
aforewritten.
Wm. B Parker, Notary-public
We James Firneld of Durham and in the County of Strafford aged fifty seven year and William Firneld of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham aged fifty three years do Severally testify and Say: That we both lived near neighbors to John Shortridge and Margarett his wife, at Wolfborough, when and John died in the year 1815, and we know that said Margarett was never since intermarried, but still remaining the widow of said John Shortridge
James Firneld
William Fernald
Rockingham ss: published and sworn to, before me, this fourth day of April 1838
Wm. B. Parker, Notary Public
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State of New Hampshire
Rockingham
I John Kelly Register of Probate for said County hereby certify that William B. Parker Esq is a Notary Public of this State and that the signatures purporting to be his to the foregoing affidavits of James S. Shores, Titus Salter Robert Neal, and James Fernald and William Fernald are in my belief genuine and are his own proper hand writing
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and 
the seal of the Probate Court
for said County this 11th day 
of April AD 1838
John Kelly Register of Probate
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Revolutionary
Widow, Etc.
Number 15335
Margaret Shortridge
Widow of
John Shortridge
Private Revolutionary War
Act: July 4th 36
Index: Volume M, Page 204
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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2215
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Margaret Shortbridge [corrected to] Shortridge
widow of John Shortbridge [corr to] Shortridge
who died on the 4th March 1815
of Rockingham Co in the State of New Hampshire who was a Pri of Artily in the Company commanded by Captain Salter of the Regt commanded by Col Long in the N.H. line for 1 year
Increase to $100 per ann
Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth N.H
at the rate of 50 Dollars __ Cents per annum,
to commence the 4th day of March, 183[9?]
Certificate of Pension issues the 25 day of July 1838 and sent [illeg] Parker Portsmouth N.H.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $350.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept " 25.00
$375.00
[second page]
Lt Hon Jas Farrington
28 Dec 1838 do de
Jan 18 1839
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February 5
Jurat
New Hampshire

[center]
from
J. Farrington
Member of Congress
James L. Edwards Esquire
Court of Pensions-
Washington - D.C. 

[upper right corner]
Honorable J. Farrington
House of representatives
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Washington, D.c. House of Reps
Feb 5 1839
Sir,
Encloses are several new testimonials establishing Mrs Shortridge's claim to a full pension- also two letters from Mr Brewster, her son in law; and her Certifcate- I do home, Sir, the question may now be finally settled
There can be no doubt as to the equity of her claim- I have known Mrs Shortridge for many years; long before Pensions to widows were in fashion - she always said that her husband was in the service about four years; the truth of which I have not the least doubt of- She is poor, and always has been, since I have known her, which is near thirty years, but she is honest [underlined] - I would to God, that all, who are hanging upon the Government like Bloodsuckers [underlined], were as justly entitled to their claims as she [underlined] is to a full Pension - She always said that her husband realized but very little for all he ever received from the Government for his services I have no doubt of the fact from her always having been poor - She is a very sensible, and a very good [underlined] woman -
Very respectively, your Obt Servt.
James Farrington
Jas L Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions
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[Inverted]
[illegible]
[illegible]
Free
Honorable James Farrington
Member of Congress
Washington DC
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Greenland N.H. January 29th 1839
Dear Sir
On the reception of your letter requesting new Deposition from Capt Salter & Mr Neal, with every possible exertion, we have succeeded in obtaining & delivering them into the Portsmouth Post Office, together with another from Lemuel Adams Esq, all in one envelope & directed to you at Washington,
As Benjamin Penhollow Esq, is the oldest & most Respectable acting justice in Portsmouth - we presume his character is well known at the War department
But if not, I would respectfully refer you to the Hon Levi Woodbury, Hon Daniel Webster & Hon Samuel Cushman
To all of them, and sever other gentlemen there he is well known, and so is, the Deponant, Lemuel Adams Esq
With respect & high esteem I am your obedient 
Joshua Brewster
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Mr Josha Brewster [upper right corner]


Greenfield 
NH Jan 25 [illeg]
Hon James Farmington
MCa
Washington City
DC
Page 24

Tuesday am
Greenland January 29th 39
Dear Sir
Since addressing you this morning, informing that the required new Deposition of Mr Salter Y Abraham Neal were sent to your Address last evening, from Portsmouth Post Office
I have received your favour [sic] of 22nd instant with an inclosure from the Pention [sic] Office obligingly referring us to the John Starbird of Durham, for further information etc.
Lest you might wait, expecting further information by this Deposition I will now state that Lemuel Adams Esquire (whose Farm I carry on) some time ago, called on several Pensioners in all the neighboring towns, and had wrote to others as far off as Bangor, Maine, among others he visited Mr John Starbird at Durham and found Him to be a very indigent gentleman But although stationed at New Castle and partially acquainted with Mr. Shortridge, he had never been at Fort Washington or on Janvrin island -
therefore could not personally know of Shortridges services there a similar Statement was made by every surviver of of the New Castle and neighboring stations
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In regard to finding evidence "in the New Hampshire Secretary's Office at Concord" or "among the private papers of Captain Calter, I believe it was before mentioned, in my first letter to you on the subject, that I had been informed that all the papers relative to the New Hampshire Troops of the Revolution, were sent to the War Office at Washington, I believe by order of General Plumer
And that all the papers of Captain Salter of every description  were consumed by the great Fire at Portsmouth I believe in 1817.
Hoping and Trusting, Dear Sir, that you will find no further vexation in obtaining a full Pention [sic] for own your Mother, I am with high consideration your obedient Joshua Brewster
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I, Titus Salter, of Portsmouth, in the County of Rockingham and States of New Hampshire, Merchant, of the age of Seventyfive years, Depose, testify, and say that I was well acquainted with Mr John Shortridge of Portsmouth New Hampshire, and that he was a Private Soldier, at Fort Washington in the Harbour of Portsmouth New Hampshire, and that my Father Titus Salter was Capt of said Fort, and that the said John Shortridge inlisted I think in the month of September in the year 1775, and at the commencement on the First of January of the year 1776. the Company in which John Shortridge was inlisted in, were reinlisted again for One year, subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Continental Army, and I think after his reinlistment he continued in said Company, form One to Two years, according to my best recollection, and probably it might have been for a much longer time, and part of which time, the said Company was attached to the Regiment Commanded by Col. Peirce Long of Portsmouth New Hampshire, and who left this Station, for Ticonderoga, I think in the Fall of 1776. and the said John Shortridge continued at Fort Washington, under Command of Capt Titus Salter, and that said Shortridges name may be found in the Pay Rolls, of Fort Washington, at the Pension Office Washington, said Pay-Rolls, were made out on Cartridge Paper by me, Title Salter the Deponent in part who acted as Clerk or a non-Commissioned officer, to my Father Capt Titus Salter, I further Depose, Testify and say, that my Father Capt Titus Salter, commenced his Command, of Fort Washington, in the month of September 1775. And from that time until the Peace of 1783, the the exception of a part of the time, say about Eighteen or Twenty months, which period
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of time, said Fort was under the command of Captain Dame and Captain Deering, in the absence of Captain Salter my my [sic] Father, who was appointed to the Command of the Ship of war Hampden of Twenty Guns, on the Penobscot Expedition, and I think on his return from said Expedition, and on the following Winter, my Father, to the best of my recollection, took command again of said Fort, and continued there, until the Peace of 1783. and I myself was with him the whole of said time, and acted as a Clerk to him, or a non-Commissioned Officer.
Titus Salter
State of New Hampshire Rockingham Ss Portsmouth January 28th 1839 Personally appearing Titus Salter before me and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true- John Bennett, Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County ss 
Portsmouth January 28th 1839
I certify that the above named Titus Salter, who signed the foregoing Deposition, is one of our most Respected Merchants of this Town
Benjamin Penhallow Justice Peace.
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3537
Margaret Shortridge
wid of NH
Married 1770
died 1815
On Capt Salter roll
[illegible]January 1 1776 New Hampshire
State Artillery allow
12mo $50 pension
commence 4 March 1831
same roll November 5 1775

W. B Parer Esquire
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Page 29

Portsmouth, N.H. April 12th 1838
Honorable J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir:
Enclosed herewith is the claim of Margarette, the Widow of John Shortridge, a revolutionary soldier, to a pension, under the Act of Congress the 4th of July 1836: Any correspondence necessary to elucidate this claim, or her Certificate, if allowed, I request may be addressed to me at this place.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your most Obedient Servant
William B. Parker
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Payment to be made at Portsmouth NH by Isaac Waldron Esq. agent for paying Pensioners in the agency of Portsmouth New Hampshire

Recorded in the Pension office in Book 4 Vol. 5 page 31 by D.D. Addison, Clerk
Page 31

War Department
Revolutionar Claim.
I certify that in conforming with the 3d section of the law of the United States of the 4th July 1836 Margaret Shortbridge of New Hampshire widow of John Shortbridge who was a Private of Artillery in the war of the Revolution is entitled to receive Fifty dollars per annum during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September.
Given at the War Office of the United Sates, this 20th day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight
S Cooper
As. Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Cancelled [written vertically across center of paper]
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I Margaret Neal, widow of the late Robert Neal of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire, aged eightysix years testify and say that we were married on the twelfth day of February one thousand and seven hundred seventy eight, and that we lived at that time in Portsmouth NH. near the Bridge which connected Portsm with Janvrin Island on which was Fort Washington (the fortification for the defense of Piscataqua harbour) I further depose that I was at that time well acquainted with John Shortridge and his family,his wife, the present widow Margaret Shortridge being my Husband's sister, and that said Shortridge had before the above mentioned time,moved his family into the only dwelling house than on sd Island, when he was then stationed in said fortification as a non-commissioned officer or soldier I further depose that in the winter of 1779 said Shortridge came from said Island in the night for me to go with him to see his wife, who was then confined with a Daughter on said Island I went to his house near the said Fort and we occationally[sic] visited each other untill said Shortridge left the the said Fort in the summer of 1779 and over
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removed to the town of Wolfborough in this state - By reference to the Bible record of the Shortridge family, I find that the said Daughter Polly was born on the fifth day of January 1779.
Margaret Neal X her mark
Witness
Benjamin Penhallow
Robert Neal
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County SS
Portsmouth January 28th 1839 This day personally appeared Mrs. Margaret Neal, Widow, and made solemn Oath to the Truth of the foregoing Deposition by her subscribed.
Before me
Benjamin Penhallow Justice Peace
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County ss.
Portsmouth January 28th 1839. I certify that Mrs. Margaret Neal, Widow as above mentioned, is a very Respectable Woman, from my own knowledge of her.
Benjamin Penhallow Justice Peace