Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,955, for John Stearns, Vermont
Page 1

Service: Vt.
Stearns, John
Number. S23955
Page 2

Vermont
John Stearns
of Rockingham in the State of Vermont
who was a private 
commanded by
Col. Haight in the Vermont troops for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont 
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 15 day of November
1832 
S. Haight Present

Arrears to  4th of Sept 1892     34.99
Semi annual, allowance ending 4th  March 1833 11.66
$46.65 total
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7 1832

Recorded by J M Duffield Clerk
Book D Vol. 4 page 84
Page 3

Chimney Point Addison R July 5th 1851 to the Commissioner of Pensions Sir - I am the only orphan child of John Stearns who entered the service the first year of the revolution about the time of the battle of Bunker Hill near which he then lived. He joined the American army under the command of Captain Bacon and Lieutennant Colonel Lehonnitt The next year 1776 he was at the battle of Trinton and the following year when on board the Healiken Captain Cleaver was captured by a British frigate of twenty guns and taken to Quakuk from thence to England and placed in Gasport prison. There my father had every motive presented to him to join the kings troops but they could not come up to his service; he was not to be [burnished] with British gold. He continued a prisoner of war for two years suffering great hardships till he was exchanged and returned home in 1779 - he entered the service a private, his colonel was name Glover, his Maj. general Mereen. I do not remember to what regiment he belonged. He received 96 dollars a year from government till he died which was the 14th February 1836. Now Sir will be so kind as to tell me whether I am entitled to any pension from government and also whether i am entitled to any land. If so, will you be goodnuf to give more information of the states [unreadable] for me to take by which to obtain my just due. My son, [DU] J C Cavel of New York, was intended to write but whether he has I cannot say. Please direct your letter to Chimney Point Addison
Page 4

Vermont, and much obliged. Yours repectfully
Sarah Cavel per Samuel Cavel
Page 5

No 10.126
Admitted Private 7 months 
$23.33
Page 6

Brief in the case of John Stearns of Rockingham in the state of Vermont ( Act 7th June, 1832) 
1. was the declaration made before a court or a judge? in the probate court 
2. if before a judge does it appear the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 67 years old. 
4. state his service as directed in the form annexed. 
Period in 1788 Mar or Apr. 
Duration of service 9 months, deduct 2,  7 which he is claiming 
Rank as a private 
Names of generals and field officers under whom he served 
Vt troops,  Lieut Green Col. Waits 
5. in what battles was he engaged? none mentioned 
6. where did he reside when he entered the service? Rockingham Vermont 
7. Is his statement supported by living wittnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls?  One witness swears that he served 6 months, another that he was in service. 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication and is so in what respect? Correct 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned JM Duffiett Examining Clerk
Page 7

John Stearns 
Declaration
10.126
Page 8

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress passed June 7 1832 State of Vermont Windham County On this 25th day of july 1832 personally appeared in open court before the probate court for the District of Westminster in said state now sitting John Stearns a resident of Rockingham in the County of Windham and state of Vermont, said Rockingham being in said Westminster district, aged sixty seven years, also being first duly sworn according to law doth on his  oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of this act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. that he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War under the following named officers he entered the last of the march or first of April 1781 for nine months in the company of that time commanded by Lieutenant Green in the Vermont troops. he marched to Barnard Vermont and remained there two or three months. was then ordered to Peachham Vermont [unreadable] there and was joined to Captain Gates company in Colonel Waits regiment. was stationed at Peacham for some time then marched to Newbury Vermont. thence to Monkton Vermont. thence to Corinth in Vermont, where he was discharged. thinks he had written discharge; if he had it is lost  by accident. he was in the service for the term of seven months. he was born in Harvard Mass on the 7th of Sept 1764  and has a record of his age. he lived in Rockingham Vermont when he entered the service and for period there ever since & now lives there. he enlisted as a voluntee. he hereby refering relinquished any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll  of the agency of any state. he believes he was discharged first of November 1781 when he first marched, he marched from Rockingham Vt.  has no documents to prove his services.
John Stearns
The words 'April" and "May" erased and the words "March" and "April" inserted before signing

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Before Peter R Taft - Judge

Mr. Alexander S Campbell residing in the town of Rockingham, Vt. and Royale Earl residing in Rockingham hereby certify that they are well acquainted with John Stearns, who has
Page 9

subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that they believe him to be sixty seven years of age,  that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that they concur in that opinion.
Royale Earl
Alex'r S Campbell
Sworn and subscribed the day &
year aforesaid
Before Peter R. Taft-- Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the
above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and
served as he states and the Court further certifies that it
appears to them that Alexander Campbell has signed the preceding certificate [and] is a resident in
Rockingham Vermont and that Royale Earl who has
signed the same is a resident in Rockingham; that
both of them are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and that no clergyman
was in the immediate vicinity of the said John Steams.
Peter R Taft Judge

I ara Keyes 2nd, Clerk of the Probate Court for the
District of Westminster aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of John
Stearns for a pension. In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this
25 day of July A.D. 1832
Ara Keyes 2nd
Page 10

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section MMFH
July 9, 1928
Frances M. Davis
102 South Serrano Ave.,
Los Angeles, Calif.

Madam;

I have to advise you that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim S. 23955 it appears that John Stearns was born September 7, 1764 in Harvard, Massachusetts.
While a resident of Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont, he enlisted about April 1, 1781, served as a private in Lieutenant Green's Company, Colonel Wait's Vermont Regiment and was discharged about November 1, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
July 25, 1832 while a resident of Rockingham, Vermont.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

See pae 526 Vermont Book. Gates was not his Captain. Mrs. Wilson said don't use Captain Gates, that Lt. Green's Co. only joined Captain Gates Co.
Page 11

State of New York
Essex County ss
On the 13th day of August 1832
Personally appeared before me
Ambrose Mason one of the Judges of the Court
of Common pleas of the said County of Essex & State of
New York, John Titus aged Sixty nine years who
being duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath
depose and say that he is personally acquainted with
John Stearns of Rockingham in the County of Windham
in the State of Vermont who has sworn and Subscribed
to the annexed declaration; that in the year 1781 he
together with the said John Stearns enlisted into the service
of the United States as volunteers under the command of
Lieutenant Gen Col. Wait for the term of
six months and marched from Rockingham aforesaid,
the place of our inlistment, direct to the town of
Barnard in the State aforesaid to oppose a party of Tories
and Indians who had made an attack upon that place.
that the said John Stearns was actually an enlisted
soldier as before mentioned and actually served with
the aforementioned officers for the full term of six months
and was honorably discharged from the said service
and further saith not-
John Titus

Sworn & Subscribed to
this 13th day of August
1832 before me
Ambrose Mason Judge of Essex Common Pleas 

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with
John Titus the above deponent, that he is a man who has
ever supported a good c[h]aracter for truth and veracity and
that his statement above is entitled to credit.
Ambrose Mason Judge
Page 12


State of New York
Essex County
I Leonard Stow Clerk of the County of Essex and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of s'd [County] do hereby certify
that Ambrose Mason whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate
and also to the Jurat of the within affidant was on that day and before
whom the said affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the day of
the date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Please aforesaid County duly & sworn. And further I am well acquainted with
the hand writing of the said Judge and verily believe
his name subscribed to the said certificate and Jurat of the said affidavit to be the genuine signatures of the said Judge.
In testimony of same I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my seal of office this 15 day of August in the year 1832.

Leonard Stow Clerk of the said County of Essex and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of  said County
Page 13

102 South Serrano Avenue,
Los Angeles, California.
May 17, 1926.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:
Information is requested concerning the records in your office
having reference to JOHN STEARNS who is presumed to be a Revolutionary War
soldier as he was pensioned November 5, 1833 to began from March 4, 1831 as
reported in the report made in 1840.

He is listed as JOHN STEARNS, private, Vermont Militia, aged 69 years
(presumably from the date of his pension application and his residence is
given as WINDHAM COUNTY, VERMONT.

He is presumed to be my great grandfather on my father's side and
any detailed information regarding his war service, wife and children will be
appreciated.
you will kindly overlook the fact if this request is not
made in the proper form as this is the first time that I have ever written to
The Commissioner of Pensions about any thing.

There is also another JOHN STEARNS who is listed in the report made
in 1820 as JOHN STEARNS, private in the MASSACHUSETTS LINE, but I am rather
positive that the soldier, first mentioned, as John Stearns, private, Vermont
Militia, pensioned November 5, 1833 to begin from March 4, 1831 and who was
reported as living in Windham County, Vermont, is the party that I want information concerning,
as my ancestors were pioneers in Vermont and
my father was born near Readboro, Bennington County, Vermont, which borders
WINDHAM COUNTY, Vermont on the west.

If there is any charges for furnishing me all information from your
records kindly notify of the amount.

Respectfully yours,
Frances M. Davis
Frances M. Davis,
102 South Serrano Avenue,
Los Angeles, California.

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE US
MAY 22 1926
Page 14

OW&N ECL

Charlotte, Vt. May 11-1903
Dear Sirs:-

In looking up some family history I 
wish if possible to get some 
deffinite facts concerning my great grandfather, Daniel Horsford who
was a captain in the Revolutionary War and who received by special act
a pension. Is there any one who could get me the facts as to time of enlistment &c such as would be wanted in such history.

F. H. Harper
Also on my mothers side Gen John Stearns was a pensioner. Can I not obtain from the Records in the Depart. the facts concerning both?

[rectangle stamp]
O. W. & N. DIVISION
MAY 16 1903
RECEIVED
Page 15

Jno Titus
by
May 14 1851
H H S
Jno Stearns
No 32
18781
[illegible]
Page 16

Know all men by these presents that I John
Titus of Moriah, Essex, County New York, do hereby
constitute and appoint Stephen Thomas of West Fairlee,
Vermont my true and lawful attorney to ask, demand
and examine all papers & documents in the pension
office that may be deemed necessary to establish my
claim to a pension. particularly the papers of
John Stearns who was pensioned under the law
of June 7, 1832. & his name placed on the roll
of Windham County Vermont.  S'd papers are believed
to contain among them my affidavit in his case which
I now deem of importance to establish my claim to
to a pension.  Witness my hand & [seal] on this 5th day of
February 1857.
John Titus
Personally appeared & acknowledged
Before me Henry Ward Just. Peace
Page 17

Sarah Stearns wid
John ad'm

Jno Titus-
Vt. [Line?]

Mr. Cole
March 15 1837

[This ]Rec'd of [to]
not found on [rolls]

Both cases - Ex. 3
Mr Lumpkin
April 4-51
Page 18


Hinesburgh Vt. 28 March 10th 1831

Sir
I have been employed by Mr Alexander Reed
a son of Thomas Reed deceased who was an applicant for a pension
under the law of June 7th 1832 to aid him in establishing the right
of said Thomas Reed to the benefit of said law. I therefore request you
will allow my friend Thomas Lumpkin Esq of your City to examine
the papers of said Thomas Reed in order fully to understand what further
evidence may be required. I also request he may be allowed to look at
the papers of John Stearns who was pensioned under the law of June
7th 1832 for the purpose of establishing the right of John Titus who
is an applicant for the benefit of the law of June 7th 1832. Said John
Stearns was placed on the pension Roll of Windham County Vermont.

I am respectfully
Your Obt Servant
Henry Ward

Hon J.E. Heath
Com’r of Pensions
Washington
Page 19

J. L. Davis
affidavit
Page 20

I, John L Davis of Rockingham in the State of Vermont
testify and say that I am well acquainted with John Stearns
of said Rockingham, that the said Stearns served during the
Revolutionary War in the year 1781 in Capt Gates
Company in Colonel Waits Regiment of Vermont
Troops, that I had said Steams at Peacham, at Newbury,
 and at Moretown, in Vermont, while in the service;
 that I, the said Davis served in said Gates company
 at the same time the said Stearns belonged to
said Company, and the last time I saw the said Stearns
While in the service was late in the fall of the year
and I have no doubt but what it was as late as the
last of October 1781.
John L Davis his mark

State of Vermont
Windham County S Rockingham Sept 4th 1832
Then personally appeared John Davis signer of the
above affidavit and made solemn oath, that said affidavit
contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth.
Before me Alex’r S. Campbell Justice Peace
 certify that the above named John L. Davis is a 
disinterested witness.
Alex’r S. Campbell Justice Peace
Page 21

State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerks Office,
New Fane, September 12, A.D. 1832
I certify that Alexander S. Campbell Esquire
is one of the Justices of the Peace within and
for the County of Windham aforesaid, and
that the within is his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of the said County Court on the day and
year above written.
James Elliot, Clerk
Page 22

23955
Revolution
INVALID.

File No. 23.955
John Stearns
Pri. Rev. War
---
Act June 7th '32

Index: - Vol. 2 Page 393
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 23

May 18 - 1903 Hist. to
F. H. Horsford Charlotte, Vt.

1926 July 19-- Hist to
Frances M. Davis MMFH
Page 24

July 14, 1857
Sarah Cavel wishes
to know if she is
entitled to a pension

[Clark Triplett]
Jno. Stearns
Vt.


Chimney Point, Vt.
July 8

Paid 

To the Commissioner of Pensions
at Washington
Seat of Government