Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 2383-160-55, Phineas Aiken, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.H. 
Aiken, Phineas
Elizabeth.
NUMBER
B.L.Wt 2383-160-55
CONTENTS
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ACT MARCH 3/ 55
101.995
APRIL 27/55
Elizabeth Aiken
widow of
Phineas Aiken, private
Capt. Jonas Kidder
Col. Moses Nichols
Ent. about July 5. 1780.
Dis about Oct 23. 1780.
N.H. Contl line,
Revolutionary War.
About 160 acres July 16/55.
Boyton.
Special
[illegible]
2383 iss July 16/55
S. C. Boyton
No: 84. [illegible]
[illegible]
[the words Isaac N. Riddle Boston were crossed out]
letter to Isaac N. Riddle
Boston Mass Jany 18. 58 page
Vol. A. 43.
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APPLICATION FOR BOUNTY LAND.
STATE OF ['NEW HAMPSHIRE' crossed out] Massachusetts,
County of Essex} SS.
On this thirteenth day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Elizabeth Aiken aged Eighty eight years, a resident of Andover in the State of ['New Hampshire' crossed out] Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of Phineas Aiken who was a Soldier in the company commanded by Captain Jonas Kidder in the Regiment of Militia commanded by Colonel Moses Nichols ['in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812' crossed out] in the Revolution War and service at West Point in the Continental Army that he enlisted at Bedford on or about the fifth day of July A.D. 1780, for the term of Three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of fourteen days and was honorably discharged at [blank] on or about the Twenty third day of October A.D. 1780, as will appear by the muster rolls of said company. 
Time of service three months & nineteen days
She further states that she was married to the said Phineas Aiken in Amherst N.H. on the Eighth day of December A.D. 1789, by one Barnard a Minister at Amherst N.H. and that her name before her marriage was Elizabeth Patterson and that her husband died at Bedford N.H. on the Eighteenth day of April A.D. 1836, and she is now a widow. 
['he further declares that he has heretofore made application for Bounty Land under the act of September 28th, 1850, and received a Land Warrant No. [blank] for [blank] acres which he has since legally disposed of and cannot now return.' crossed out] That she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "act of March 3d, 1855, granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who had been engaged in the military service of the United States." She also declares that she has never applied for or received under this or any other act of Congress any Bounty Land Warrant except the one above mentioned. 
/s/Elizabeth Aiken
['We' crossed out] We Mary M. Aiken & Mary Caldwell ['and' crossed out] residents of Andover in the State of ['New Hampshire' crossed out] Massachusetts upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Elizabeth Aiken in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represent ['him' crossed out] herself to be.
/s/Mary M. Aiken 
/s/Mary Caldwell
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written: and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim. 
/s/John Aiken JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. for the Commonwealth 
POWER OF ATTORNEY. 
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: - Please deliver the certificate or warrant, to which I am entitled according to the tenor of the foregoing declaration and application to Isaac N. Riddle Appraiser's Office of ['Manchester' crossed out] Boston, in the State of ['New Hampshire' crossed out] Massachusetts. 
/s/Elizabeth Aiken
Signed in presence of me,}
/s/John Aiken
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, April 11th 1855. 

I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed, John Aiken was a Justice of the peace for the County of Essex and throughout the Commonwealth in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
[seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written. 
/s/E. M. Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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101.995
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE - COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH, SS. 
I C. E. Botler Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Manchester in the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Isaac Riddle whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission is dated on the 3d day of December A.D. 1852, and will expire in five years from date; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Police Court is a Court of Record. 
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand and seal of office at Manchester this 23d day of April A.D. 1855
/s/C. E. Botler CLERK.
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I Jane A. Harris of Manchester in the County of Hillsborough & State of Newhampshire of the age of 79 years Depose & Say that I was acquainted with Phineas Aiken late of Bedford in said County aforesaid who was a revolutionary soldier he being my Brother and am knowing to his marriage to Betsy Patterson of Amherst in said County aforesaid (so called at that time) but now known as Elizabeth Aiken and that she is now a widow and is still living in Andover County of Essex in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
I attended the [illegible] She was married at Amherst NH about the eight day of December AD 1789 and soon after moved to Bedford.
/s/Jane A. Harris

State of Newhampshire
Hillsborough ss. April 23d 1855
Personally appeared the above named Jane A. Harris with whom I am well acquainted & made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed was in her belief true.
Before me /s/Isaac Riddle Justice of the Peace
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I Perley Dodge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire do hereby certify and say that Daniel A. Fletcher whose genuine signature appears within is Town Clerk of the Town of Amherst duly elected & sworn and to his certificates full faith and credit are due and should be given - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature and the seal of said Court this 23d day of April AD 1855,
/s/Perley Dodge Clerk 
101.995
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Amherst NH Apr 25 1835

Records of the town of Amherst Vol. 2d Page 40B. Married December 8th 1789 by the Rev. Jeremiah Barnard 
Phineas Aiken to Betsy Patterson. 
/s/Joshua Lovejoy Town Clerk. 
A true Copy of Record
Attest /s/Daniel A. Fletcher Town Clerk
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for a statement of the military history of Phineas Aiken, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in ['his (or' crossed out] his widow's) application for ['pension' crossed out] bounty land on file in this Bureau. B.L.Wt. 2383-160-55
[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.|LENGTH OF SERVICE.|RANK.|OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.(CAPTAIN.|COLONEL.)|STATE.|]
July 5, 1780|to Oct. 23, 1780|Private|(Jonas Kidder|Moses Nichols)|N.H.|
[end of columns]
Battles engaged in, 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. Bedford, N.H. 
Date of application for ['pension' crossed out] bounty land: Apl. 13, 1855.
Residence at date of application, 88 years. 
Remarks: He married at Amherst, N.H., Dec. 8, 1789, Elizabeth Patterson; he died Apl. 18, 1836 at Bedford, N.H., and she was allowed 160 acres of bounty land in full satisfaction for his service as above. 
No claim for pension on file. 
Respectfully, 
[blank] Commissioner.
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[verso]
101.995
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855. 
Received April 27, 1855
Elizabeth Aiken wid of Phineas Aiken
Capt Jonas Kidder
Col Moses Nicholas
Revolutionary War
Warrant no 2383-160.55
S. C. Boynton
Pension Office
[recto]
1914 Mch. 11. Hist. to Mrs. Helen S.  Lindsey - ¢
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[verso]
2383.
160 acres.

[recto]
101,995} Act March 3, 1855. April 27. 1855. 
Elizabeth Aiken, widow of Phineas Aiken, private. 
Capt. Jonas Kidder. 
Col. Moses Nichols.
Ent - about July 5, 1780.
Dis - about Oct. 23, 1780. 
Revolutionary War. 
Original brief enclosed.
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101.995
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State of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk, ss.} Boston 23 April 1855
I, Isaac O. Barnes of the City of Boston in the Stat and County aforesaid United States Pension Agent for said States, depose and say that I was well acquainted with the late Phineas Aiken Esq, of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire for many years before his death. 
I do also depose and say that I have been acquainted with Elizabeth or Betsey Aiken his widow, for more than fifty years,, that she formerly resided in said Bedford, and that now she resides in Andover in said State of Massachusetts, & that she was as often known by the Christian name of Betsey as that of Elizabeth - 
/s/Isaac O. Barnes.
Commonwealth of Mass
Suffolk ss} Boston 23 April 1855 - Then personally appeared Isaac O. Barnes, above named & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true. 
/s/Ephraim Browne Jr Just Peace
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101.995
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE - COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH, SS.
I C. E. Botler Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Manchester in the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Joseph M. Rowell whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission is dated on the first day of November A.D. 1850, and will expire in five years from date; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Police Court is a Court of Record.
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand and seal of office at Manchester this 20d day of April A.D. 1855
/s/C. E. Botler CLERK.
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I Isaac Riddle of Manchester in the County of Hillsborough and State of Newhampshire of the age of (62) years Depose and Say that I was acquainted with Phineas Aiken late of Bedford in s'd County Deceased he Died some time in April AD 1836 I was present at his Funeral Obseques I am also acquainted with Elizabeth Aiken his wife who is now living at Andover in the County of Essex Commonwealth of Massachusetts April 20th 1855
/s/Isaac Riddle 
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year last above mentioned. 
/s/Joseph M. Rowell Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary of States Office. 
I do hereby certify, that from an examination of the Roster and Documents relating to Military Services in the war of the Revolution which remain in the office it appears that the name of Phineas Aiken is borne upon a "Pay Roll for Capt. Jonas Kidder's Compy. in Colo. Moses Nichols's Regiment of Militia raised by the State of New Hampshire to join the Continental Army at West Point 1780", as a private in said company - Time of Engagement, July 5; Time of discharge, Octo. 23, Time in service, 3 months 19 days. 
And upon "A List of Capt. Kidder's Company Colo Nichols Reg't", is borne the the following names for the town of Bedford:
Phinehas Aiken
Adam Berns
George Gault
Seth Hinckley
William Moore
Isaac Riddle."
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[state seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the State this tenth day of April 1855. 
/s/John L. Hadley 
Secretary of State.
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[handwritten letter]
Boston April 25th/55

Sir
I herewith transmit an application of Elizabeth Aiken for Bounty Land
Respectfully,
/s/Isaac N. Riddle

Hon. L. P. Waldo
Com'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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[handwritten letter]
Boston Mass'tts Feb 1/58

Sir
Your favor of the 28th inst. came duly to hand I handed it to Mr. Aiken who having made search found the warrant in his house. he as about in Canada at the time it was sent his family laid it aside in a drawer and it was overlooked
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                                      2383.160-
                   Boston Map xx Jan 14, 58

Sir,
Please inform me if any deficiency of evidence exists in application of Elizabeth Aiken for a land warrent now on file in your office and numbered as your report 101995
                     Respectfully yours
                     Isaac N. Riddle
To Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
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[handwritten letter]
Boston Mass'tts Jan 25, 1858

Sir
Herewith I inclose you a communication from the Boston Office stating that you received the Land Warrant issued to Mrs. Elizabeth Aiken widow of Phineas Aiken and numbered as per report 2383. 160 acres. The late President Gen. Pierce made a personal application to the Commissioner of Pensions and was successful in having the Warrant issued at an early date - I was authorized by the claimant to receive the Warrant when issued. You will greatly oblige me by informing the bearer Col. John H. Clark what disposition was made of it or if in your possession 

[overwritten: Feb: 1" 1858 this Wt: was handed to  Judge Waldo July 16" 1855 that he might hand it to President Pierce who brought the case to the Office to be made special. /s/Boynton 
Ans'd Mr. Riddle, January: 29" 1858.]
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[handwritten letter]
to deliver the same to him
Very Respectfully yours &c
/s/Isaac N. Riddle

S. C. Boynton Esq
Washington D.C. 

N.B. I have since called on Hon. John Aiken of Andover son of the claimant. He informed me that Gen Pierce on a late visit to his house previous to his department from Madeira stated that he was sure that the Warrant had been issued. Mr. Aiken said if the Warrant was sent to him he never received it
/s/I. N. R.
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[handwritten letter]
313 Park Ave. Omaha Nebraska
February 28 - 1914.

Commissioner of Pensions:
Dear Sir, - 
Will you kindly send at your earliest convenience a copy of the Pension papers of Capt. Peter Black who fought in the Revolutionary war from New York. 
Also a copy of the Pension papers of Phineas Aiken who fought in same war from New Hampshire and oblige
/s/Mrs. Helen S. Lindsey