Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,364, for Lyman Potter, Vermont
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Vt    Potter, Lyman R. 8364
Abigail

CONTENTS
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State of Ohio
Jefferson County
On this 26th day of November personally
appeared before the Court of Comon Pleas
of the County of Jefferson, State of Ohio
Abigail Potter a resident of said County
and state, aged 80 years who being first
duly sworn according to law, doth on her
oath make the following statement in
order to obtain the benefit of the provision
of the act of Congress passed July fourth
eighteen hundred thirty six, that she is the
widow of Lyman Potter, who was a chaplin
in the militia of Vermont, and who according to
the best of her recollection served as a volunteer
with regular detachment of the army
in the the year seventeen hundred seventy seven, from
the first of August to the first of December,
and in the year seventeen hundred seventy nine
the same term of service commencing the first
of August, and in the year seventeen hundred
eighty one the same time of service commencing
the fifteenth of July, making the whole time of
his service one years and that during a part of
the time of the aforesaid service he was with
the detachment of troops commanded by
Warner and served in the (now) State of
Vermont and New York and was at the
taking of Burgoyne, she further declares
that she was married to the said Lyman
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Potter on the first day of September
seventeen hundred seventy six and that her
husband the said Lyman Potter died the
seventeenth of May eighteen hundred twenty
seven and that she has remained a widow
since that period, she further saith that the
believe there is no documentary evidence
and she does not know of any living testimony
to prove the said services, and that her
husband before he entered the service, resided
in the town of Norwich State of Vermont
remained there untill the year 1801 when he me
moved to Jefferson County, Ohio. She would
give as a reason why she has not applied for
a pension sooner the fact that she did not
know of the Law of July 4th 1836 untill very
recently and she further saith that by reason
of age and consequent loss of memory she
is unable to be more particular in her
statements

Sworn & Subscribed    Abigail X Potter her mark
before me in
open Court the day and
year aforesaid

-
James Roswell
Clerk
Page 4

Also at the same time came Roswell March
who being duly sworn deposes and says that
he is a native of Hartford Vermont and for
the last eighteen years mostly a resident in
Steubenville, having previously resided in
Hartford Vermont until AD. 1820 that he
remembers the Rev. Lyman Potter, as a
Clergyman in Norwich Vermont his
removal to Ohio & was acquainted with
him in Jefferson County Ohio until his
death, that when a resident in Vermont
this affiant often heard and understood,
from his grandfather the late Lieutenant
Governor Joseph Marsh of Hartford Vermont,
his father and uncles and other old men
in the vicinity that they served in the
Vermont militia during the revolutionary war
that the said Lyman Potter 
served with them as chaplain in said
militia and this affiant believes that said
statements were true & he has for the
last eighteen years known the petitioner
& knows the lived with & was reputed
the wife of said Lyman Potter-
Roswell March
also at the same time came Daniel Potter who 
being duly sworn deposes and say that he has lived in
the family of the said Lyman Potter untill the death
of the said Lyman Potter, that he has often heard him
speak of being in the revolutionary army and it was
generally supposed in the neighbourhood where
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he lived in Vermont that such was the facts
and that the said Lyman Potter, and that Petitioner Abigail
Potter lived together as husband and wife and were
always considered as such, and he further says las
does not suppose that any documentary of the
Marriage of said parties can be proved and
he further says he is the youngest son of the said
Lyman and Abigail and that he is aged 49 years
and that the said Abigail Potter has not been
Married since the death of her husband
the said Lyman Potter
Daniel Potter.

The above affidavits of Daniel Potter
& Roswell Marsh were Sworn
subscribed in Open Court
the day & year aforesaid

James R Wells
Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation
of the matter that the above named
Lyman Potter, was a Revolutionary
Soldier and served as the said
applicant states and the court for
the certifies that it appears to them
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that Roswell Marsh and Daniel
Potter are credible persons and that 
their statement is entitled to credit

I James Ross Wells Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas
for said County of Jefferson
do hereby certify that the foregoing 
contains the original
proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Abigail
Potter for a pension. In testimony where
of I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this 26th day of November AD
1838
James Ross Wells Clerk

83621
V4115
Abigail potter
of {illegible] Ohio
Page 7

Rev. Lyman Potter married to Miss Abigail Payne
Sept first Seventeen hundred & Seventy Six.
Town Clerks office
Norwich Vt. Jany 23 1839
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the
record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on
the record in fair legible figures as follows. Sept 1st 1776.
Ira Davis Town Clerk

I Ira Davis above named depose & say that I hold the office
of Town Clerk in the Town of Norwich aforesaid in the County
of Windsor & State of Vermont & that the above is a true extract
from the records of said Town with the exception above
named as certified by me,
Ira Davis. Clerk of the Town of Norwich,
Sworn to and subscribed this 24th day of
January 1839
before
Walter Palmer Just Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County
of
I, Lyndon A. Marsh Deputy
Clerk of the County Court of said
County of Windsor, do hereby certify
that Walter Palmer was, on the twenty
fourth day of January last past and
is still a justice of the peace in and
for said County of Windsor, duly commissioned
and qualified under the authority of this State,
and that the signature above, purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said
County Court, at Woodstock this ninth day of May
A.D. 1839 -
LA Marsh, Deputy Clerk
Page 8

8364
P.O.-----
Abigail Potter
Service:-----
REJECTED
Enlisted -----, 18
Discharged _____ 18
Application Filed ----- 18

Alleges _____
Re-enlisted  _____

Attorney _____
P.O. _____

_____ Recognized  _____ Contract
----- Cert of Dis  Searched _____ 18
Page 9

Abigail Potter
Oct 1838 N Y
Suspended
Page 10

Hon. J. E. Heath Com of Pensions
Sir May I ask you to allow the
bearer W.G. Wade to have access to
the papers on file in the case of ┃
Abigal Potter Widow of Lyman Potter
made in 1840 under act of 1838.
Huron Jany 29-1887
John F Curtis agent
Page 11

Abigail Potter
Ohio Lyman
Suspended
See let 11 Dec 38 
Hon. Henry Swearingen
and Henry F. James Esq Treasurer
Vemt.
let 9 Sep 1839 Roswell
Marsh
Letter to
Nathan Leake
May 6th 1846
Act 4 July 1836
Page 12

Huron Wayne Co. N.Y. Jany 17. 1846
Hon J. L. Edwards

Sir,
Permit A Leake
Esq of Washington to Examine the papers on file
in your Office relating to the application of Abigail
Potter, (widow of Lyman Potter) for a Pension Declaration 
was made in 1840. Widow resided at the time
in Jefferson County Ohio
Yours Respectfully
John F. Curtis
Page 13

State of Vermont        On this 24th day of Jany
Windsor County Ss    1839 personally appeared
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County of Windsor aforesaid Samuel
Hutchinson a resident of Norwich in said County
who being first duly sworn according to law
doth depose and say. That he lived in Norwich
aforesaid and in the year 1774 or 1775 the Reverend
Lyman Potter was ordained over the Church
in said town, that he became a member of
said Church, that in the year 1777 the said
Potter volunteered and joined Col Peter Olcott
Regiment (Vermont troops) as Chaplin and
marched to Pollet in the State of Vermont
as he now think, that he does not know
how long the said Potter there served but should
think as much as two month - That he
is Eighty seven years of age and has resided in
said Norwich about seventy two years that
he believes that the said Potter was in the service
at other times but is not not positive
Witness          Samuel X Hutchinson his mark
Emma Hutchinson

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year
first above written before me, and I hereby certify that the
said Samuel Hutchinson is a credible witness
by reputation
Walter Palmer Just Peace
Page 14

State of Vermont.
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier, Jan. 28. 1839.
Sir,
In reply to your letter addressed to
the Treasurer on the 11th ult. I have to
State, that the Pay Rolls of the Vermont
troops in the Revolutionary War, now
on file in this office, do not furnish any
evidence that I have been able to find,
of the service of Lyman Potter
Respectfully
Your obt Servt
J L Knapp

J L Edwards
Comr of Pensions,⎬
Washington
Page 15

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier, May 6. 1839
I, Ferrand F. Merrill, Deputy Secretary of
State of said State, do hereby certify that there is on
file in this office a paper purporting to be "A Pay
Roll of Capt. Timothy Bush's Company under the
direction of Col. Peter Olcott at the time the enemy
came to Royalton October 16th 1780; and that the
name of "the Rev. Mr. Lyman Potter appears upon said
pay roll with an allowance of three days service, at the same
rate per day as that of Capt. Rush
I further certify that the said Pay Roll appears
to have been duly examined, allowed, and ordered
to be paid, by a Committee appointed by the 
Government of this state, and to have been duly paid
by the Treasurer of Vermont.

Given under my hand and the
seal of this office this 6th day of
May A.D. 1839.
Ferrand F. Merrill
Dept. Secy of State
Page 16

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier, May 14. 1859

I, Ferrand F. Merrill, Deputy
Secretary of State of said State, do
hereby certify that the Pay Rolls of
Col. Peter Olcott's Regiment of troops
in the war of the Revolution, on file in
this office, appear to be imperfect and
incomplete; and that there is no full pay roll of said
Regiment in this office. - I further certify that after
diligent search, I have not been able to find the
name of Rev. Lyman Potter on any pay roll except
on that purporting to be a "Pay Roll of Capt. Timothy
Bush's Company under the direction of Col. Peter Olcott
at the time the enemy came to Royalton October 16
1780
Given under my hand and the seal of this
office this 14th day of May in the year of
our Lord Christ 18390
Ferrand F. Merrill
Dep Sec of State
Page 17


4115 Widow of Lyman Potter Ohio
Susp Oct 36

Lyman Potter---

Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 18

feb 12 '46
Rec'd Abigail Potter

2
J L Edwards
Comm of pensions
[illegible]
Page 19

Washington Feby 11th 1846
Sir,
The further prosecution of the claim of Mrs
Abigail Potter of Ohio widow of Lyman, has been
entrusted with me, & neither the claimant or
myself is acquainted with the true condition of
the claim. I enclose herewith a note from
Mr Curtis of New York to you, & request that ┃
a report of its condition may be made to me
or that I may have a personal examination
of the papers- Your compliance will
oblige,
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
Nathan Leake

Hon J. L. Edwards-
Com of Pensions
Present
Page 20

Hon. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Attention of Henry Swearingen Esq.

Hon. Swearingen Esq.
of Ohio
Pres Dec10
Page 21

Steubenville Novr 26. 1838-
Sir,
Inclosed I remit you the papers
in the case of Abigail Potter widow of
the Rev Lyman Potter. I cannot find
any decision of the question whether
or not chaplains are within the
pension laws but presume they are
so - Should they be so and any further
proof be required please advise me
as to what points the proof is desired
Possibly further proof may be found
in Vermont

There are two applications to me to
apply for pensions for widows of soldiers
in the revolutionary armies who
enlisted during the war and died before
the close of the war & the widows married
again are now widows again re
be entitled & must the first marriage
proved otherwise than by the oath of
his applicant. Have you decided on the
of Thomas M Cune.
Very respectfully &c
Roswell March

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Page 22

yours covering the pension certificate of
Thomas McCune is this moment received
he please accept the thanks of
the aged soldier-
Yours &c
Roswell Marsh
Novr 28. 1838

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Page 23

State of Vermont
Windsor County      On this 24th day of Jany
1839 personally appeared
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County of Windsor aforesaid Hezekiah
Goodrich a resident of Norwich in said County
aged Eighty one years who being first duly sworn
according to law doth depose & say that in the
year 1774 he came to live in the said town of
Norwich and either in that year or the year after
the Rev Lyman Potter was ordained & settled
in that town and he became a member of the
Church which the said Potter had the charge of
in said town, that he well recollects that the
said Potter volunteered as Chaplain and went
with the Militia when they were called out he
should think as much a three Campaigns during the
war of the Revolution, that in the year 1777
he enlisted for six months into Capt Burton
Company in Colo Herricks Regiment that
in the fall of that year he saw the said Potter
at Saratoga it was the day that Burgoyne 
surrendered the said Potter was then a Chaplin
in Col Peter Olcott Regiment, that he cannot
state the amount of service rendered by the
said Potter as Chaplin during the war, but he
has no doubt the amount of services rendered
by the said Potter as Chaplain amounted in all ┃
to Nine Months -- Hezekiah Goodrich
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year first
above written before me & I hereby certify that the said
Hezekiah Goodrich is a credible witness by reputation
Walter Palmer Just Peace
Page 24

Pension Papers  Free
James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Ohio Addl proof
Abigail Potter

Mail
Page 25

Steubenville June 10. 1839
Dear Sir
Inclosed I transmit to you
the testimony which has been procured
in Vermont in the care of Mrs
Abigail Potter's application for a pension
From some cause not explained to
me great delay has intervened in
forwarding the papers from Vermont
to this place   An early answer
is desired, by the aged applicant-
I am very respectfully
your obedient servant
Roswell Marsh

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Page 26

I Israel Brown of Norwich County of Windsor
& State of Vermont aged 93 years depose and say
that I was well acquainted with the Rev
Lyman Potter during the period of the Revolutionary 
war, he was this settled minister in this
Town & in the year 1777 he was the Chaplain
in Col. Peter Olcott's Regiment about the last
of July 1777 a part of Col. Olcott's Regiment was
drafted & went to Paulet for three months, I
had two Brothers who went in that detachment, & will 
remember that the Rev. Mr. Potter went with said Regiment
& about the last of September of the same year I was
drafted & sent to join said Regiment, which I did at
Paulett & accompanied said Regiment to the taking
of Burgoyne, Mr Potter was with the Regiment, and he
returned with me, about the first of January 1778, he
having served nearly six months at that time.
and further say not      Israel X Brown
attest Asa Brown

State of Vermont
Windsor County      Subscribed & Sworn at Norwich
 this 13th day of April AD. 1839, before
me,
E. B. Brown Justice of Peace
I hereby certify that Israel Brown the above
deponent is a witness of unimpeachable veracity
E. B. Brown Justice of Peace
Page 27

State of Vermont 
Windsor County ⎬
 I Lyndon A. Marsh, Deputy
Clerk of the County Court
of the County of Windsor do
hereby certify that E. B.
Brown is a justice of the
peace in and for said County
of Windsor duly commissioned
and qualified under the authority of this State and
that the signature within purporting to be his is
genuine-
In testimony whereof I do hereto affix the
seal of said County Court and subscribe my
name this thirteenth day of May 1839
L.A. Marsh
Deputy Clerk