Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5874, for Moses Kent, Vermont
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Service
VT

Kent, Moses

Number
R.5874
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State of Vermont County of Bennington
On this 29 day of July in the year 1834 personally appeared in open court, before this Hon [illegible] Probate Court for the Probate District of Massachusetts in the county of Bennington State of Vermont now sitting Moses Kent was a resident of the town of Dorset in said County of Bennington aged seventy eight and who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he was born in the Town of Suffield in the County of Hartford State of Connecticut, on the 2nd day of April 1756. That he [handful of word crossed out] knows of no Record whatsoever being preserved of his age that in them on the of February 1773 as he now believes he moved with his Father's family to the said Town of Dorset, where he has ever since resided. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 
That in the month of June 1777 as he now believes he was called upon and turned out in an alarm at said Dorset to go to Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in the Company of Vermont militia commanded by Capt Abraham Underhill, Lieut John Gray, [illegible] Reynolds. In the Regiment commanded as he believes by Col Stephen Pearl that he marched from said Dorset to said Ticonderoga and remained there until it was surrendered to the British forces under the command of Genl Burgoyne that he retreated with the American Army from there to Castleton in said State of Vermont. upon there to said Dorset, to Massachusetts in said State. upon there he marched to Bennington, where he joined the Regiment commanded by Col Warren and where he was engaged in the Battle there on the 16th of August 1777.  Further he remained for several days after said Battle then returned to said Dorset where he remained subject to be called out at anytime or any occasion when he might be needed. He was frequently on guard to watch against the invasion of the enemy. he said that he was not regularly discharged from said service but [illegible] and himself released there from after the capture of Genl Burgoyne in October 1777. that afterwards in the  summer of 1778 as he now believes he enlisted at said Dorset for the sum of two months
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in the company of Vermont Militia commanded by Capt Isaac Clark, Lieut Ebenr Allen & as he now thinks, Ensign Smith & as he believes in the same Regiment commanded by Col Pearl that he marched from Dorset to Pittsford in said State when he was stationed at that Fort at that place then under the command of the said Isaac Clark that they there made Boats, in which they went down on Otter Creek to a place then called Neshobe, now as he believes in the Town of Brandon, at which two places he was stationed until the expiration of his said term of two months enlistment when he received his regular verbal discharge at said Pittsford & returned to his said home in Dorset. 
That in the summer or fall of the year of 1776 as he now believes, he was called out on a Sergeants guard at said Dorset, under the command of Sergt [blank] Barnum, to take & guard a number of Tories to Litchfield in the State of Connecticut. That he performed that service, on which he was absent, as he now believes, at least 10  days. 
That during the course of the Revolutionary War he was at various times, to the amount, as he now believes, of at least six or seven times besides those above detailed, called upon in cases of alarms & did turn out, at said Dorset & served in the same Company of Vermont Militia commanded as above stated, in the first place by Capt. Abraham Underhill, and afterwards by Capt. John Gray, & in the Regiment as he now believes commanded by Col Pearl & that he marched to & was stationed at Castleton and Rutland, in said State of Vermont, as he now believes from two to three weeks each time, & he now fully believes that the Terms of his service on those occasions were on an average in the whole, at least half of a month each time, but in consequence of the lapse of time & the loss and decay of his memory, by reason of old age he is not now able to particularly & precisely to state the particular times and all the particular circumstances, attending those services. And for the reasons above, towit the loss of his memory, occasioned by the  infirmities produced by old age, he is not now able precisely to state the amount of his whole services during the Revolutionary War, but believes that he can confidently state that he was on duty in the whole, at least six months. That he has procured therewith & forwards the affidavits of the Revd. Dan Kent of Benson in the County of Rutland in said State of Vermont, & Martin Kent Esq. of said Dorset
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to prove his said services. Besides whom, he knows of no other living witnesses, by whom he is able to prove the same. Neither had he any documentary evidence to support his said statements, but is willing to appeal to any of his respectable neighbors & acquaintances as to their general understanding & belief of his said services, & also as to his good standing in Society for integrity & veracity. That this meant Clergyman to him, & to whose Society & Church he belongs, is the Revd. William Jackson, who is now in an infirm state of health, but he has procured his Certificate to the above purport, which he also herewith forwards. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to any Pension, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State. 
[signature] Moses Kent
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above mentioned by & before me
[signature] Myron Clark  Judge of the Probate Court 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named Applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution & served as he stated. Certified by me
[signature] Myron Clark  Judge of the Probate Court
I Reuben H.  Blackmer Register of the Probate Court in & for the Probate District of all Manchester in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, do hereby certify that the forgoing contained the original Proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of the said Moses Kent for a Pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of said Probate Court and Manchester aforesaid, this 29th day of July AD. 1834, & of the Independence of the United States the fifty ninth.
Reuben H. Blackmer Register
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I Martin Kent of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont aged 64 years being duly sworn do depose testify & say, that I have been personally acquainted with Moses Kent of Dorset from my childhood. That during the war of the Revolution he made his home at my Fathers house in Dorset afsd. and my present belief is that he the said Moses [illegible] of turning out in an alarm when called on which was very frequent. I recollect that in the spring or summer of the year 1777 he marched to Ticonderoga I believe under the command of Capt. Abram Underhill and after the capture of that place by the British forces he retreated with the American army to Manchester 6 miles south of my Fathers where a post of the army remained a short time and I understood that the sd Moses was subject to the orders of the officer commanding there untill [until] after the surrendering of Gen. Burgoyne's Army at Saratoga and was as I have no doubt engaged in the Battle of Bennington as I have often heard him and his brothers who served with him at the time relate particulars concerning that engagement. At one time I think in the year 1778 he the sd Moses was under the command of Capt. Isaac Clark and was absent from home, I believe 2 months and as I understood stationed a part of the time at Pittsford in the County of Rutland. I do not hesitate to say that according to my present recollection & belief he the sd Moses Kent performed during the war of the Revolution more than six months military service. 
[signature] Martin Kent 
State of Vermont
Bennington County ss.
Sworn & subscribed this 20th day of July AD 1834 before me
Gordon B Southworth Justice Peace
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State of Vermont 
Bennington County ss. 
I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington County Court, hereby certify that Gordon B. Southworth Esqr. whose signature appears to the foregoing, is a Justice of the peace in & for sd County of Bennington, duly qualified by law, to act as such, & that his signature I believe is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of our said County Court, at Bennington this 31st day of July AD. 1834 & of the independence of the United States, the 59th.
[signature] Henry Robinson
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I Dan Kent of Benson, in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 76 years, do testify, declare & say that I have knowledge, and recollection, that previous to the surrender of the Fort at Ticonderoga in the summer of 1777 to the British army under the command of Gen. Burgoyne, and I should now think, as early as the latter part of June in the same year, my brother, Moses Kent of Dorset, was called upon, and turned out in an alarm, in the company then commanded, as I now believe, by Capt Abraham Underhill, and marched from said Dorset to said Ticonderoga, and was there at the time said Fort was surrendered to the British that he retreated with the American army and returned to said Dorset and to Manchester. That he continued subject to military duly and military command until the battle at Bennington on the 16th of August of the same year 1777 in which he was engaged. That after the said battle he remained at Bennington for a short time and again returned to Dorset, but my full belief is that he was still liable and subject to be called upon to do military duty, tho not in actual military service, except on guard to watch against the incursions of the enemy, until after the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne's army at Saratoga in October following. And I further say that I have knowledge & recollection that in the winter of 1777-8 agreeably to my best present recollection, he the said Moses enlisted for the term of two months in the company then commanded by Capt Isaac Clark to go to Pittsford in this State, that he accordingly went and was stationed at said Pittsford and vicinity, and as I fully believe served through the said term of two months.  I have also recollection that in the year 1776 as near as I can now remember, he the said Moses turned out in a sergeants guard as I now believe to take and guard some tories to Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, in which service he was probably occupied about 10 or 12 days.  I have also recollection that at several times during the Revolutionary War, twice certainly, and I should now think as many as four or five times, the said Moses was called upon and turned out in alarms, and went to Castleton and Rutland on military service, and that he was absent on such services about as much as half month at each of those times. And I further say that from my personal knowledge I am fully confident that the said Moses Kent performed as much or more than six months actual military duty during the Revolutionary War.
[signature] Dan Kent
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State of Vermont
Rutland County ss.
Benson July 3, 1834.
Personally appeared the Rev. Dan Kent, who has signed the foregoing and made solemn oath that the facts therein Stated are true according to his best knowledge and belief. And I further certify that he is personally known to me, and that Hhs statements are entitled to full credit and belief. Attest
M. W. Smith Just Peace

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss.
I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Milo W. Smith is a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned and that I believe his signature above to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court of Rutland this 2d day of August A. D. 1834.
[signature] R. Pierpoint
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[initialed]
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

December 4, 1925

Mrs. C. A. Anderson
522 West Wabasha St.,
Winona, Minn.

Madam: 
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 5874 it appears that Moses Kent was born April 2, 1756 in Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut.
[He] Moved to Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont in February 1773 and while living there in the summer [or] fall of 1776 was called out on a sergeant's guard under Sergeant Barnum to take a number of Tories to Litchfield, Connecticut and served ten days.
He enlisted in June 1777, served as private in Captain Abraham Underhill's Company, Colonel Stephen Pearl's Vermont Regiment and was at the battle of Bennington after which he returned home.
He enlisted in the summer of 1778 and served two months as private in Captain Isaac Clark's Company, Colonel Stephen Pearls' Vermont regiment.
He also stated that he was out on alarms at various
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times in Captain Abraham Underhill's and John Gray's Company, Colonel Stephen Pearl's Vermont Regiment, no dates given.
He applied for pension Juny 29, 1832 while living at Dorset, Vermont, but his claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months actual military service as required by the pension laws.
It is not stated whether he was ever married.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

Bro. Dan age 76 in 1834
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RECORD DIVISION.
3-525.
_____________________
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
R. 3-874 | Washington, D. C., ....., 19..

In reply to your request [blank,] received [blank]
for a statement of the military history of Moses Kent
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
________________________________
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Summer or fall 1776 |
June 1777 |
Summer 1778|

LENGTH OF SERVICE.  
10 days |
[blank]
I was at [illegable] times on alarms

RANK.
Pvt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
on a Sargeant's Guard
Abraham Underhill |
 Isaac Clark |
 Abraham Underhill |
John Gray |
COLONEL.
Stephen Pearl |
Warren Warner |
Stephen Pearl |
Stephen Pearl |

STATE.
Vt.
Battles engaged in, Bennington
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dorset Vt
Date of application for pension, July 27, 1834
Residence at date of application, Dorset [illegible] Vt
Age at date of application, [illegible] Hartford Co Com. Apr 2 1756

Remarks: 
The claim was rejected on the grounds of no 
proof of six months actual service in the field or garrison as required by the Act of June 7, 1832 under which soldier applied

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
[additional handwritten notation] 
Brother Daniel 76yrs old in 1834
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O. W. and N. Division.   3-525
M. B. H.
Rev S Rej 5874
Rev War
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., March 29 1906
Madam
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Moses Kent, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
| DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. 
| 1776 |
| June 1777 |
| Summer 1778 |
| LENGTH OF SERVICE. |
| 10 days |
| blank |
| 2 mos |
| blank |
| RANK. |
| Private |
| Private |
| Private |
| Private |
| OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS  RENDERED. | 
| CAPTAIN. |
| as a Sergts guard |
| Abraham Underhill |
| Isaac Clark |
| Abraham Underhill |
| John Gray |
| COLONEL. |
| [blank] |
| Warren |
| [blank[ |
| STATE. |
| Vt. |
| Vt. |
| Vt. |
| Vt. |
| Vt. |

Battles engaged in, Bennington
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dorset, Bennington Co. Vt.
Date of application for pension, July 29, 1834.
Residence at date of application, Dorset, Vt.
Age at date of application, born Apr 2 1756 at Suffield, Hartford Co., Conn.
Remarks: His claim was rejected on the ground of No proof of 6 mos Actual service. Soldiers brother Dan Kent, 76 years of age in1834 testified in the claim.
Very respectfully,
[blank]
Commissioner.
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Winona Minn.
Oct 25, 25
Commissioner of Pensions
Wash D. C. 

Will you kindly send me the record of one Moses Kent who served at different times in the Rev. War.
He was from Dorset Vermont and is buried there.
And oblidge
(Mrs C A) Alice A Anderson.
522 W. Wabasha St.

[stamp] U. S. PENSON OFFICE. H OCT 28 1925
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 Wash St
Winona Minn.
March 22, "1906

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,

Dear Sir:
At your earliest convenience, can you inform me in what volume and on what page, the enclosed record of the service of Moses Kent in
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the Revolutionary War, can be found.
Thanking you in advance for an early reply, I am,
yours truly,
Merle Thomas.

P. S. If there is any additional information regarding Moses Kent, I should be pleased to obtain that also. M. Thomas.
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Copy
"The records of this office show that one Moses Kent, rank not stated, served in Capt. Isaac Clark's Company of Vt. Militia raised for the defence of the frontiers on and about Lake Champlain Rev. War. He entered service Mch 2nd 1778, and was discharged May 2 /78. The records also show that one Moses Kent, rank not stated, served in Capt. Abraham Underhill's Co., 15th (Col. Warren's regiment of Vt militia, Rev. War. Gideon Ormsby was a Capt in
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this regiment. The records further show that one Moses Kent rank not stated, served in Capt Gray's company of Col Ira Allen's regiment of Vt. militia, Rev. War. his name appears on the rolls for the period from Oct. 18 to Nov 8 1781, which shoes that he served 11 days. He also appears to have served one day in the same Company in 1782.
"This from Record and Pension Office, War Dept. Washington, D. C."

[stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE. O MAR 26 1906
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Apl. 29 1902
T. S. Frisbie, Concord N. H.
1906 March 20 History to (Mrs?) Merle Thomas. M. B. H.
1913 May 14 Hist to Mrs. Bertha B. Johnson. Letter in W. F. 21,519
Dan Kent
1925 Dec 4. Hist to Mrs. C. A. Anderson MMH

REJECTED
5874
Moses Kent
[all other fields blank]
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Saml Swift Vt
Augt 9 1834
OC
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Department of War
Pension Office
August 9 1834
Sir
The claim of Mary Kent has been taken up examined and suspended.
The claimant will be required to conform to the rules upon the subject of a [illegible] of review. It does not appear that he ever performed but 3 mo 26 days service; his [illegible] subject to be called out at any time affords no claim whatever. The whole body of the militia were under the same liability. A person cannot be land where the claim is founded upon conjecture as to the same. The papers are placed upon file.
[signature] Saml Swift Esq
Bennington
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L. M. H.
Copy
Pension Office,
September 13, 1834.
Sir:
From a careful re-examination of the papers of Moses Kent, it is evident that six months actual service in the field or garrison, such as alone comes within the Act of 1832 is not specified. He appears to have been called out temporarily on various alarms, but never belonged to any permanent corps. The phrase "was subject to military duty & military command" while he was at home will not bring him within the law.
Belonging to the militia from the  commencement to the close of the war gives no claim to a pension except in such terms as is shown to have been spent in actual service. As this was not six months in this case, the claim is rejected.
The papers remain on file.

Manchester, Vt.
Samuel Swift, Esq.
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Augt 9 [illegible]
Sept 13 [illegible]
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Aug 9, 1834
Sept 13, 1834
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[Torn envelope]

Moses Kent
Vermont

Free

The Hon James L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington 
D. C.
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The Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Honrd Sir, I send you herewith the declaration of Moses Kent, for a Pension. It has been deferred for a long time time since he first applied to me, from a very great caution his part, in stating the particulars of his service, from a fear that after so great a lapse of time, & the closing of his retentive fault in having in inadvertently [illegible] out some facts differently from what took place as to time & circumstances, & the time longer than he actually served but after confessing with those friends who had any knowledge of those according he is [illegible] that [illegible] pension & he has been induced to make his application [illegible] the same caution & fear, that led him to underestimate the amt his service, as it is evident form his own statement which is corroborated & supported by the testimony of his Brothers who are both men of irreproachable character, that he actually served a longer second time, than the total out of the [illegible] the time from & after Bennington Battle after the capture of Burgoyne, when he was not actually with this company, this otherwise engaged in military service, which he was ap[illegible] and might not be allowed. He was also fearful that he [illegible] have over [illegible] estimate [illegible] called out upon [illegible] The traditionary evidence [illegible] omitted on the grounds that the Affidavitt which he has pro[illegible] I am as did on, sufficiently prove the amt. his [illegible] of his service as stated by him, he was therefore advised that it was wholly unnecessary, this he might easily have added that confirmation if [illegible], from any of his [illegible] [illegible], as must be on certificate for the voluntary Certificate of his past  respectable Clergyman, who of he had been in health & able to attend before the Court would readily have confirmed the same by his oath.
Very respectfully I am Honrd Sir, with due consideration.
[signature] S. Swift
Manchester Augt 4th 1834.
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I William Jackson minister of the Gospel residing in Dorset, Co of Bennington & State of Vermont, hereby certify that I am well acquainted Moses Kent, who is [illegible] about to apply to the national government for a pension. That he has been a reputable member of the congregational Church in this time during my ministry here of about thirty eight years last past as pastor of sd Church. That I believe him to Seventy eight years old. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where resides to have been a soldier in the revolutionary war in which opinion
I fully concur.
[signature] William Jackson
Dorset
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Vt. Sept 6.
[stamp] MANCHESTER Vt. SEP 2

FREE

The Hon. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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Manchester Augt. 30th 1834.
Hon. James L. Edwards,
Hon Sir,
I have at length procured certified Proof of the names of the legal Representatives of Isaac Farwell deceased, which I have the honor herewith to enclose. It will none the less, doubtless be recollected that evidence hath heretofore been exhibited, that one of the Persons named, Gendon Farwell, was the adopted son of the deceased, & the one who in his lifetime he intended, should receive his pension, if allowed, of the proper construction of the law in such cases, I am not the proper Judge. 
It is suggested, I promise, in the letter which I have lately recd in reply to the application of Moses Kent for a Pension, that his several terms of service are not sufficiently specified, & that the amount was left to conjecture. I was not aware that the amount was [illegible]definite he states, if I recollect rightly, that he served at least six months in the whole & names the Company & Regiment, & the places where the service was performed. The average rate at each time by which it may appear, that his six months service was complete, without including the time he was employed on guard duty, at home & in the vicinity. These suggestions are made with due deference to the decision of the Department, I must presume, with a full understanding of the statement intended to be made, in the Declaration of the Applicant.
Very respectfully I am Honrd, Sir,
Yours &c
[signature] S. Swift