Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3049, Lebbeus Harris, Conn.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Conn. 
Harris, Lebbeus
Douglass, Sarah
 Former Widow
NUMBER
R.3049
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13303
Sarah Doulgass
formerly widow of
Lebbeus Harris
Vt
act 7 July 1838

Rejected. Team Service
[unk] provided for






3049
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State of Vermont
District of Addison ss}

I Jedidiah S Bushnell Register of the Probate Court for the District of Addison do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings of the Probate Court aforesaid in the matter of the application of Sarah Doulgass for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Middlebury in said District this 19th day of March AD 1847.

Jed S Bushnell Register
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I Joel Harris of Stowe in Lamoille County and State of Vermont of lawful age depose testify and say being duly sworn. That I resided in the town of Colchester in Hartford County Connecticut (now called New Salem) in the year AD 1781. I had a brother whose names was Lebbeus Harris who resided with is in my fathers family. Sometime in the month of May of this year my brother went into the army as a teamster under the charge of Joshua Ransom who I think was ensign and he has charge of the teams. He started with the army and went as far as the head of Elk River in Maryland. Soon after Cornwallis surrendered my brother was discharged I think it was in December of the same year that he was discharged. My brother was sixteen years old in Sept 1781.

My brother was married to Sarah Rodgers, Mountville, on the 20 of Jany 1792 by Abele Palmer Pastor of the Baptist Church
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I was married by the same person and knew all the partied well, my brother removed in 1792 to Middlebury in Vermont and died in Middlebury in Dec 1814, his wife is now a widow. My brother and his wife lived together until he died.

And further I say not,

Joel Harris

State of Vermont
Lamoille County ss} Stowe Feby 1st AD 1840

Then Joel Harris personally appeared and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Before me,

Wm H H Bingham 
Justice of the Peace
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And I further certify that the said Joel Harris the deponent herein is personally known to me and that he is a man of truth and veracity and one whose testimony may be relied on, that he is a creditable witness and above suspicion. 

WHH Bingham
Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Lamoille County ss}

I Philo G Camp of Hyde Park in the County of Lamoille, clerk of Lamoille County Court hereby certifies that Wm H H Bingham is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County, duly commissioned & qualified, that his commission is dated Nov 25th 1839 & will expire on the 1st day of Dec 1840 & that his signature therein is true & genuine.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of sd Court of my opinion in [unk] this 6th day of Feby AD 1840.

PG Camp Clerk
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FAMILY RECORD

Lebbeus Harris born Sept 19th 1764
Sarah Rogers " July 12th 1776
Sarah Rogers, married, Jany 20th 1792

Children of Lebbeus & Sarah Harris

Lebbeus Harris Jun born March 20th 1794
Sarah Harris born April 5th 1796
Betsey Y Harris born April 28th 1803
Nathanl Harris born June 26, 1805
Wm Harris born January 18, 1811

Charlotte M Judd, born Jany 22, 1797 & married to Lebbeus Harris Dec 25th 1820.
Nathanl Parker born Feb 22nd 1789
Sarah Harris born April 5th 1796 & married to Naham Parker Jan 1st 1821
Nancy Halsey born Nov 9th 1804, and married to Nathanl Harris Dec 3rd 1827

Children of Nut. & Naney Harris

Betsey born September 14th 1828
Wm Lebbeus born April 8th 1831
Sarah Parker born July 29th 1837
Betsey died Dec 17th 1834
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Lebbeus Harris died Dec 12th 1814
Lebbeus Harris Jun. died Ap 24 1837
Betsey Y Harris died Sept 16 1832
William Harris died Sept 9 1837
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State of Vermont
District of Addison }

On this 19th day of March AD 1847 personally appeared before the Probate Court in and for the District of Addison aforesaid in open Court Sarah Douglass a resident of Middleburg, County of Addison, State of Vermont, aged seventy years, who first being duly sworn according to laws, 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 7th AD 1838 entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Lebbeus Harris who was a private in the Revolutionary service, and that she has often heard him say, and verily believes, that he enlisted as a volunteer into the Revolutionary service about the first of May AD 1781 and left the service in December AD 1781 having been in the service about seven months. That he enlisted as a teamster under Joshua Ransom and Ensign. That he enlisted when he was only 16 years of age, in the town now called New Salem formerly Colchester in the State of Connecticut and drove a four ox team from there to the head of Elk river in Maryland. That he suffered much while in the Revolutionary service from the fever and ague. She further says she has never seen any paper or papers purported to be the discharge of her said husband nor any other papers which he received while in the Revolutionary service. She declares that she was married by Abel Palmer, a Baptist minister, to the said Lebbeus Harris in Mountville Con on the 20th day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety two and the same year with her husband aforesaid removed to Middlebury in the county and state aforesaid and that
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that her said husband the aforesaid Lebbeus Harris died in Middlebury aforesaid on the tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz at the time above stated. And she further states that she was married to Benajah Douglass on the 20th day of January AD 1820 and that her last husband the said Benajah Douglass died the 2d of October AD 1829 and that she has ever since remained a widow. She declares a family record was kept by her husband the said Lebbeus Harris, while he lived, in a family Bible and additions were made to this record by her family after the death of her husband, and that this family bible is now in her possession but the original record there kept was destroyed in AD 1838, it then having been necessary in this bible not being very neatly kept, one John Saxe of St Albans Vermont was employed, and did copy the original family record. The old record was then destroyed and this aforesaid copy was bound up in the old bible. The family record attached to this declaration was this day cut from the family bible & is an exact copy of the old family record taken by the said John Saxe, so far as related to her marriage and the births of the children of herself and husband the said Lebbeus Harris.

Sarah Douglass

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before,

Silas H Jenison Judge

I certify that the above named Sarah Douglass is personally known to me and that she is a credible witness.

Silas H Jenison Judge
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I certify that in the foregoing declaration of Sarah Douglass for a pension, the figures "1781" on the first page, the word "destroyed" and the word "bible" on the second page were written on [unk] and the words "a Baptist Minister" were interlined before signing.

Silas H Jenison Judge
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3049

Sarah Douglass
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
DC
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No 13303
Sarah Douglass
Let. to Columbus Smith
April 14th 1849

Rejected
F. E. Hassler Feby 7 1833
lt Hon WH Seward April 1/57
let. N Harris April [unk]
act 7 July 1838



Let N Harris June [unk]
D D Addison
March 17 '62
Page 15

Postmarked 
Middlebury, Vt
Mar 28

Sarah Douglas
for war ofc
Lebbeus Harris
Rev War 1888

Hon. Geo. C. Whitney
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Anderson

Honorable The commissioner of Pension
Washington City D. C.

William H. Seward
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Pension Office
March 17th 1862

Sir;

The claim of Sarah Douglass of Vermont, formerly widow of Lebbeus Harris , ac act of 7th July 1838, has been again examined.

It is asserted that Lebbeus Harris served one year as a Teamster in 1781. The only evidence offered to sustain this assertion, is the testimony of two persons, neither of whom was in service, and one of whom, was a woman, but none years old when the service was rendered. 

It is impossible that these witnesses could have known exactly what was the character of the service rendered by Lebbeus Harris from personal knowledge, whether it was as a hired teamster or as an enlisted teamster bound to the performance of military duty. As one, the enlisted Teamsters were entitled to pensions, it is impossible to determine, without record evidence, whether or not Harris service was in that capacity, and until record evidence
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is furnished, I am not at liberty to admit this claim.

D.D. Addison, Esq
Present




D. D. Addison
 Mar 17
Page 18

Washington March 14th 1862

Sir,

I enclose herewith the usual certificate of Court, showing the date of Mrs Sarah Douglass' death, formerly widow of Lebbeus Harris and the names of the children now surviving.

This claim, you will perceive, was rejected on the sole ground that her first husband, Lebbeus Harris, served as a Teamster, which at that time was not considered military. Since then the military [unk] of that service has been most clearly established and hundreds of claims allowed, I therefore respectfully ask your early attention to her claim and that a certificate of pension may issue without delay.

The claim is from Vermont, under Act July 7 1838.

I am respectfully most obt

D.D. Addison


J.H. Barrett Esq
Comm of Pensions
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Washington
March 19 1857
Dear sir
I beg leave to submit a further communication from Mr. Nathaniel Harris
very respectfully
Your Obedient servant William H. Seward

the Honorable 
The Commissioner of Pensions
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Washington DC
9 May 1853

Hon L P Waldo 
Comm of Pensions

Sir,

I respectfully enclose additional evidence in the case of Sarah Douglass widow of Libius Harris, which is on the rejected list of the State of Vermont under the act of July 1838, and request a reexamination of the case.

Very respectfully your obt sevt,

F E Hassler
pen JDH
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State of Vermont
District & County of Addison} ss.

It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me Calvin G Tilden Judge of Probate, that Sarah Douglass formerly widow of Lebbeus Harris who was an applicant for a Revolutionary pension, died on the twentieth day of September eighteen hundred and fifty leaving surviving her the following names children viz: Mrs Sarah Parker and Nathaniel Harris and that the following Mrs Sarah Parker and Nathaniel Harris are personally known to me and are now living, are now the only surviving children of the aforesaid Sarah Douglass.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this eighth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty and I certify that the Probate Court is a Court of Record.

Calvin G Tilden Judge of Probate Court
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Power of attorney
to examine
Revolutionary papers
case of
Nathaniel Harris
Vermont
Sarah Douglass

Sep 1852
F E Hassler
atty
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due to the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*

State of Vermont
County of Addison}

Be it known that before me a Justice of the Peace personally appeared Nathaniel Harris, aged 47 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that he is the son of Lebeus Harris who was a revolutionary soldier in the State of Connecticut and that he died on the 10th day of December 1814, and that his mother, named Sarah Douglass died on the 20th day of September 1850, and that they were married on the 20th day of January in the year 1792 and that they were residents of Middlebury in the State of Vermont and that they resided there over twenty years, and that he resides in Middlebury and that furthermore he BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with power of substitution, F. E. Hassler, of Washington city, D.C., as his true and lawful Attorney for him and in his name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U.S. Government and State officers his rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land that may be due him as heir of Lebeus Harris who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law he may be entitled.

In witness, whereof, he has on this 23d day of August 1852, hereunto signed his name, and affixed his seal.

Nathaniel Harris

Witness: J. M. Stuart
Witness: H A Sheldon

Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that sd Nathaniel has always by the community been known as the son of Lebeus Harris.

Dated on this 23d day of August 1852.

John W Stewart Justice Peace

State of Vermont
County of Addison} to wit:

I hereby certify that John W Stewart Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgements were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of Addison County Court, this twenty third  day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.

George S Swift Clerk

*If a Widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband."
State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner-and amount of pension.
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13303
Manor 26 14
to
Sarah Douglas
July 7, 1838

J. L. Edward Esq
Commissiner of Pensions
Washington D C

Postmarked 
Middlebury Vt
Mar 20
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Middlebury Vermont March 20th 1847

Dear Sir

Herein I enclose you an application of Sarah Douglass a widow for a pension for services of her first husband Lebbeus Harris in the Revolutionary Service.

Please write me your decision in the case.

I am respectfully yours,

Columbus Smith

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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Sept 25th 1852

Revolutionary
Sarah Douglass
widow
Libbeus Harris

suspended

Kirby
Sep 25/52

filed 25 Dept 1832
F E Hassler
Page 27

Washington DC
Sept 25th1832

Honorable J E Heath
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

I as attorney for the widow or heir of the widow of Libbeus Harris who in May 1789 entered as a teamster under Joshua Ransom Ensign discharged Dec 1781 at New Salem Connecticut ask that a certificate of Pension
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may issue.

Yours respectfully

F E Hassler
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additional evidence
suspended
Revolutionary claim of
Sarah Douglass
widow of
Libbeus Harris
Vermont
act 1838

Filed 10 May 1833
F E Hassler
Washington
Page 30

I Sarah Morgan of Hartford in the county of Hartford and state of Connecticut, of lawful age, being duly cautioned and sworn do depose and say that I am the daughter of Nathaniel Harris of Colchester (now deceased) and sister to Lebbeus Harris, eldest son (now deceased) of said Nathaniel Harris. My brother Lebbeus aforesaid I believe to have been born on or about the 19th day of September AD 1764 and to have died [unk] 10th 1814. I was born as I have reason to believe, and do believe on the 10th day of September 1772 and am now in the 81st year of my age. I well remember that my brother Lebbeus aforesaid enlisted as a soldier in the army of the revolution, and served  in that war, and according to my impression served most of that time as a teamster for the baggage trains, in consequence of his youth. I have often heard him speak of occurrences within his knowledge which in the army, and of his being at or near a place which he called the "Head of Elk". He was gone from home on that occasion somethin like a year, and enlisted as I well remember with the consent of my father.

My brother Lebbeus aforesaid was married at Colchester in this State, on the 20th day of January AD 1792 to Sarah Rogers of said Colchester. Soon after marriage (and I think the next day) said Lebbeus & wife removed from said Colchester to Middlebury inthe State of Vermont, where they continued to reside during
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I feel quite confident that my brother Lebbeus aforesaid, was enlisted by an officer of the army named Joshua Ransom of sd Colchester, and I think served under him for I know that sd Ransom was present and one of the acting parties when my father gave his consent to the enlistment of my brother Lebbeus as aforesaid.

Sarah Morgan

Hartford County
Hartford Nov 4th 1852}

Then personally appeared Sarah Morgan to me known to be the identical person who signed the above deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me.

Horace Cornwall Justice Peace

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford}

I Samuel F Jones Clerk of the county court within and for said County, sd Court being a Court of Record and having a seal, hereby certify that Horace Cornwell whose true signature is above subscribed, is on this 4th day of Nov 1852 a Justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified.

In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court at Hartford in said County this fourth day of November AD 1852.

Samuel F Jones
Clerk of County Court in & for Hartford County
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Middlebury Ct Mar 30th 1857

Hon Geo C Whitney Commissioner
of Pensions Washington DC}

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Feb 2d, it was sent to me by Hon Wm H Seward, in which I could not fail to see, where the mistake lies. The facts are, these, my Mother was the widow of Lebbeus Harris, she married again to Mr Benajah Douglass (grandfather of S A Douglass) and he died leaving my Mother a widow the second time, hence the application was made in the name of Sarah Douglass for a pension for services of her first husband Lebbeus Harris. You will find on your files the affidavit of Joel Harris & Mr Camp both of Stow Vermont the affidavit of my Mother Sarah Douglass, and the affidavit if Mrs Morgan of Hartford Connecticut. Should you wish any further explanation relative to widow Douglass being the widow of Lebbeus Harris also, I would refer you to the Hon Stephen A Douglass who can substantiate the above. My Father entered the service in Connecticut and died in the State of Vermont. I have frequent applications from Pension Agents to get the pension at a large percent, but have been advised to have nothing to do with them. I have the honor to be very respectfully your obedient servant,
Nathaniel Harris

Geo C Whitney Com Pension