Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9832, for Marshall Smith, Vermont
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE
Green Mt. Boys
Vt.

Smith, Marshall
Polly

NUMBER
R. 9832

CONTENTS
res: at enl. Bridport, Addison Co., Vt. and died there Aug. 18, 1815.
Page 2

July 12th 1852

Appl/ &c in case
of Polly Smith
widow of Marshall

See, for additional
evidence, the family
Bible filed with these
papers-

Hon. J. Meacham
House of Reps.
Middlebury
Vt.
Page 3

State of Vermont
District of Chittenden

The Probate Court for the district of Chittenden in the State of Vermont.
To Hector Adams Secretary (illegible) of Milton in Chittenden County (illegible)

You are hereby authorized to 
take the testimony of Mrs. Polly Smith 
of Milton in the County of Chittenden, who
by reason of her grand age & bodily infirmity is
hindered in capability of appearing in Court to give her testimony which testimony is to be used for the purpose of showing such facts as may be within the knowledge of said Polly Smith to substantiate a claim before the General Government for a pension.

Sworn under my hand and the Seal of the
Probate Court, at Bennington this 24 day of January A.D. 1852

[signed] Charles Adams
Page 4

State of Vermont
District of Chittenden

On this 30th day of January AD 1852 personally appeared before me Hector Adams a Commissioner appointed by the Probate Court for the said District of Chittenden for this special purpose, Polly Smith a resident of Milton in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont aged Eighty four years, and (illegible) who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the several acts of Congress passed for the relief of certain Widows of Revolutionary Officers and Soldiers-
That she is the widow of Marshall Smith who resided during the greatest part of the Revolutionary War in the town of Bridport n the State of Vermont on the shore of Lake Champlain and was as she has learned from the said Marshall and from history, engaged during a great part of said war in the service of the United States as a Scout, Guard and Volunteer, though he was not attached to any Military Corps, as there was at that time no Militia organization on the Vermont frontier and no regularly organized Military force permanently employed on said frontier-
The first actual service in which the said Marshall was engaged was in the expedition under General Ethan Allen undertaken in 1775 against Ticonderoga and Crown Point- The said Marshall joined said expedition and he and his brother furnished a boat to take Allen's men across Lake Champlain- Said Mar-
Page 5

-shall was at the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point- He was afterwards on several occasions for a few days at a time engaged in actual service until the fall of 1778- at that time most of the inhabitants of said Bridport had been driven from there by the repeated excursions of the enemy upon them-
The said Marshall, his Brother Nathan Smith and John Ward however remained, and on the 4th day of November 1778, They being together were made prisoners of war by a party of the British under the command of Major Carlton and taken with between thirty and forty others to Quebeck [Quebec]. The said Marshall was held by the British as a prisoner of war till the Spring of 1780, a period of over sixteen months-
In the Spring of 1780 said Marshall, his Brother Nathan and said John Ward, escaped from the British and after a journey through the wilderness of great privation and suffering reached the American fort at Pitsford [Pittsford] in the State of Vermont.
She further declares that she was married to the said Marshall Smith at Addison in the State of Vermont on the 16th day of May AD 1786. That her husband, the aforesaid Marshall Smith died at said Bridport on the 18th day of August AD 1815. That she was not married to him prior to the close of his Services in the Revolutionary War, but their marriage took place previous to the first day of January AD 1794. viz at the time above stated and that she still remains the widow of the said Marshall Smith as will more
Page 6

fully appear by reference to the proof annexed.
{signed] Polly Smith

Sworn to and subscribed
at said Milton this 30th day of January AD
1852.
Before me Hector Adams Special Commissioner 
of the Probate Court for the District of
Chittenden.
This certifies that the above "across' in the last line on the first page of this declaration 
was erased before the Same was signed by the 
declarant-   
[signed] Hector Adams, Commissioner

Addison May the 16th 1786
Mr. Marshall Smith of Bridport and Polly Case of Addison was joined in Wedlock.
By John Strong Justice Peace

Town Clerks Office Addison November 4th 1851
This may certify that the above certificate of Marriage s a true copy of Record as recorded in Book No. 1 Page 351 of the Addison Town Records.
[signed] Henry Willmarth Town Clerk

State of Vermont}
Addison County Ss.} Addison February 5th 1852 Personally appeared the above named Henry Willmarth & made oath that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town of Addison, that the above certificate by him subscribed is true,
Before me [signed] Ozias Seymour Justice of the Peace
Page 7

State of Vermont}
Addison County Ss.} I George S. Swift, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Addison in the State of Vermont hereby certify that Ozias Seymour, whose signature is attached to the within certificate, was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that I verily believe said signature to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Middlebury in said County this Seventh day of June A.D. 1852.
[signed] George S. Swift
Clerk of Addison County Court.
Page 8

State of Vermont}
District of Addison Ss.}
The Probate Court for the District of Addison, 
to Ozias Seymour Esquire of Middlebury in said District,

Greeting
You are hereby authorized to take the testimony of Jacob Smith, of Bridport in said District, who by reason of his great age and bodily infirmity is rendered incapable of appearing in Court to give his testimony; which testimony is to be used for the purpose of showing such facts as may be within the knowledge of said Jacob Smith to substantiate a claim in favor [for] Polly Smith widow of Marshall Smith late of Bridport before the General Government for a pension.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Probate Court at said Middlebury this 4th day of February AD 1852.
[signed] Horatio Seymour, Judge
Page 9

State of Vermont}
District of Addison} On this 5th day of February AD 1852 personally appeared before me Ozias Seymour a commissioner appointed by the probate court for said District of Addison for this Special purpose Jacob Smith of Bridport in said District aged eighty six years and seven months at the dwelling house of the said Jacob in said Bridport who being duly sworn says That he & his Father's family consisting of his Father, Mother, his two brothers Nathan & Marshall and one sister in the spring of 177 moved from the State of New Jersey to the town of Addison, Vermont and remained in said Addison three years and then removed to said Town of Bridport on to a farm lying directly opposite Crown Point fort upon and in the vicinity of which farm the said Jacob has continued to reside to the present time. For the expedition undertaken by Gen. Ethan Allen against Tyconderoga [Ticonderoga] & Crown Point in the year 1775 my brothers, father & Marshall went with their boat to assist in transporting Allen's men across Lake Champlain and joined and took part in said expedition and my said brothers Nathan and Marshall were kept continually on their guard and were harassed more or less by the British and Indians from 1775 to 1779. In the fall of 1775 their house was burned down and on the 4th day of November 1775 as I have often heard my said brothers Nathan & Marshall relate they were taken prisoners by a party of British & Indians under the command of Major Carlton & taken to Quebec where they remained in prison two winters and one summer. In the Spring of the second year of their
Page 10

imprisonment they were taken to a place called Malbey and set to work from that place they made their escape & found their way through the wilderness back to Vermont & short time before my said brothers were taken prisoners my Father on account of being continually harassed by the enemy had removed with my Mother, my sister and myself to Tinmouth [Vt] & leaving my said Brothers Nathan & Marshall in said Bridport & on the return of the said Nathan & Marshall from their captivity they joined the family at said Tinmouth on the 19th day of July 1780 having been absent one year eight months & 15 days.
[signed] Jacob Smith

Sworn to and subscribed at Said Bridport this 5th day of February AD 1852
Before me
Ozias Seymour Special Commissioner of the Probate Court for the District of Addison
Page 11

I Horatio Seymour of Middlebury in the County of Addison and State of Vermont aged Seventy three years and upwards depose and say that I have resided in said County of Addison from the year 1799 to the present time, that in the latter part of the year 1799 I became acquainted with Marshall Smith Esqr. then of Bridport in said County of Addison that for several years after the year 1799 I was very often at said Smith house in said Bridport and he was frequently at my house and I have several times heard him give an account of his having been taken prisoner in the year 1778 and with his brother Nathan Smith, John Ward and others taken to Quebeck [Quebec] of his detention in jail in Quebeck [Quebec] , of his escape from prison and his return to Vermont. The account he gave of his capture, imprisonment and escape was substantially the same as that contained in "The Gazetteer of the State of Vermont" published in Montpelier in 1824 by Rev. Zadock Thompson from page seventy two to page seventy seventh of said book except that in the account given by said Smith he related more particulars of his escape and return from Quebeck [Quebec] than are contained in Mr. Thompson's Book. I never had any reason to doubt and never did doubt the correctness of the account said Smith gave of this matter. Mr.  Smith was a man who was very much respected, was the representative from the town of Bridport in the State Legislature for several years in succession.  When I was first acquainted with Mr. Smith he was a married man with several young children and the wife he then lived with Mrs. Polly Smith is now living and resides in the town of Milton in Chittenden County in this State and is the same person who is now making application for the benefit of the provisions made by the several acts of Congress passed for the relief of certain widows of revolutionary officers and soldiers.
I further say that Jacob Smith brother of the said Marshall Smith who is now living and resides in
Page 12

said town of Bridport and whose testimony has been taken in relation to this matter is a credible witness.
[signed] Horatio Seymour

State of Vermont}
District of Addison Ss.}

At a Probate Court holden at Middlebury in and for the District of Addison, on the 28th day of May A.D. 1852: Present Jedediah S. Bushnell Register and acting as Judge agreeable to Statute, personally appeared Horatio Seymour and subscribed the foregoing deposition, and made solemn oath that the same is true. And I certify, that the said Horatio Seymour is Judge of the said Probate Court, and that said deposition is taken before me, agreeable to Statute in such case provided, and that said deposition is taken for the purpose of substantiating the claim of Polly Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Probate Court, and set my hand, this 28th day of May A.D. 1852.
[signed] Jed. S. Bushnell Register
Acting as Judge
Page 13

I Zadock Thompson of Burlington in Chittenden County, Vermont of lawful age, on oath say that in the year AD 1824 I published the book entitled "A Gazetteer of the State of Vermont" published in Montpelier 1824. This being a first Edition - In the account of the Town of Bridport commencing on page seventy two and extending to the seventy seventh page, a history is given of some of those actions of the inhabitants in the first settlement of that Town. Before comprising this account, I spent some time in Bridport and had conversations with the (illegible) inhabitants and their account as then published is made from sources & approved to be correct and which I have good reason to believe is correct. Among other things I was furnished with a statement from the Rev. Asabel Streve to which is affixed the initials A.S. on the 77 page. This statement gives a particular account of the doings during then of the late Marshall Smith which account I believe to be correct. The account as published in the Gazetteer is considered, as I believe by the old inhabitants of that town to be correct.
[signed] Zadock Thompson
Burlington Vt. February 3, 1852
Page 14

State of Vermont}
District of Chittenden} Probate office at Burlington, on the third day of February AD 1852 personally appeared Rev. Zadock Thompson and deposed the foregoing affidavit and being duly sworn stated that the statement was true according  to his best knowledge, information and belief.
Before me
[signed] Charles Adams
Judge of the Probate Court

State of Vermont}
District of Chittenden}
At Burlington in and for the district of Chittenden, on this third day of February AD 1852, the foregoing deposition of Rev. Zadock Thompson was taken at the request of Phelps Smith to be used for the purpose of obtaining a pension for his mother, Mrs. Polly Smith.
In testimony of which I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Seal of the said Probate Court this third day of February AD 1852.
[signed] Charles Adams
Judge
Page 15

I Zadock Thompson of Burlington in Chittenden County, Vermont of lawful age, on oath say that in the year AD 1824 I published the book entitled "A Gazetteer of the State of Vermont" published in Montpelier 1824. This being a first Edition - In the account of the Town of Bridport commencing on page seventy two and extending to the seventy seventh page, a history is given of some of those actions of the inhabitants in the first settlement of that Town. Before comprising this account, I spent some time in Bridport and had conversations with the (illegible) inhabitants and their account as then published is made from sources & approved to be correct and which I have good reason to believe is correct. Among other things I was furnished with a statement from the Rev. Asabel Streve to which is affixed the initials A.S. on the 77 page. This statement gives a particular account of the doings during then of the late Marshall Smith which account I believe to be correct. The account as published in the Gazetteer is considered, as I believe by the old inhabitants of that town to be correct.
[signed] Zadock Thompson
Burlington Vt. February 3, 1852
Page 16

I Horatio Seymour of Middlebury in the County of Addison and State of Vermont aged Seventy three years and upwards depose and say that I have resided in said County of Addison from the year 1799 to the present time, that in the latter part of the year 1799 I became acquainted with Marshall Smith Esqr. then of Bridport in said County of Addison that for several years after the year 1799 I was very often at said Smith house in said Bridport and he was frequently at my house and I have several times heard him give an account of his having been taken prisoner in the year 1778 and with his brother Nathan Smith, John Ward and others taken to Quebeck [Quebec] of his detention in jail in Quebeck [Quebec] , of his escape from prison and his return to Vermont. The account he gave of his capture, imprisonment and escape was substantially the same as that contained in "The Gazetteer of the State of Vermont" published in Montpelier in 1824 by Rev. Zadock Thompson from page seventy two to page seventy seventh of said book except that in the account given by said Smith he related more particulars of his escape and return from Quebeck [Quebec] than are contained in Mr. Thompson's Book. I never had any reason to doubt and never did doubt the correctness of the account said Smith gave of this matter. Mr. Smith was a man who was very much respected, was the representative from the town of Bridport in the State Legislature for several years in succession. When I was first acquainted with Mr. Smith he was a married man with several young children and the wife he then lived with Mrs. Polly Smith is now living and resides in the town of Milton in Chittenden County in this State and is the same person who is now making application for the benefit of the provisions made by the several acts of Congress passed for the relief of certain widows of revolutionary officers and soldiers.
I further say that Jacob Smith brother of the said Marshall Smith who is now living and resides in
Page 17

said town of Bridport and whose testimony has been taken in relation to this matter is a credible witness.
[signed] Horatio Seymour

State of Vermont}
District of Addison Ss.}

At a Probate Court holden at Middlebury in and for the District of Addison, on the 28th day of May A.D. 1852: Present Jedediah S. Bushnell Register and acting as Judge agreeable to Statute, personally appeared Horatio Seymour and subscribed the foregoing deposition, and made solemn oath that the same is true. And I certify, that the said Horatio Seymour is Judge of the said Probate Court, and that said deposition is taken before me, agreeable to Statute in such case provided, and that said deposition is taken for the purpose of substantiating the claim of Polly Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Probate Court, and set my hand, this 28th day of May A.D. 1852.
[signed] Jed. S. Bushnell Register
Acting as Judge
Page 18

I Zadock Thompson of Burlington in Chittenden County, Vermont of lawful age, on oath say that in the year AD 1824 I published the book entitled "A Gazetteer of the State of Vermont" published in Montpelier 1824. This being a first Edition - In the account of the Town of Bridport commencing on page seventy two and extending to the seventy seventh page, a history is given of some of those actions of the inhabitants in the first settlement of that Town. Before comprising this account, I spent some time in Bridport and had conversations with the (illegible) inhabitants and their account as then published is made from sources & approved to be correct and which I have good reason to believe is correct. Among other things I was furnished with a statement from the Rev. Asabel Streve to which is affixed the initials A.S. on the 77 page. This statement gives a particular account of the doings during then of the late Marshall Smith which account I believe to be correct. The account as published in the Gazetteer is considered, as I believe by the old inhabitants of that town to be correct.
[signed] Zadock Thompson
Burlington Vt. February 3, 1852
Page 19

State of Vermont}
District of Chittenden} Probate office at Burlington, on the third day of February AD 1852 personally appeared Rev. Zadock Thompson and deposed the foregoing affidavit and being duly sworn stated that the statement was true according to his best knowledge, information and belief.
Before me
[signed] Charles Adams
Judge of the Probate Court

State of Vermont}
District of Chittenden}
At Burlington in and for the district of Chittenden, on this third day of February AD 1852, the foregoing deposition of Rev. Zadock Thompson was taken at the request of Phelps Smith to be used for the purpose of obtaining a pension for his mother, Mrs. Polly Smith.
In testimony of which I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Seal of the said Probate Court this third day of February AD 1852.
[signed] Charles Adams
Judge
Page 20

9832    REJECTED
P.O. Polly Smith
Service: Widow of Marshall

Enlisted: BLANK
Discharged: BLANK

Application filed: BLANK

Alleges: Claim filed too late to have
cause of rejection entered on
Re-enlisted: printed list of 1852.

Attorney: BLANK
P.O. BLANK
Recognized. BLANK
Contract. BLANK
Page 21

No. 14720
Polly Smith
Widow of Marshall (Nathan was crossed out)
Vt.

Rejected
Hon. J. Meacham Sep 16/52 [1852]

9832
Act July, 7, 1838
Page 22

84

Hon J. Meacham
Sept 16/52  [1852]
Page 23

228
Pension Office
Sep 16, 1852

Sir
The application of Polly Smith widow of Marshall of Vermont, has been received and filed under the Act of July 7, 1838.
The claim is rejected because her husband never performed any military service within the meaning of any pension Act. He never was in any regularly organized Company, nor have we any evidence that he ever was even a member of any Scouting party. His imprisonment does not constitute any claim under any existing Act of Congress.

Hon. J. Meacham
Middlebury
Vt.