Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3785, Jonathan Freeman, N.H.
Page 1

SERVICE
N. H.

Freeman, Jonathan
Sarah

NUMBER
R. 3785

CONTENTS
Widow was Sarah Huntington before marriage
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Wm L'y Hommedien
P. [Illegible]
Mrs. Sarah Freeman
Widow of the late Hon Jon. Freeman
Hanover
New Hampshire
[Illegible stamp in lower left corner]
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"Jonathan Freeman Esqr. of Hanover in the Province of New Hampshire and Mis. Sarah Huntington of Norwich in the County of New London and the Colony of Connecticut were married together on the 2nd day of February A.D. 1775:"
A true copy of record
Attest 
John H Grace
Town Clerk
Norwich, Connt. 17 April 1837

Sir,
The certificate above is as it stands on the Town record and it was the custom at that time not to give the Clergymans name.
Yours,
Wm. L'y Commedien
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Sarah Freeman Declaration
made January 27th 1843
N. H.
July 4, 1836  No 2
Sarah Freeman

H. H. Sylvester
Feb 20. 1843
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section
of the Act of Congress of the 11th of July 1836.
State of New Hampshire
Grafton SS
On the 27th day of January 1843 personally appeared
before David Churchille an associate Justice of
the Court of Common Plead for said County of Grafton
Sarah Freeman a resident of Hanover in said County aged __ 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
4th 1836 - that she is the widow of Jonathan Freeman
late of Hanover NH deceased who
according to her best knowledge and belief was
much of the time engaged as an officer in the Coun-
ty service from the commencement of the war until
its close. In the autumn of 1775 he was commiss-
ioned as a Lieutenant - But it is now next to
impossible for her to particularize all his towns of
service either in the immediate vicinity or abroad
thinks he went our town to Ticonderoga in 1776 and
another in 1777 besides being engaged many othr times
but to what account she is unable to state.
She further declares that she was married to
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the said Jonathan Freeman on the 2nd day of February 1775, that her husband the aforesaid Jonathan Freeman on the 20th day of August 1808; and that she has remained a  widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed or
that may accompay  [accompany] this declaration.
Sarah Freeman
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
D. C. Churchill a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
I certify that by reason of bodily infirmity the above applicant cannot attend the Court.
D. C. Churchill a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
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Freeman, Jonathan
(N.H.)  R 3785
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Recd. of Jona Freeman the subscription given by a number of the inhabitants of Hanover amounting to Eight hundred and thirty one dollars which I am to Distribute in equal proportion among the nine men who are to join Capt. Bushes Company.
Hanr. 26th Jany. 1780 
Saml Kendrick
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REJECTED
3785
P.O.
Sarah Freeman
service: wid of Jonathan
enlisted:____________,18--
Discharged:_________,18--
Application filed:___,18--
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract
Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for ________,18--
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We the Subscribers being appointed by ye Town of Hanover, a Committee to settled accounts with Jon'n Freeman agreeable
to a vote of said town at their meeting Ap 2d 1778 have proved to settle accounts with him and do find that upon a Settlement agreeable to said Voted that there is due to the said Freeman
one hundred and twenty eight dollars upon a Ballance and that we have allowed to said Freeman nothing for and service done in ye Town or at College nor do we find any thing that he has rec'd for Services or experiences within ye limits of ye town except [Illegible] Hanover Aprl. 6th 1778.
Committee
Joseph Curtis
James March
John Tenny
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[side]
Order on ye. treas in favor Capt Freeman 38-8-0

Freeman, Jonathan (N. H. ) R-3785

Agreeable to the within settlement this the within named for "Freeman to [illegible] of the Treasury of the Town of Hanover the within month agreed sum of one Hundred and twenty eight Dollars .
May 1st. 1778.
Selectmen
[signatures] David Woodward
John Wright

[side]
Orders on ye Treasury
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192
Sarah Freeman
D. C. Churchill 27 June
H. Hubbard 13 Jany
[illegible] T. L. & A. Thos. Smith
May 27, 1846

Let to Hon J. Wilson
Feb 19. '49
Act 4 July 36
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Colony of New Hampshire
The CONGRESS of the Colony of New Hampshire
TO
Jonathan Freeman Gentleman
Greeting
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Fidelity, courage and good Conduct
Do by these Presents constitute and appoint you the said Jonathan Freeman
to be Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Company in the Fourteenth Regiment
of Militia within the said Colony of New Hampshire.
You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Second Lieutenant
in leading, ordering and exercising said Company in Arms both Inferior Officers and
Soldiers, and to keep them in good order and Discipline; hereby commanding them to
obey you as their second Lieutenant and Yourself to observe and follow such Orders and
Instructions, as you shall from time to time receive from the Congress of said Colony for
the Time being, or (in recess of Congress) from the Committee of Safety, or any your Superior
Officers for the service of said Colony, according to Military Rules and Discipline, pursuant to the Trust reposed in You.
By Order of the Congress,
Matthew Thornton, President
Exeter the fifth Day of September AD. 1775
E Thompson
Secretary
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Pension Office
May 27, 1846
Sirs,
The additional papers in the case
of Sarah Freeman, (consisting of the new
declaration of the claimant, the deposition
of the Town Clerk, and his old documents,
shewing her husband's payment of the money
contributed by the Town of Hanover in 1780, to the recruits from that Town, and the settlement of the select men of his account current with the Town on 6th April 1778,) have been examined and filed.  Her husband was a Lieutenant in the Militia of New Hampshire, and the papers filed in her case in 1837, showed that he was a very active citizen, in aiding and sustaining the cause of 
independence; but it was not practicable to make out as much as 6 months service
The present papers do not not set forth,
as prove, any military service.
I am very Respectfully
your obt Servant.
J L Edwards
Messrs. T. L. & A. Thos Smith
Present.
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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 eight certificates written on the following pages of this packet was on the twenty eighth day of April last past, and still is, a Judge of said Court, and that his name so subscribed is his genuine signature being in his own proper hand writing. I also certify that John Durkee whose name is subscribed to the four certificates written on the following pages of this packet was on the third day of April last past an acting Justice of the peace for said County and has ever since been such Justice, and that his name so subscribed is in each case, his genuine signature, being in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the eighth day of May 1837.
[signature] N. B. Felton Clerk
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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 28th day of April 1837 personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Grafton, Sarah Freeman a resident of Hanover in the County of Grafton State of New Hampshire aged eighty eight 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 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Jonathan Freeman late of said Hanover deceased who was a Lieutenant in the the Company in 14th Regiment of New Hampshire Militia commanded by Jona Chase she further states that in the spring of the year 1775 he went to Connecticut and purchased arms & ammunition for this section of the Country. In the summer of 1776 he went again to Connecticut by the direction of Col Jona Chase on business connected with the concerns the Army he was absent at this time at least 4 weeks. She further states that on his return home while at Westmoreland N. H. he had intelligence that the enemy were at Ticonderoga, he hastened home and enlisted a company of men and started with them with all possible expedition for said Ticonderoga and was absent at this time at least six weeks and early in April 1777, he went with a company under said Colo Chase to Ticonderoga and returned home in the month of May being
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absent at least six weeks and immediately after his return, he went to Exeter and by the advice of the Committee of Safety from thence to Massachusetts and Connecticut and on his return he again enlisted a number of men and started for Ticonderoga, and on arriving at Cavendish in Vermont had orders to return and immediately on his return he was sent by order of the Field Officers as Express to the Committee of Safety then setting at Exeter. She further states that her said husbands last journey to Exeter was performed with great speed through the wilderness. That he returned worn down with fatigue and was attacked with a violent fever which for a time appeared likely to terminate his useful life and which laid him by from further services for two months or more. That although his of sufferings in consequence were severe and his disapointment great that he could not be with the Army (as she thinks he fully intended to be) yet his mission to Exeter was successful and was the means of sending efficient aid to the Army at Bennington. She further states that in October 1780 her said husband with others went to Royalton in Vermont at the time that place was burnt by the Indians. From said Royalton he was ordered to Newbury Vt. but before arriving at the latter place was ordered to return home. He was absent at this time five or six days. She further states that her said husband was during the revolutionary war actively engaged in the defence of his country in various capacities. She knows of no documentary evidence except what is hereunto annexed. Most of her husbands papers were in the hands of his Executor
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whose house was burned with most of its contents otherwise she thinks she might further produce some further evidence of his services from his papers.
She further declares that she was married to the said Jonathan Freeman on the 2d day of February in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five. That her husband the aforesaid Jonathan Freeman died on the 20th day of August 1808 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed.
[signature] Sarah Freeman 

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before.
D. C. Churchill J. C. C. Pleas

I hereby certify that the said Sarah Freeman cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court.
D. C. Churchill J. C. Pleas
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This may certify that the undersigned, a physician residing in the Town of Hanover State of New Hampshire & late Professor in Dartmouth College, has for several years been acquainted with Mrs Sarah Freeman of said Hanover & frequently attended upon & prescribed for her as physician; & that to the best of his judgment she is in full possession of her mental faculties & is indeed induced in a degree very unusual at an advanced age, with a clear & sound judgment & a strong & retentive memory.
[signature] Dan. O Oliver M. D.
Hanover N. H.
May 7. 1837
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State of New Hampshire to the town of Hanover Dr.
The following is a true account of the expenditures that the Town of Hanover have been at in the late contest with Britian, and for which they have received no pay from any State
| Viz |     | L | S | D |
| June 1775 | To 56 lb Powder purchased at Connecticut a 2/8 | 7 | 12 | - |
|  "  | To 1 Hd. wt of lead  at Do | 2 | 18 | 4 |
| May 1777 | To Mr. Freemans Journey to Exeter and by advice of ye Committee of safety from thence to Massachusetts and Connecticut for expens &c. | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| July | To Mr. Freemans time and expense as Express to the Committee of Safety at Exeter on ye evacuation of Ticonderoga by desire of a number of Field Officers paid | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| " | To 104 lb Powder purchased at Connecticut ad 5/4 | 27 | 16 | 0 |
| " | To 4 Wd wt. Lead at 5 of | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| " | To 360 Flints | 0 | 9 | 2 |

Signed,
Selectmen of Hanover
Nathl Babbit
Solomon Jacobs
Stephen Benton

Town Clerks Office Hanover N. H. April 14th 1837
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original account on file in this office.
Attest [signature ] Agrippa Dow Town Clerk
Copy examined Attest [signature] Agrippa Dow Town Clerk

State of New Hampshire Grafton County ss.
Hanover April 28 1837 Personally appeared before the above named Agrippa Dow known to me as Town Clerk of said Hanover and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before [signature] D. C. Churchill J. C. C. Pleas
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We the subscribers being appointed by ye Town of Hanover a Committee to settle accounts with Jona Freeman agreeable to a vote of said Town at their Meeting Apr 2d 1778 have proceeded to settle account with him and do find that upon a settlement agreeable to said vote that there is due to the said Freeman one hundred and twenty eight dollars upon a Ballance and that we have allowed to said Freeman nothing for said service done in ye Town or at the College nor do we find any thing that he has recd for service or expence within ye limit of ye Town except 14/0.
Hanover Apl 6th 1778
Committee
[signatures] Joseph Curtiss
James Murch
John Tenny

Town Clerks Office Hanover N. H.  April 14th 1837
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original on file in this office.
Attest [signature] Agrippa Dow Town Clerk
Copy examined [signature] Attest Agrippa Dow Town Clerk

Recd of Jona Freeman the subscription given by a number of the Inhabitants of Hanover amounting to Eight hundred and thirty one dollars which I am to Distribute in equal proportion among the nine men who are to join Capt Bushes company. 
Hanover 26th Jany 1780-
[signature] Saml Kendrick

Town Clerks Office Hanover N. H. April 14th 1837
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original recpt on file in this office.
Attest [signature] Agrippa Dow Town Clerk
Copy examined [signature] Attest Agrippa Dow Town Clerk
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The following is on the back of the within written report. "Agreeable to the within settlement this entitles the within named Jona Freeman to receive out of the Treasury of the Town of Hanover the within mentioned sum of one hundred and twenty eight Dollars.
May 1st 1778
David Woodward
John Wright
April 14 1837
A true copy
Attest [Agrippa Dow Town Clerk of Hanover N. H.

State of New Hampshire Grafton County ss.
Hanover April 28h 1837 Personally appeared before me the above named Agrippa Dow known to me as Town Clerk of said Hanover and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before [signature] D. C. Churchill J. C. C. Pleas
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Sarah Freeman
NH

F

H H Sylvester

Mr Cole
Feb 24 1851.

Ex to Col Sylvester
April 1 51
Page 24

Plainfield NH Feby 20. 1851
Sir
Permit Col. H. H. Sylvester to examine the papers in the care of my late Mother Sarah Freeman widow of Jonathan Freeman who had a suspended claim to a tion under the Act of the 4th of July 1836 she being a N. H. applicant under said Act for the services of her husband as a private Lt Paymaster & Commissary and oblige the subscriber one of her children.
Respectfully Yr Obt Servt
[signature] Edward Freeman

Hon J. E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
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Mrs Sarah Freeman
Hanover - East post office
County of Grafton
New Hampshire

[stamp] HAMILTON N.Y. APR 15
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Freeman was an influential & active man during the Revolutionary war & was almost continually engaged in some public business connected with that war, but deponent cannot now describe particularly the services by him rendered, but he well recollects that said Freeman was sent by the authority to the Eastern part of the State for arms & ammunition & also that said Freeman was frequently elected & served as a member of the General Court of that State. Deponent further says that he was well acquainted with said Freeman until his death & is well satisfied that he was in the service of his country in the army as above stated.
[signature] Samuel Kendrick
Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of April 1837
before [signature] Alanson Munger
Judge of Madison County Courts

State of New York
County of Madison ss. 
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Kendrick who has signed & sworn to the truth of the foregoing deposition & that he a credible witness & a man of truth & veracity.
April 11, 1837
[signature] Alanson Munger
Judge of Madison County
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State of New York
County of Madison ss. 
On this Eleventh day of April in the year 1837 Samuel Kendrick of Hamilton in said County being duly Sworn doth depose & say that he resided during the time of the Revolutionary war at Hanover in the County of Grafton in the State of New Hampshire. That deponent was well acquainted with Jonathan Freeman who also resided at said Hanover during said war. That in April (Deponent thinks) of the year 1777 the said Freeman entered the army as a Lieutenant in a Regiment of Militia under the command of Colonel Jonathan Chase of said Cornish in said State. That the said Freeman marched with said Regiment as a Lieutenant to Ticonderoga. That deponent was present at the time said Freeman volunteered & marched off & a number of the Townsmen of deponent entered the army at the same time with said Freeman & were marched off with him to Ticonderoga. That these soldiers were dismissed & returned home in the forepart of July in the year 1777 & a few days before the surrender of Ticonderoga. 
Deponent further says that at the time Royalton in Vermont was destroyed by the British troops, Deponent was called into the service & was in the same company with said Freeman. This was however on an alarm & they continued in the army but a short time. 
Deponent further says that the said
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Freeman was an influential & active man during the revolutionary war & was almost continually engaged in some public business connected with that war, but deponent cannot now describe particularly the services by him rendered, but he well recollects that said Freeman was sent by the authority to the Eastern part of the State for arms & ammunition & also that said Freeman was frequently elected & served as a member of the general court of that State.
Deponent further says that he was well acquainted with said Freeman until his death & is well satisfied that he was in the service of his country in the army as above stated.
[signature] Samuel Kendrick
Subscribed & sworn this 11th day of April 1837
before me [signature] Alanson Munger
Judge of Madison County Courts

State of New York
County of Madison ss.
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Kendrick who has signed & sworn to the truth of the foregoing deposition & that he a credible witness & a man of truth & veracity.
[signature] Alanson Munger Judge of Madison County
April 11. 1837
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I Delano Wright of Hanover County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire testify and say, that I lived within one mile of Lieutenant Jonathan Freeman of said Hanover from the year 1772 until the time of his death. That I was out with him in the service in the time of the Revolutionary war in the year 1780. At the time Royalton in Vermont was burnt, we went about forty miles from Hanover, drove the Indians from their encampment. They left their provisions over the fire for cooking. We then returned to Connecticut river and there fell in with Col. Bellows of Walpole in New Hampshire. The orders were then to repair to Newbury in Vermont immediately, but before we got there, we had orders to return home. We were out at this time five or six days. We were in the line of the Militia of New Hampshire in Col. John Houses Regiment, I think capt Thomas Durkee commanded the company to which I belonged. I further say, that I have heard the said Lieutenant Freeman relate and converse, of his being out in the said service at Crown point. I do not recollect the year that he was at Crown point. I remember well that the said Freeman went to Exeter in New Hampshire and I believe, from there to other parts, to obtain ammunition and that he was expected home on a given day that a number of men met on that day and that I met with them. That we waited for his return until late in the day. At length he came on, and very much exhausted with his journey I have seldom seen a man more fatigued. 
I am confident that he, the said Freeman, did the Duty of Commissary, Express, and paymaster, for more than one year in the Revolutionary war. I further say, that I have been acquainted with Sarah Freeman of Hanover, Widow of said Lieutenant Jonathan Freeman, ever since she was married to him, and know that she has not been married to any person since his death. Which took place August 20th 1808.
[signature] Delano Wright
Page 30

State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss.
Hanover April 28 1837.
Then personally appeared the within named Delano Wright and made solemn oath that the within affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me [signature] D. C. Churchill J. C. C. Pleas
Page 31

I John Durkee of Hanover in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged 75 years depose and say, that I have lived within two and a half miles of Lieutenant Jonathan Freeman of said Hanover from the year 1774 until the time of his death, and that I was out with him two short tours in the service of the Revolutionary war. The first time I went out with him I went as his waiter. We started for Ticonderoga, I think it was the the latter part of June 1777, passed through Lebanon, Plainfield part of Cornish and then crossed the Connecticut river into Windsor in Vermont, thence to west part of Cavendish. Here we had orders to stop, we were there about fifty miles from Hanover. We tarried there all night and were dismissed. We then returned home. We were out at this time four or five days. The next time that I was out in the service with Lieutenant Freeman was in the year 1781 in the in the month of February or the first of March at the time the Indians took Col Johnson of Newbury in Vermont nearly forty miles from Hanover. We started about midnight, it was very cold and the snow was deep. Lieutenant Freeman went on horseback, I went on foot, and had to go five miles further than he had. When we got to Newbury all was bustle, scouts were sent out in every direction so that the Indians did not attack the town of Newbury. We were out at this time three days or more. I do not remember how long. Both of these tours were in the New Hampshire Militia line in Col Jonathan Chase's Regiment, Capt Edmund Freeman commanded the first time and Capt Thomas Durkee the second time. F
rom what I have often heard said I have
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not the least doubt but that the said Freeman was out two other times to Ticonderoga, one in the fall of 1776 and the other in April of 1777, before the Americans evacuated that place, although I was not with him at either of those times.
Lieutenant Freeman was every way qualified for doing publick business and was employed as such during the war, some times as express, some times as sometimes as paymaster to provide munitions of war under the direction of the Committee of safety, and sometimes the field Officers, and that Lieutenant Jonathan Freeman was out more than one year in actual service in the Revolutionary war appears from the loose files that were kept in Hanover during that war which I have often perused and find them very deficient indeed, and it is almost impossible to obtain living witnesses at this late day. 
But one thing I know that there was no man whose zeal and perseverance was greater in the circle of my acquaintance than was that of Lieutenant Freeman, and I do hope that his aged and infirm widow Sarah Freeman may obtain a pension. It appears from a Lients Commission that I now have before me, that the Subalterns in the time of the war were under the direction of the great Committee of safety and they could employ them as they saw fit during the recess of the State Congress.
According to the best of my recollection after the year 1776 the Committee of safety in the New Hampshire Grants then so called appointed all necessary officers for the services of the war and assigned them their duty and I conclude that the said Jonathan Freeman, purchased ammunition for a number of towns up and down the Connecticut River.
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I further state that the committee of safety on the easterly part of New Hampshire and those on the westerly part acted in concert for common defence although they did not acknowledge the same jurisdiction at the time of the war.
I further state that the said Jonathan Freeman died August the 20th 1808 and that the said Sarah Freeman has remained a widow ever since that period.
[signature] John Durkee

State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss.  Hanover April 28th 1837
Then personally appeared the above named John Durlee and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before [signature] D.C. Churchhill J. C. C. Pleas

I hereby certify that the above named John Durkee is a credible witness.
[signature] D. C. Churchill J. C. C Pleas
Page 34

I Dan Parker of Hanover in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged 80, testify and say that I lived in said Hanover before the Revolutionary war and was well acquainted with Lieut Jonathan Freeman previous to that war to the time of his Death and that he belonged to Capt Edmund Freemans Company and to Col Jonathan Chases regiment of Militia in New Hampshire with me at the same time and that in the spring of the year 1777, I think in the month of April a large party of Militia from Hanover and other Towns were called for and went to Ticonderoga. I went and my impression and belief is that the said Lieut Freeman went also. We went down Connecticut River a number of miles crossed it into Vermont, went through that state to Ticonderoga, stayed there untill we were discharged. How long we were out at the that time I do not remember, something like six weeks think. Some of the troops I believe were there untill the last of June of that year. I think we returned the latter part of May soon after our return the said Freeman went to Exeter in New Hampshire from thence to Massachusetts and Connecticut to purchase munitions of war. I remember that the said Freeman was employed as a commissary paymaster and as
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an express much of his time during said war how long he was in the war service I cannot tell but more than one year. I have no doubt at all for he was a faoldier and or Statesman and went to Congress one Term from New Hampshire.
[signature] Dan Parker

State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss. 
Hanover April the 3d 1837 personally appeared Dan Parker and made oath that the above and foregoing declaration by him subscribed in his belief is just and true before me
[signature] John Durkee Justice Peace

The subscriber hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with the sd Dan Parker for more than sixty years and have ever considered him him strictly good for truth and veracity.
[signature] John Durkee Justice Peace
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Sa[missing piece] man
1920
wid of Jonathan
N H No 1.
Act 4 July 36
Page 37

We the undersigned inhabitants of be Hanover in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire of lawful age testify and say that we have been acquainted with Sarah Freeman Widow of the Hon Jonathan Freeman late of Hanover deceased for more then twenty years last part and have ever considered her to be a person of an unblemished character and of a fair reputation and of good morals and may be depend on for truth and veracity.
[signatures] Agrippa Dow
Elijah Miller
Salmon Dow Jr.
Israel Camp
Elijah Miller
Elijah Tenny
Elisha Tenny
Isaac F. Slade
Elisha Durkee
Salmon Dow

State of New Hampshire
Grafton ss.
There the above named subscribers personally appeared and swerally made oath that the above declaration by them signed in their belief is just and true before me
[signature] John Durkee Justice Peace
Thereby certify that I am well acquainted with all of the above named deponents and consider each of them to be strictly good for truth and veracity.
[signature] John Durkee Justice Peace
Page 38

Sarah Freeman Suspd.
Act of July 4th 1836.
N. H.
Page 39

State of New Hampshire
County of Grafton
Be it Known, that on this Twenty Seventh day of January A. D. 1853, before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Sarah Freeman & Hannah Freeman, heirs at law and Executor of Sarah Freeman deceased resident of Hanover in said County, and made oath according to law that they are heirs at law of Jonathan Freeman who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and of Sarah his widow who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the  Pension Act of July 4th 1836.
That they are directly interested as claimants in said Pension and make this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as our Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Power of Attorney and authority heretofore given, we hereby constitute and appoint C. W. BENNETT, of Washington City our true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of Sarah Freeman decd. for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and we hereby authorize our said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments and to receive for our exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate we wish made payable at the N. Hampshire Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that we might or could do were we personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that our said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
[signatures] Sarah Freeman
Hannah Freeman
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Sarah & Hannah Freeman to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged and that I have no interest whatever in said claim as atty or otherwise.
[signature] Jonathan Freeman J.P.

State of New Hampshire
County of Grafton ss.
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County that Sarah Freeman & Hannah Freeman, the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney, the Children of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify that Jonathan Freeman Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this thirty first day of January 1853.
[signature] J. D. Sleeper, Clerk.
1. Claimant name or names in full. 2. Post Office address. 3. "that he is the identical man," or, "that she id the widow of the identical man," or "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank. 5. "He is," "she is," or "they are." 6. Revolutionary soldier's full name. 7. Claimant's signature. 8. Claimant name. 9. Magistrate's signature. 
10. "Identical," "widow of," or "child of." 11. Magistrate's name. 12. Clerk's signature.
N. B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
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Washington D C
21 February 1846

Sir,
We have the honor to present the renewed declaration of Mrs Sarah Freeman widow of Jonathan Freeman of New Hampshire, under the act of 4" July 1836, with additional proof of service, to which we beg to invite your early consideration.
We are very respectfully
Your most obt Servt
T L & A Tho. Smith

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commr of Pensions.
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Private
Washington D. C.
Aug. 23 1858

My Dear Sir,
I have the honor to enclose herewith two letters from the Hon Asa Freeman of N. H., relative to a claim for a pension. These letters were left with me by Senator Hale for inquiry. I have seen the Mr Bennett named in the letters above referred to, who promised me, to examine his papers and write to me on the subject, which he has failed to do. Will you do me the favor to have the matter investigated and inform me of the result of any action that
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may have been taken with your opinion as to the validity of the claim.
Please return the letters of Mr. Freeman to me when disposed of.
Yours very truly
A. W. T. Russell

Geo. C. Whiting Esq.
Comr. of Pensions
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Petition of Plainfield &c.
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State of New Hampshire
To the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened at Portsmouth on the first Wednesday of February Anno Domini  1786, the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Towns of  Plainfeild, Lebanon, Cornish, Hanover, Canaan, and [illegible].

Humbly sheweth,
That soon after the commencement of the late War, when the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants formed an Union among themselves, your Petitioners situated within those Limits by a coincidence of calamitous circumstances were impalled into that Union.
That the matter of the Jurisdiction newly assumed by said Inhabitants of said Grants being laid before Congress, they by their resolutions of September A. D. 1779 earnestly recomended it to the three States claiming jurisdiction over said Grants to pass laws fully impowering Congress to judge and finally decide all controversies relative to jurisdiction, between said States, and said Inhabitants appointed a time for hearing the same and resolved that in the mean time said States ought to [illegible] their laws upon said Inhabitants.
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tants; except such as acknowledged subjection.
That this State soon after to wit day in the same year 1777 passed a Law to carry into execution said Recomendation, declaring said Resolutions to be founded in Justice and equity and conducive to the public good; and in the fullest manner vesting in Congress the Power mentioned in said Resolutions. 
That those Resolutions are founded upon this fact, that there was a new jurisdiction erected and in actual exercise, the right of which was strongly disputed. And the resolutions wisely allow the Continuance of it, till the right should be solemnly decided, in the mode pointed out. 
That this State by its said Act gave it to Congress the proposed powers of Decision, in terms which shewed the fullest intention to comport with the spirit of those Resolutions, which was, that all 
Contention & Claim should cease except in the equitable peaceful course of trial and decision pointed out as aforesaid and by approving the resolve that they ought not meanwhile to execute their Laws, this State did refer the controversy with this Agreement on their part, that they would suspend the executing of their Laws, or in other words would not to exercise jurisdiction over said Inhabitants.
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That the spirit of these solemn Acts was, that the right of Jurisdiction should continue to be held up as claimed by this State but the exercise of that supposed right should wholly cease until the decision by Congress. 
And that therefore no Law of this State made between the erection of the temporary Jurisdiction so tolerated by Congress, and the decision of the right, was, by the meaning of those acts, ever to be enforced on your Petitioners, who were not represented here during that period. And that this was the Suspension intended fully appears, since to make Laws against them, then, and reserve & lay them up to be executed in a future period, could not lend to peace the grand object proposed, but would be a suspension quite nugatory and of no value to said Inhabitants. 
That although Congress entered upon the hearing of said Controversies respecting jurisdiction, they have never to this day decided the same.
Your Petitioners therefore, who were with others thus put under the immediate direction of Congress, and served and contributed to their utmost during the war, humbly conceive, that from and after the time when they began to contribute and in every way do their proportion with the Inhabitants of said Grants, until they freely and fully joined in establishing the present Constitution, they were and ought to be considered, as entirely exempted from all Taxes laid by this State.
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That Congress as your Petitioners are informed, and expect to be able to shew, have acted upon the obvious view before given of said Resolutions and subsequent Law. In their requisitions for men and money, they diminished the proportion of New Hampshire, on this ground and representation, that no Levies could be by them consistently made on the western Towns, your present Petitioners; who were considered as under the immediate direction of Congress; their exertions from time to time commanded as great and important, and themselves held subject to General Orders. 
That Congress further abated to New Hampshire about two hundred and fifty men of their quota for the Continental Army, in order that such a number might be raised and employed for the defence of the Frontier, an inconsiderable part of which number only being raised the weight and expence of guarding the northern Frontier fell upon your Petitioners: and so heavy did it fall, they found themselves under the necessity of either quitting the Frontier with their families, or being constantly under arms, or raising and supporting men at out posts, &c, which last they chose and did at very great expence. 
That notwithstanding the matters aforesaid and altho' your Petitioners were not represented in the General Assembly of this State, yet said assembly did from year to year during the war, levy contributions and taxes on said Towns your Petitioners, and in many cases beyond their proportion, had they been liable several of said Towns now lie under heavy Damages,
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Damages then laid upon them, far beyond what would have been their equitable proportion, in case they had been to furnish their contributions by taxes laid by this State. Extents are out against them for continental men, when much more than their quota has been furnished, either for the continental Army or defence of the Frontier, which last have answered toward the quota of this State. Money has been collected by some of your Petrs. for the years 1778, 1779, which lay on hand till this State refused taking numbers of Individuals of there have furnished provisions for troops, & had no allowance: After turned out in alarms, & in that and many other ways in subserving the General Cause, have been at very great and hitherto unallowed expence. And while some extents have been levied, others are lying against year [illegible] for sums far exceeding their abilities. They have often petitioned for redress, which to their great distress they have hitherto failed of obtaining. And while their last petition was pending extents have come against them. 
Your Petitioners humbly conceive on the whole that upon the great principles both of Law and equity they ought to be freed from all the Taxes aforesaid, lying against them. They therefore pray your Honours to take their unhappy Case into your wise consideration, and to cancel and annull all the aforesaid Taxes Claims and Demands against them and decree and order that your Petitioners be for ever exempted and exonerated there from: or in some other way in your great
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great wisdom grant them adequate relief, as the Justice and equity of their Case requires and they as in Duty bound shall ever pray.

February 10th Anno Domini 1786.
Agent. for said Town
[signatures]
Benjn Chapman
Jonathan Freeman
Robert Colburn
Dudley Chase
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I Jonathan Freeman 2d of Hanover in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, Town Clerk of said Hanover, aged 62 years depose and say that I was well acquainted with Jonathan Freeman Esq. a soldier and Officer of the Revolution, late of this town, deceased. He was an Uncle of mine. I also have been and am still acquainted with Sarah Freeman his aged surviving widow, who is an applicant for a pension for the services of her husband the said Jonathan Freeman. She has applied to me for my opinion in relation to said services, and for evidence of the same. I have been elected and served as town clerk for said Town of Hanover 34 out of the last 37 years, and have had repeated applications for an examination of papers on file and the records of the town in relation to the transactions of this and other towns in the time of the revolutionary war, for the special benefit of many persons who have obtained pensions for actual service rendered their country; and have also been conversant with very many aged persons who were themselves also acquainted with said Jonathan Freeman, and also rendered the country service, but died before the passage of the laws granting pensions; the declarations and opinions of whom were that the said Freeman was as active and efficient as any other man in town or the vicinity, both as a soldier and an officer. And from such examinations of Books and papers in this office, and the declarations of aged & inteligent individuals of his acquaintance, I am clearly of the opinion that he rendered the country much actual service in the various grades of recruiting officer, Commissary and Paymaster, but for what length of time I think of nothing that will enable me to determine with certainty, but am of opinion from the date of payments and other circumstances that he must have been so engaged for the space of eight or nine months, and not less than eight.
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And [illegible] upon the present application of Sarah Freeman, Widow of the said Jonathan Freeman, I have made search and found that which is to myself the most satisfactory evidence of the service of said Freeman as Paymaster. From an examination of the Books and papers in this office, it appears that the Town of Hanover, from time to time furnished its quota of men for the service, and that the funds raised for the payment of their bounty & wages, whether by subscription or otherwise were placed in the hands of said Freeman and disbursed by him as evidence of which I find an account [illegible] moneys paid out by him as expenses of the war to the amount of $3407..70. 
I find as further evidence of his acting as Paymaster an original receipt dated Jany 26. 1780, signed to said Jonathan Freeman by Samuel Kendrick for Eight Hundred and thirty one dollars to distribute to soldiers or the men who were to join Capt Bush's Company, which original receipt is hereunto attached. But as before stated I am still unable to determine as to the length of time that he was in any way engaged in service. On a further search I find that at the meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Hanover April 2d 1778, it was "voted to allow to Jonathan Freeman four shillings a day for his expense whenever he has been in the service of the Town abroad and 2d per mile for his horse travel whenever he has rode from home in the service of the town, & that he be paid the ballance in his favor in money equivalent to the common price of provisions in the year 1775, and that nothing be allowed him for his time he having offered it gratis." I also find in conformity with said vote a settlement with said Freeman by a Committee appointed for the purpose on the 6th day of April 1778 at which time there was found due to said Freeman agreeably to said vote one Hundred & twenty eight dollars which settlement is signed by sd Committee and is here unto attached.
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I also find another paper containing evidence of the public service of the said Jonathan Freeman, to wit, an account of the Town of Hanover against the State of New Hampshire wherein are charges are made for the services of said Jonathan Freeman. The caption of sd account is as follows:
State of New Hampshire to the Town of Hanover Dr.
Dr
"The following is a true account of the expenditures that the Town of Hanover have been at in the late contest with Britain, and for which they have received no pay from any State."
Viz. June 1775. To 56th Powder purchased at Connecticut d 2/8   
L. S. D. /7.12.0
To 176d cost of lead  at do.  2.18.4
May 1777. To Mr Freeman's journey to Exeter and by advice of ye Committee of safety from thence to Massachusetts and Connecticut for expense &c.  8.8.0
" July - To Mr Freeman's time and expense as express to the
Committee of safety at Exeter on ye evacuation of Ticonderoga by the desire of a number of Field Officers, paid 4.0.0
[signature] Jona Freeman 2d

State of New Hampshire Grafton ss.
Sworn and subscribed to this fifteenth day of September 1845.
before me
[signature] Agrippa Dow Jus. Peace

I further certify that the affiant is a credible witness.
[signature] Agrippa Dow Jus. Peace
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[side]
Mrs Sarah Freeman N. H. claimant act 4 July 1836. Evidence in her case.

State of New-Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State.
I, Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Agrippa Dow is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Grafton duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the 29th day of June 1843 and will expire on the 29th day of June 1848 and his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 19th day of Sept 1845.
[signature] Thomas P. Treadwell
Secretary of State.
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Renewed Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July, 1836.
State New Hampshire
Grafton County, ss.
On the 2d day of September 1845 personally appeared before Daniel Blaisdell a Justice of the Peace within and for the said County of Grafton Sarah Freeman a resident of Hanover in said County aged 96 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following renewed declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Jonathan Freeman late of said Hanover who was both a private and an officer in the Country's service in the time of the war of the Revolution, and for whose services she claims the benefit of the above named act, still believing as she did at the time of making her first and second declaration, that he rendered actual service enough, and more than the requisite amount as an officer, to entitle her to a pension under said act. That this renewed declaration is made for the purpose of showing that she is the aged surviving widow of one who was early and most ardently, engaged in the service of his country from soon after the commencement of the war till near its close. Although unfortunately for her, she is unable to describe the various tours and kind of service that her husband, the said Jonathan Freeman performed, but as all of which took place subsequent to her marriage in February 1775. She
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cannot but be well aware that he was much of the time engaged both in the town in which he resided, and as far distant, place and in the performance of services as she believes, as a private recruiting officer Lieutenant Commissary, and she may add paymaster; for she believes that all or nearly all the funds raised in his vicinity by contribution or otherwise, for the payment of soldiers bounty, and wages, passed through his hands. He was so also as sundry times engaged as an express by the direction of the committee of Safety or other competent authority. But the number of terms, dates, grades and whole amount of services rendered by him, she cannot state; but knows he was engaged in what she did then and still believes to have been actual and useful service to the country and promotive of the cause in which the county was engaged from the fore part of the year 1776 through the year 1777 and more or less in each of the years 1778. 1779 & 1780. And so believing she claims for at least, as Commissary & Paymaster. That several affidavits in proof of her said husbands services, which were generally voluntary and gratuitous so far as his time was concerned, accompanied her first declaration which she supposes to be on the files of the department, or pension office with her said declaration and to which she prays that reference may be had on a further consideration of her claim, which is hereby meant to be renewed together with such additional evidence as may hereafter be obtained and forwarded in support of her said claim. She also prays that reference may be had to her former papers for proof of her marriage to said Jonathan Freeman and the time of his death. She further and lastly states that she has remained a widow ever since that period that is, the period of her husbands death. And that being
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desirous of knowing the results of a further consideration of her case before it shall be forever too late she hopes and prays, that it may immediately take place.
[signature] Sarah Freeman

State of New Hampshire
Grafton ss.
Sworn and subscribed to this 2d day of September 1845.
Before me
[signature] Daniel Blaisdell Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the declarant Sarah Freeman is personally known to me and that she is entitled to full credit as a witness.
[signature] Daniel Blaisdell Justice of the Peace
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[side]
Mrs Sarah Freeman N. H.
Renewed declaration act 4th July 1836

State of New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State
I, Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Daniel Blaisdell is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Grafton duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the 9th day of January 1843 and will expire on the 9th day of January 1848 and his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 19th day of Sept 1845.
[signature] Thomas P. Treadwell Secretary of State.