Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File [Blank], for John Mills, New Hampshire
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE N.H. Mills John Keziah
NUMBER [checkmark] 
CONTENTS

no pension nor bounty land claim
for this.
It is an application for half pay.
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[sideways] September 15, 1925

As served Feby [FEBRUARY] 20 1883

Hon W.W. Dudley
Dear Sir
The within is a true copy of claim of heirs of Capt John Mills for commutation of half
pay &c [ETC.] now on file in office of Secty [SECRETARY] of State. Washington D.C. to which you owe refund for verification &c. [ETC.]
My object in writing is to ascertain what Bounty Land was granted to said Mills or his heirs, if any, the service for which it was
granted &c. &c. [ETC. ETC.]

The branch of said Mills family that I represent 
claim that he never had Bounty Land, pay or
any thing [sic] else.

Please give me what information you can upon
this question.

Yours respectfully,

Geo [GEORGE] M Barrett
[illegible] of claimant within named
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Copy
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE. A FEB 8 1883

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
CLAIM OF HEIRS OF
CAPTAIN JOHN MILLS.
FOR-
Commutation of Half Pay, and Interest Thereon.

To the Hon. Sec'y of State, Washington, D. C.
The petition of Unadilla Witherspoon of Camden, and James Witherspoon of North Haven, in the county of Knox, and Fannie Blaisdell of Dedham, in the county of Hancock, all in the State of Maine, respectfully represents: 

First, That Capt. John Mills of Amherst, in the State of New Hampshire, was a first sergeant in Capt. Josiah Crosby's company of Col. James Reed's Regt., and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and as they are informed and believe, was promoted for meritorious conduct that day to a Lieutenant. He was a second Lieut., in Capt. Daniel Wilkins, Jr's., Co. in Col. Bedel's Regt., and was on duty with the Regt., May 19, 1776, at "the Cedars " when the Regt. was surrendered to the British and Indians.

He was first Lieut., in Capt. John Bradford's Co. in Col. Moses Nebol's Regt. at the battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777.

And he was Captain of a company in Col. Daniel Reynold's Regt., all in the War of the Revolution, same being New
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Hampshire regiments, and they believe that he was in the services of the colonies or of the United States during the whole of this war.

Second, That said John Mills married Keziah Lyon, and had the following issue:

1st, Abigail, born Aug. 1st, 1766; married John Witherspoon , and died in Maine, Dec. 24, 1845.

2d, Betsey, married John Dudley, and died in Canada.

3d, Ebenezer, born Apr. 23d, 1770; married Hannah Upton, and died the army at Burlington, Vt., 1812.

4th, John, born Apr. 24, 1772; married Edna Wilkins, and reported to have been lost at sea.

5th, Keziah, born June 11, 1774; married Jonathan Sherwin, and died at Landgrove, Vt.

Third, That said Abigail Mills and said John Witherspoon were married at Amherst, N. H., Nov. 14th, 1793, by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, and that said Abigail's name was entered on the records of said town as Nabby Mills.

That they had the following issue, now living or leaving heirs: Fannie, born Oct. 23d, 1794, married George W. Blaisdell; Unadilla, born Nov. 24, 1795; Ainstross, born June 19th, 1798, married Joshua Gage, and died Jan'y 3d, 1810,
leaving issue; John A., born Dec. 17, 1799, died June 2, 1881, leaving issue; and James Witherspoon, born Nov. 7, 1808.

Fourth, That John Mills aforesaid, died at Windham in the State of Vermont, 1812, and his heirs at that time were entitled to his Half Pay Commutation, and Bounty Land, under the
various Acts of Congress.

And now the petitioners claim that they are entitled, as heirs of said John Mills, to a portion or all of said Half Pay and Commutation, and the interest thereon for said Capt. Mills'
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service aforesaid, in said War of the Revolution, under said Acts of Congress and the decisions of the Court of Claims, as their interest and the interest of the other heirs of said Mills may hereafter appear.

Fifth. That they are unable at this time to show that there are any descendants of said Betsey, Ebenezer, John or Keziah Mills now living, but they believe that there are, and ask that
they may hereafter file evidence thereof, if any they find.

Also that they are unable to procure the complete service of said Capt. John Mills, and ask that they may have same furnished from the records of your Department or of the public Archives, and that they may be informed as to the condition of said Capt. John Mills' accounts or rights to Half Pay
Commutation of same, & c., & c.

They hereby constitute and appoint Geo. H. M. Barrett, of Rockport, Maine, their attorney, to prosecute their claim, and to receive and receipt for all vouchers, checks, papers and
documents thereto relating.

In witness whereof, the parties first above mentioned have hereunto set their hands this twenty-ninth day of July, A. D. 1882.

UNADILLA WITHERSPOON.
FANY BLAISDELL.
JAMES WITHERSPOON.

Witnesses:
R. WITHERSPOON.
L. M. EELLS.
L. A. WITHERSPOON.
R. H. CONANT.
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STATE OF MAINE,
COUNTY OF KNOX,} ss.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty - ninth day of July, A. D. 1882, and I hereby certify that the contents of the
declarations were fully made known to the petitioners, and that I am satisfied from my acquaintance with said Unadilla
Witherspoon and Fannie Blaisdell that they are the persons that they represent themselves to be.
EPHM. M. WOOD.
Judge of Probate Court.

SEAL OF PROBATE COURT.

STATE OF MAINE,
COUNTY OF KNOX,} ss.

On this fourth day of August, A. D. 1882, personally appeared before me, a Judge of the Probate Court for said County and State, James Witherspoon, who being duly sworn, declares that the foregoing statement by him subscribed, is true to the best of his knowledge and belief. I have no interest in the claim within set forth whatever.

EPHM. M. WOOD.
Judge of Probate Court.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS.
That we, Unadilla Witherspoon of Camden, County of Knox, James Witherspoon of North Haven, same County, and Fannie Blaisdell of Dedham, in the County of Hancock, all in the State of Maine, have constituted, ordained and made, and in our stead and place put, and by these presents do constitute, ordain, and make, and in our stead and place put Geo. H. M. Barrett of Rockport, Maine, to be our true, sufficient and lawful

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Attorney, for us, and in our names and steads, and to our use, to ask, demand, levy, require, recover and receive of and from all and every person or persons whomsoever the same shall or may concern, all and singular sum and sums of money, debts, goods, wares, merchandise, effects and things whatsoever and
wheresoever they shall and may be found due, owing, payable, belonging and coming unto us the constituent, by any ways and means whatsoever, especially to prosecute our claim for Half Pay, Commutation and interest thereon, as heirs of Capt. John Mills, of and for his services in the War of the Revolution.

GIVING AND HEREBY GRANTING unto our said Attorney full and whole strength, power and authority in and about the premises; and to take and use all due means, course and
process in the law for the obtaining and recovering the same; and of recoveries and receipts thereof, and in our name to make, seal and execute due acquittance and discharge; and for the premises to appear, and the person of us the constituent to represent before any governor, judges, justices, officers and
ministers of the law whatsoever, in any court or courts of judicature, and there, on our behalf, to answer, defend and reply unto all actions, causes, matters and things whatsoever,
relating to the premises. Also, to submit any matter in dispute to arbitration or otherwise: with full power to make and substitute one or more attorneys and our said Attorney, and the same again at pleasure to revoke. And generally, to say, do, act, transact, determine, accomplish and finish all matters and things relating to the premises, as fully, amply and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as we, the said constituents, if present, ought or might personally, although the matter should require more special authority than is herein
comprised, we the said constituent ratifying, allowing and
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holding firm and valid, all and whatsoever our said Attorney or his substitutes shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, in and about the premises, by virtue of these presents.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.

UNADILLA WITHERSPOON.
FANNY BLAISDELL.
JAMES WITHERSPOON.

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us,
R. WITHERSPOON.
L. M. EELLS.
L. A. WITHERSPOON.
R. H. CONANT.

STATE OF MAINE,
COUNTY OF KNOX, SS.} 
Be it known that on this twenty-ninth day of July, A. D. 1882, before me, the undersigned, a Judge of Probate Court in and for said County and State, personally appeared Unadilla
Witherspoon and Fannie Blaisdell, to me well known to be the identical persons who executed the within Letter of Attorney, and the same having been first fully read over to them, and the contents thereof duly explained, acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed. I have no interest in the claim.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the day and year last above written.
EPHM. M. WOOD.
Judge of Probate Court.

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STATE OF MAINE,
COUNTY OF KNOX, SS.}
Be it known, that on this fourth day of August, A. D. 1882, before me, the undersigned, a Judge of Probate Court in and for the said County and State, personally appeared James
Witherspoon, to me well known to be the identical person who executed the foregoing Letter of Attorney, and the same having been
first fully read over to him, and the contents thereof duly explained, acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed. I have no interest in the claim.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, the day and year last above written.
EPHM M. Wood, Judge f Probate Court

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
COUNTY OF HILLSHROUGH ss.}
On this 30th day of August 1882, before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, personally appeared Albert A. Rotch, who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he
resides in town of Amherst, County of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire; that he is Clerk of the town of Amherst, located in the last named County, and custodian of
the records thereof; that the following is a true copy of an extract from the record of marriages of such town, viz:

Married by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard: John Wetherspoon to Nabby Mills, November 14, 1793.

Deponent further says that he has no interest in the prosecution of any claim in behalf of
for
ALBERT A. ROTCH,
Clerk of the Town of Amherst.
Sworn and subscribed before me, this 30th day of August,
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John Mills
Revolutionary War

The date and place of birth and the name of the parents of John Mills are not shown.

While residing in Amherst, New Hampshire, John Mills enlisted, date not given, and served as 1" sergeant in Captain Josiah Crosby's
Company, Colonel James Reed's New Hampshire Regiment: he was at the battle of Bunker Hill and was promoted to lieutenant for meritorious service at that battle: he again entered the service, served as 2" lieutenant in the company of Captain Daniel Wilkins' Junior, in Colonel Bedel's New Hampshire Regiment and was at the battle of "The Cedars", May 19, 1776; he was promoted 1" lieutenant served in Captain John Bradford's Company, Colonel Moses Nebols [Note on right margin] Found sol. [SOLDIER] in [illegible] & in most of this serv. [SERVICE] in NH books. He was in Bradford's Co - Col Moses Nichols' NH Regt according to N H book [end note] (Nichols) New Hampshire Regiment; was promoted captain and served as such officer in Colonel Daniel Reynolds' New Hampshire Regiment; the dates of the above services are not stated.

He died in 1812, at Windham, Vermont. It appears that he lived at one time at Francestown, New Hampshire.

The soldier married, date and place not shown, Keziah Lyon. There are no data in regard to her.

The names of the following children of John and Keziah Mills are shown:

Abigail or Nabby, Mills, born August 1, 1766, married November 1, 1793, at Amherst, New Hampshire, John Witherspoon, born
October 4, 1766. Abigail died December 24, 1845, and her husband died March 16, 1855. Both died on Butter Island, Hancock County, Maine.

Betsey Mills, born ------- married John Dudley and died in Canada.

Ebenezer Mills, born April 23, 1770, married Hannah Upton, and died in army at Burlington, Vermont, in 1812.

John Mills, born April 24, 1772, married Edna Wilkins, and reported to have been lost at sea.

Keziah Mills, born June 11, 1774, married Jonathan Sherwin and died at Landgrove, Vermont.


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Children of John Witherspoon and Abigail Mills Witherspoon:

Fannie Witherspoon born October 23, 1794, married George W. Blaisdell.
Unadilla Witherspoon born November 24, 1795.
Ainstross Witherspoon born June 19, 1798, married Joshua Gage and died January 3, 1840.
John A. Witherspoon born December 17, 1799, died June 2, 1881.
Betsey Witherspoon born October 23, 1801, died October 17,1855.
James Witherspoon born March 15, 1803, died May 3, 1807.
Rodney K. Witherspoon born June 5, 1806, died April 30, 1846.
James Witherspoon born November 7, 1808.
Martha Witherspoon born May 28, 1813, died August 24, 1815.

In 1882, Unadilla Witherspoon, of Camden, Maine; James Witherspoon of North Haven, Knox County, Maine; and Fannie Blaisdell, of Dedham, Hancock County, Maine, were named as heirs of Captain John Mills.

Reference to a list of private claims presented to the House of Representatives of the United States from the 1" to the 31 " Congress
inclusive, shows that a claim was made by the heirs of John Mills for commutation pay for Revolutionary War services under the
which the 23" Congress, second session, brought before the House as a petition,
recorded on the 84th page of the Journal; report dated December 29, 1834, was adverse and disposed of by the House as follows: "Laid on table".

There is no statement in the papers on file in this office to show that the claim, a copy of which Mr. Barrett presented, was ever admitted and it might be assumed that the citation above in regard to the private claim of the heirs pertained to the same John Mills. 

John Mills
W. 21804
John Hills was born in 1755, in Dunbarton, New Hampshire. The names of his parents are not shown.

While residing in said Dunbarton, John Mills enlisted in April 1775, served eight months as a private in Captain John

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[left Margin] Made no statement about bl which Mr. Barrett ap. [APPLIED] for -for the heirs & which caused him to present the copy for the state dept because he found no record of any action whatever.  N.H. bl 160-58- book & register book under Act of 1855- searched & no record found of any action whatever

[right margin] [Referencing that death date of 
Ainstross Witherspoon] This date of death was shown in one place as 1810 but as that could not have been possible, I did not use it. Must have been an error. 

[right margin lower] Dictated by Mrs. F.
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[handwritten referencing Moore] Found soldier in N.H. book in this service.

[handwritten note referencing Barnes'] Could not identify.

[handwritten note referencing Lee's] Found a Capt. Lee of N.H.

Moore's Company, Colonel John Stark's New Hampshire Regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill: he enlisted in July 1776, served
five months in Captain Barnes' Company, Colonel Wingate's New Hampshire Regiment and was stationed at Mount Independence. He enlisted in September 1778, served one month as sergeant in Captain Lee's New Hampshire Company and marched to Rhode Island.

John Mills was allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1832, while residing in Dumbarton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.

He died July 23, 1833, place not shown.

The soldier married December 25, 1783, Margaret Colwell. The marriage was recorded on the records of the 1" Congregational
Church of Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The date and place of Margaret's birth and the names of her parents are
not stated.

Soldier's widow, Margaret, was allowed pension on her application executed August 21, 1838, at which time she was aged seven
ty-five years and resided in Dunbarton, New Hampshire.

There is no reference to children.

In 1832, John Mills, Junior, was a Justice of the Peace for Merrimack County, New Hampshire: No relationship to the family was shown.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Margaret Mills, widow of John Mills, (W.21804), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Margaret Mills, widow of John Mills, Certificate No. 985, issued July 19, 1843, rate $47.82 per annum, commenced March 4, 1843, Act of March 3, 1843, New Hampshire (Concord) Agency.
● ● ● ●

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

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Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I would like any information which you may be able to send me in regard to Captain JOHN MILLS who was a sergeant at the battle of BUNKER HILL and Lieut. of New Hampshire
RANGERS at " THE CEDARS "when the regiment surrendered. He was with the brave Amherst Company at Bennington and rose to the rank of Captain. In 1781 he commanded a company of 3 Months men raised at Charlston.

He died in 1812 in Windham Vt.

The above was copied from D.A.R. LINEAGE BOOK VOL, 53 PG. 193. At least seven people have joined the D. A. R. upon this man.

I want his birth - wife's birth and death also marriage date. His wife was Keziah Lyon.

Thanking you for all the help you have given me in the past and for your service in sending data.

Very truly yours,
(Mrs. H.Q.)  Ethel R. Houston,

HISTORIAN FRANCES DIGHTON WILLIAMS
CHAPTER D. A. R.

MRS. HOWARD R. HOUSTON,
465 N. MAIN ST.
BREWER -- MAINE.
[stamp] RECEIVED OCT 11 1921 [illegible] READER & VETS. ADH)
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary of States [sic] Office
I hereby certify that the following is a true
copy from the original file in this office, to wit
" Amherst [illegible] 17th June 1782. Nicholas Gilman Esqr. Treasurer for the State of New Hampshire

Please to pay to Genl Moses Nichols the wages
due to me for my service as Capt. of a
Company of Militia the last year to No. 4
in Charlestown in Colo Reynolds Regt.
& in so doing you will oblige your very
Humble Servt. [SERVANT]
John Mills Capt."


"34 .. 5.. 4
2.. 5.. 0
__________
36..10.. 4 "

In testimony whereof I have this 25 day of August Anno Domini 1838 caused the
Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed.

Jno. [JOHN] Whipple Deputy Secy [SECRETARY]
[seal illegible]