Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,518, Squire Ferris, Vt. War Of 1812
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
Vt.|Ferris, Squire|R.3,518|
[end of columns]
War of 1812.
CONTENTS
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[verso]
Squire Ferris
May 18 1840
Ref'd to the Committee on Rev'y Pensions
Jan. 6. 1841 - Ref'd to Com'ee Rev. Pensions
Feb.12.1841 Com'ee discharged to lic
March 14,1844, ref'd to com'ee on Rev. Pensions
May 2, 1844 Discharged to lic
Jan. 21. 1845, ref'd to comee on Revy Pensions

[recto]
Petition of Squire Ferris of the State of New York praying for the passage of a law authorising him to be placed on the Pension Roll
Com'ee Rev. Pensions
Dec-11-1833 Ref'd to Com'ee Rev. pensions
June 10. 1834 - Comm'ee disch'd to lic
Jan'y 18 1836 Ref'd to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Feb. 5 - 1836 Com'ee disch'd to lic
Jan. 16. 1837 Ref'd to Com'ee Rev Pensions
Jan.24. 1837 - Comm'ee disch &c
Dec. 12. 1837 Ref'd to the Com'ee on Rev'y Pensions
Jan 11. 1838 - Report vs to lic/10901
Farlain 206 Rev Pens
['Jany 13. dis'd to lic' crossed out]
G. P. Marsh 24 M'ch 1844
['Gillette vs Whalon 115 Rev. Pens.' crossed out]
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to the Honorable the Senate & House of Representatives of the U.S.
The Petition of Squire Ferris of Chazy in the State of New York respectfully sheweth
That he is now sixty six years of age, was born in Nine Partners [margin note: 66] Dutchess County N.Y. on the 11th day of January 1767. That he has a record of his age in his family bible (to which he has recently referred) taken from a record made by his Father more than sixty years ago. That his Father Peter Ferris resided in Panton in the state of Vermont in the year 1776 & owned a farm at that place. That during the month of October of that year. The British under Genl Carlton (Carleton) drove in Gen'l Arnold with his fleet into Ferris Bay where he blew up his vessels. Your Petitioner & his Father were driven from him by the enemy and sought refuge in the town of Schaghticoke NY where they remained until June 1777 where they returned to Panton - During your Petitioners absence his Fathers premises were taken into possession by the British & all his personal property was destroyed by them - They shot his hogs, tore open his feather beds & scattered their contents to the four winds, in fact they destroyed every thing in their power except his buildings. 
That during the month of October 1778 a part of British, Indians & Tories amounting to five hundred, under the command of Maj. Carleton (a nephew of Gen'l Carlton(Carleton)) made an incursion into the country from Canada and captured two hundred and upwards american citizens who were friendly to and aiding the american cause. That the expedition was principally  designed against Rutland Vt. That on the 18th of October 1778 your Petitioner & his Father were captured and taken by the said British Troops as Prisoners of war and put on board the British Schooner "Maria" commanded by Captain Harrison, and carried to St. Johns & thence to Sorel L. C. - The other prisoners amounting to two hundred were taken from the towns of Panton, Otter Creek, Waltham & New Haven & from the border of Lake Champlain & were carried with your Petitioner & his said Father to Sorel. The British assigned us reasons for capturing your Petitioner & his Father that they were engaged in the american service, in giving information as to the movements of the British and siding in various ways the american cause & that they had assisted in recapturing some prisoners from on board one of their vessels lying at Ferris Bay. - 
That on his arrival at Sorel aforesaid the Father of your Petitioner was put in irons, & charged by the British with being "a damned rebel." Your Petitioner was marched from Sorel under a strong guard with the said two hundred prisoners to Quebec, and he was there put into the Provo Jail, & kept there in close prison until Jany 1780 when he and four others were carried to a place called Mall Bay about 100 miles below Quebec and compelled to build barracks for the other prisoners confined at the  latter place. Your Petitioner was accompanied to Mall Bay by his Father, Benjamin Payne
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Claudius Brittain & Claudius Brittain Jr. - That after remaining there till the first day of June 1780, seventeen prisoners were sent to quebec & confined with us. your Petitioner recollects the names of John Ward Nathan Smith, Marshall Smith, one Sturdevant, Clark Stow, John Oaks, & -- Beebee as being of the number. 
The night after said Prisoners arrived, your Petitioner & his Father with six others viz Nathan Smith, Marshall Smith, John Ward, -- Sturdevant, Claudius Brittian, & Claudius Brittain Jr. made their escape in the aforesaid Battleax. That your Petitioner was pursued & retaken with his Father at Three Rivers. Your Petitioner was put into a jail at that place on the 5th of June 1780 and kept in close confinement as a prisoner of war. On the 20th June 1780 four Prisoners confined with us but in another assortment broke jail and escaped. Your Petitioner and his Father were then put into separate dungeons or cells, nine feet long, eight feet wide & five feet high, and confined there seventy four days during which time your Petitioner suffered severely from want of food and the blows which had been inflicted upon him by his keepers previous to his being cast into the aforesaid dungeon. your Petitioners life being in danger from longer confinement in the dungeon, he was taken therefrom, and put into another prison which had been prepared for that purpose. after remaining, there until May 1780 he succeeded in effecting his escape with his Father & four others viz James Kinny, William Cafrey, Claudius Brittain & Claudius Brittain Junior. The two former were Canadians and imprisoned on account of their being friends to the Colonies. Your Petitioner and his Father were twenty one days in the woods & subsisted during that time upon four pounds of bread and one pound of beef which was all we had except two pounds of tea - our bread lasted the first seventeen days & for four days we had nothing but tea. Your Petitioner & his Father were recaptured by a party of British at Missisquoi Bay. - This recapture was undoubtedly the means of prolonging the life of your Petitioner and his father, for when we were taken we were alone - almost exhausted from hunger. We were taken by the British to St Johns & ironed together (iron bands being placed on our wrists) & confined in a dungeon fourteen days longer after which we were sent to Quebec being still Ironed together and there confined in prison untill July 12th 1782 when your petitioner was taken to Skeensboro (Skenesborough) now Whitehall and there on the 26th day of July 1782 he & his Father together with about forty others were set at liberty & an equal number of British Prisoners of war were delivered up to the British officer who commanded the Party. of the remaining 160 americans who were captured & taken to Canada, some escaped, & others went on board British merchant vessels but the greater part died in prison from
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the most inhuman treatment of the British. - your Petitioner was a prisoner of war as aforesaid from October 11. 1778 to July 26. 1782. Three years Eight months & fifteen days
During said time the British burnt all the buildings belonging to your Petitioners Father, also cut down all his apple trees, & killed his cattle, in short swept off every thing of value both buildings, fences, & personal property. 
After the war was over your Petitioner returned with his Father to Panton Vt. & resided there till 1813. when he moved to Chazy N.Y. where he has ever since resided and now resides. 
During the seasons of 1813, & 14 your Petitioner served as a Pilot on board of Com. McDonoughs Fleet on Lake Champlain. Your Petitioner has always taken a decided stand for the liberties of  his country & it was in consequence of this that he suffered the severe imprisonment above set forth - Your Petitioners Father died in the Spring of 1814 aged ninety three years. He never received any aid from his government although his pecuniary losses by the Enemy beside his imprisonment must have exceeded two thousand dollars - Your Petitioner has feeble health. He has six children, & a wife who is nearly or quite blind. Your Petitioner apprehends that his case comes within the spirit of the acts of Congress passes June 7, 1832. & the Resolution of 14th July 1832. 
He therefore prays that a law may be passed authorising him to be placed on the pension Roll at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th day of March 1831. or for such other ['and' crossed out] relief as to your honorable bodies shall seem proper - 
Respectfully submitted
/s/Squire Ferris
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 21st day of Nov. 1833 & I certify that deponent is a credible & highly respectable citizen} 
/s/E. Williams Judge of Clinton County Common Pleas
[margin note: 1833-66=1767]
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3 John A. Ferris' affd't
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State of New York
County of Clinton ss John A Ferris of Plattsburg in said county being duly sworn says that as Deponent understood at the time and then believed & still believes to be true Squire Ferris & his Brother Peter deceased, in the year 1777 captured two British spies on Otter Creek in the town of Ferrisburg, Addison County Vermont & took them to Ticonderoga, N.Y. and delivered then up to General Sinclair who commanded that post, & Deponent verily believes that the capture of such spies, the recapture of two american prisoners from on board a British vessel lying in Ferris's Bay a short time before, the efficient aid rendered by him the the american cause & the actual services of the said Squire Ferris during the Revolution was the cause of his being taken a Prisoner of war by the British & carried to Canada and imprisoned as he has stated. - Deponent has always understood & believes the same to be true, that said Squire Ferris was actually under arms at the time of his being taken a prisoner of war as aforesaid. -
/s/John A. Ferris
['Sworn' crossed out] Authorised and subscribed to before me this 26th day of December 1836 and I certify that Deponent is a credible person & witness - 
/s/Wm. F. Haile a Judge of Clinton County Courts
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John A. Ferris affidavit in support of the Petition of Squire Ferris. For Committee on Rev Pensions
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State of New York
County of Clinton ss. John A. Ferris of Plattsburg in said County being duly sworn says he is seventy five years of age & that he recollects the time that Squire Ferris now a resident of Chazy was captured by the British. That Deponent is a Brother of said Squire Ferris & was at [illegible] NY where he heard that his said Brother & Father had been taken 
That as Deponent understood at the time his said Brother was taken & captured by the British as a prisoner of war at Panton Vt. on the 11th day of October 1778. and taken into Canada. That Deponent understood a few months after they returned that his said Father & Brother were released from their imprisonment in July 1782 - & that they had been imprisoned by the British & kept as Prisoners of war from the time of their capture to the time of their release as aforesaid. During all of the time aforesaid Deponent did not reside at his Father's house. but was in New Jersey & Dutchess County & other places. Deponent at the time heard of the unsuccessful attempts of said Squire Ferris to escape. Deponent has frequently heard his Father & said Squire Ferris relate the story of their imprisonment & the sufferings they endured & has heard Joseph Holcomb converse with Deponents Father on the subject. said Holcomb was a Prisoner with Deponents said Father & Squire Ferris - Deponent was present when his said Brother Squire Ferris was making out his Petition to Congress which was sworn to before Judge E. Williams on the 22d Nov'r last & the facts therein stated are those which Deponent has often heard related by his Brother, Father & others & Deponent has no manner of doubt that said Squire Ferris was a Prisoner of war from Oct 11. 1778 to July 26 1782. as he stated - and further saith not. at the time interlined. 
/s/John A Ferris
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 4th day of December 1833 - I certify that Deponent is a credible person & witness - 
/s/J Douglas Woodward Notary Public
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State of New York
County of Clinton ss. On this 4th Dec'r 1833. personally appeared before me the subscriber a Public Notary in & for said State John A Ferris within named & made oath in due form of law to the truth of the facts contained in the written affidavit by him subscribed. - 
[notary seal affixed] Witness my hand & official seal the day & year aforesaid at Plattsburg in said County. 
/s/J. Douglas Woodward
Notary Public
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['Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.' crossed out]
REJECTED
3018.
P. O. Squire Ferris
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank]
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank]
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized. [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis. Searched for [blank], 18[blank]
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[verso]
New York Revolutionary
Squire Ferris 
Rejected - 
See Lett to J. D. Woodward Aug 3 1836. do (ditto) to Hon D. Farlan, Jan 14. 1837 do (ditto) to Hon A C Hand apl 15. 1840

[recto]
rejected
J. D. Woodward Aug. 3 '36
D Farlan Jany 14 '37
A. C. Hand apl 15 '40
Let to J. D. Woodward June 28. '47
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['33830' crossed out]
Squire Ferris N. Y.
Act 7, June '32
Papers copied and sent to Hon S. Lawrence HR. 5 April 1848.
C W Bennett Aug 23 1853
3518
corresp. inside
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Squire, Ferris
Petition praying for a pension in consideration of his being made a prisoner during the revolutionary war. 
Jan 21 1845 Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Dec. 10, 1845. Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.
June 17, 1846 Discharged & to lic
January 12, 1847. Referred to the Com. of Revolutionary Pensions. 
Rev. Pensions Marsh
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[handwritten letter]
Washington June 22. 1847.

Sir.
The papers of Mr Squire Ferris are supposed to be on the files of the House of Reps. To these and the Roll of Exchanged Prisoners in your office. I would refer as evidence in support of his claim under the act of June 7. 1832. & Resolution of July 14. of the same year. I enclose his declaration. 
Respectfully Yours,
/s/J. D. Woodward.
Atty for Squire Ferris. 

James L Edwards Esq
Com'r of Pensions
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[handwritten letter]
War Department Pension Office
July 26. 1836.

Sir.
Please transmit to this Office are papers you may have in your possession relating to the claim of Squire Ferris, for Revolutionary services.
Respectfully Your Ob't Serv't
/s/Geo. Wm. Crump
To the Clerk of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Representatives U. States
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[handwritten letter]
War Department Pension Office
July 26. 1836.

Sir.
Please transmit to this Office are papers you may have in your possession relating to the claim of Squire Ferris, for Revolutionary services.
Respectfully Your Ob't Serv't
/s/Geo. Wm. Crump
To the Clerk of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Representatives U. States
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[handwritten letter]
Plattsburg NY July 21, 1836

James L. Edwards Esq
Dr. Sir
I have been called upon today by Mr Squire Ferris of this County who supposes himself entitled to a Pension under the acts of Congress, on account of his imprisonment during the revolution - 
He says that John Ward who was captured & imprisoned with him, is now receiving a Pension. The Papers in this case of Mr Ferris are on the file of the House of Representatives, & were prepared under a supposition that further legislation would be necessary; but on looking at the act of June 7. & Resolution of 14th July 1832 it would seem that the case is already provided for. 
Will you send for the papers, & cause the matter to be investigated. 
Yours respectfully 
/s/J. D. Woodward
PS Will you forward the Certificate in the case of Chipman Storrs?
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[handwritten letter]
Office Ho. of Reps U. States
Aug't 1. 1836

Sir
In compliance with your request I herewith transmit you the papers in the case of Squire Ferris.
With real respect Sir yr ob st
/s/S. Burch

Hon G. W. Crump
Pension Office
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[handwritten letter]
War Department Pension Office
Aug. 3d 1836

Sir
The papers of Squire Ferris obtained from the House of Representatives who claims a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 have been examined and the claim rejected - No claim for imprisonment can be allowed under the provisions of the act unless it is made to appear that the claimant was at the time of being captured, regularly engaged in an embodied corps under  competent authority in actual military service
The first name of Storrs whose Certificate is inquired for must be given before the answer can be furnished 
Respectfully Your Obt Servt
/s/Geo: Wm. Crump
J. D. Woodward Esq
Plattsburgh N.Y.
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[handwritten letter]
Plattsburg N.Y. Dec 26. 1836.

Hon Dudley Farlin

Dr. Sir,
The Papers of Squire Ferris are at the Pension Office. 
He wishes you to lay them with enclosed before the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.
This case is suppose to come within the spirit of the act of June 7. 1832 & 14th July of the same year. 
Yours respectfully
/s/J. D. Woodward
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[handwritten letter]
Plattsburg N.Y. Dec. 19, 1833.

Hon Reuben Whallon,

Dr. Sir, 
The enclosed additional evidence i the case of Squire Ferris with that already on the files of this House, is probably all he can furnish. If the Committee determine that he was a Prisoner of War, they will I apprehend report in his favor. 
Yours very respectfully
/s/J. Douglas Woodward
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2 Nathan Smiths affdt. in support of the Petition of Squire Ferris 
For Com. on Rev Pensions.
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State of Vermont
Addison County Nathan Smith of the town of Addison in said County aged seventy years being duly sworn says that Squire Ferris now a resident of the state of New York was captured & taken as a prisoner of war at Panton Vt. in the month of October 1778, by the British Troops under the command of Maj. Carleton. That said Ferris was taken into Canada & detained there as a Prisoner of war with his Father for more than three years & until he was exchanged at Skenesboro now Whitehall NY. in the month of July 1782. - Deponent was taken prisoner by the same party of British within three days after said Squire Ferris was captured & Deponent went as a Prisoner with him into Canada & was with him at St. Johns. Sorel, Three Rivers quebec & mallbay. - Deponent finally escaped from prison at Three rivers on or about the 20th June 1780 & left said Squire Ferris & his Father still in prison & Deponent heard soon after the sufferings of said Ferris in the dungeon at Three Rivers & in the woods, of his recapture at Missisquoi Bay & of his being taken back to quebec. Deponent lived in Addison vt. when said Ferris was released from his imprisonment & distinctly recollects the time he was exchanged - Deponent understood at the time and believed the same to be true that said Squire Ferris & one John Oaks a few days before said Ferris was taken as aforesaid. took a small boat during a very dark night along side of a British vessel then lying in Ferris's Bay & recaptured two americans viz Joseph Everest & Phinehas Spaulding. who had been taken prisoners by the British & confined on board of said vessel. & it was for this act of said Ferris that the British were particularly hostile to him - That all the buildings & property of the Father of said Ferris were destroyed by the enemy during his imprisonment - Deponent was well acquainted with said Squire Ferris for several years before he was taken Prisoner & has known him ever since - That his imprisonment and suffering during the Revolution were undoubtedly owing to the decided stand which he & his Father took for the american cause. That said Ferris has always sustained a good character & his statements may be relied upon with perfect confidence. - 
/s/Nathan Smith
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 13 day of Dec 1833 - I certify that Deponent is a credible witness
/s/James Cook Jus. Peace.
This is to certify to all whom it may concern that Nathan Smith, the above signer, personally appeared before me and swore to the truth of the above depposition the s'd Nathan Smith is now living in Bridport County of Addison State of Vermont
/s/James Cook Jus peace
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Squire Ferris - Vergennes Vt
Report the case of Squire Ferris, Vergennes, Vt. to Hon. A. C. Hand H. R.
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Squire Ferris to J. Douglas Woodward Power
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Know all men by these present that I Squire Ferris of Vergennes Vermont (formerly of Clinton County New York) do hereby authorise constitute and appoint J Douglas Woodward of Plattsburg N York my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to ask demand & receive of and from the Commissioner of Pensions or any office authorised to allow the same a Pension on account of my services & imprisonment during the revolutionary war under the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832. & Resolution of July 14. of the same year & the other acts of Congress & I also authorise my said attorney to receive the amount of pension due to and under said acts from March 4, 1831. to March 4. 1847. at Eighty dollars per annum. And I hereby ratify & confirm whatsoever my said attorney has already done or may hereafter do in obtaining a pension for me from the United States on account of my said services & imprisonment. And I also authorise my said attorney to appoint an attorney under him for any and all the purposes aforesaid - 
/s/Squire Ferris
[court seal affixed] In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of May, Eighteen hundred and forty seven. -
Signed sealed and delivered In the presence of 
/s/Charles H. McNeil.
/s/Charles Barnard Jus Peace }

State of New York
County of Clinton ss } On this 11th day of May 1847, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County personally appeared Squire Ferris above named to me known as the individual described in & who executed the above power, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed - 
/s/Charles Barnard } Justice Peace.
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[handwritten letter]
Washington City
June 8th 1853

Hon L. P. Waldo
Com'r of Pensions

Sir
I have the honor to enclose herewith a power of attorney executed by the heirs of Squire Ferris deceased of the state of New York whose claim has been suspended under act of July 7th 1832. 
I hope to be enabled to file additional evidence in the case sufficient to establish the claim before it comes up for examination.
Very Respectfully Your Obed't Ser't
/s/C. W. Bennett
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Declaration of Squire Ferris under act June 7. 1832 & Resolution of July 14. of the same year. -
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832. & Resolution of July 14. of the same year.
State of New York
County of Clinton ss. On this 11th day of May 1847. personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in & for said Court held at the Court House in Plattsburg - Present Hon. William Hedding, Josiah T. Everest, Isaac H Patchen & Joseph Hutchins Judges thereof the same being a Court of Record. Squire Ferris a resident of Vergennes in the County of Addison & State of Vermont (but formerly a resident of Clinton County NY being on a visit to his relatives residing there) aged Eighty years on the 11th day of January 1847 who being first 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, & Resolution of July 14. of the same year, and the other laws of Congress granting pensions. 
That on the eleventh day of October 1778, while he was in actual service of the United States at Addison - Vermont under Sergeant Cook of the Vermont Militia, and employed as a private watching the movements of the enemy for the purpose of giving notice of his approach. he the said Ferris was captured & taken as a prisoner of war by a party of British Troops under the command of Major Carleton, and put on board the British Schooner Maria, and carried to St Johns Lower Canada, thence to Sorelle (Sorel), L. C. where he was put in irons. That he with about two hundred other prisoners was marched from thence under a strong guard to Quebec, & put into the provo jail  at the place & kept there in close prison until Jan'y 1779 when he & four others were carried to Mall Bay (below Quebec) and compelled to build barracks for the other prisoners confined at that place. He was accompanied to Mall Bay by his Father, Benj Payne, Claudius Brittain & Claudius Brittain Jr., & he remained there till the first of June 1779 when seventeen prisoners were sent from Quebec & confined with him. The night after they arrived, he with six others made their escape in a Batteaux. 
He was pursued & retaken with his Father at Three Rivers L. C. & put into a jail at that place where he remained until the 20th June 1779, when he & his said father were put into a dungeon & confined there seventy four days, where he suffered greatly from want of food & cruel treatment - His life being in
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danger he was removed to another prison where he remained until May 1780 when he effected his escape with his Father & four others - he & his companions (after being twenty days in the woods where they suffered greatly from hunger & exhaustion) were recaptured by a party of the enemy at Missisque (Missisquoi) Bay, ironed together & taken to St Johns & confined in a dungeon fourteen days after which they were sent to Quebec being still ironed, & confined there in Prison until the 12th day of July 1782 when he was taken to Skeensboro (Skenesborough); now Whitehall, N.Y. and there on the 26th of July 1782 he, his Father and about forty others were exchanged as Prisoners of war, for an equal number of British prisoners who were delivered to Lieut Buel of the British army. 
And the said Squire Ferris declares that he was a prisoner of war as aforesaid from Oct 11, 1770 to July 26. 1782 three years eight months & fifteen days - 
For a more particular & detailed statement of the services, sufferings & imprisonment of this declarant he refers to his Petition sworn to on the 22d Nov 1833 - & the affidavits which accompany it.
This declarant has a record of his birth in his family bible to which he has recently referred, and has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person who can testify to his service except Nathan Smith & John A. Ferris whose Depositions have been procured & will accompany this declaration, & ['excepts' crossed out] except also the Roll of prisoners of war exchanged at Skeensboro (Skenesborough) on the 26th July 1782 which the declarant has recently been informed is now at the Pension Office - If such Roll be in existence & his name be found upon it, he insists that such record is conclusive evidence that he was a prisoner of war & the evidence of Mr. Nathan Smith who was imprisoned with declarant proves the length of such imprisonment to have been more than three years - After his exchange as aforesaid he returned to Panton Vt. and resided there till 1813 when he moved to Chazy N.Y. where he resided until 1842 when he moved to Vergennes Vt where he has ever since resided & now resides. 
He claims a pension under the act of July 7. 1832, and Resolution of July 18. of the same year, and hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or gratuity except the present and declares  that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any state - 
/s/Squire Ferris
Sworn & subscribed to before me in open Court the day & year first above written - and I certify that the declarant is a credible person and the said Court declares their opinion
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after the investigating of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served and was imprisoned as he states - The foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said Squire Ferris for a Pension - 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal & fastened these papers together by a piece of red ['silk thread' crossed out] cotton tape the ends of which pass under my said said Seal at Plattsburg Clinton Co. NY this 11th day of May 1847. day of May 1847
/s/Charles H. Jones Clerk of Clinton County 
Note the words "Silk thread" erased & the words "Cotton Tape" interlined
/s/C. J. Jones Clk
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Squire Ferris N. York. 
Act 1832 - 
A H Mackland
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State of New York
County of Clinton }
Be it known, that on this Seventeenth day of December A.D. 1852 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared 1 Hiram Ferris of Chazy, County aforesaid, (Son & Heir of Squire Ferris,) resident of 2 Chazy in said County, and made oath according to law that 3 Squire Ferris was the identical man who was a ['Soldier' crossed out] Prisoner in the war of the Resolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 4 [blank] that 5 he is directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim. 
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint C. W. BENNETT, of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of 6 Squire Ferris for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D.C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 
7 /s/Hiram Ferris
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said 8 Hiram Ferris to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged. 
9 /s/B. W. Merritt Justice
State of New York
County of Clinton } 
It is hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Dep'y Clerk of the Court of Clinton County that 8 Hiram Ferris the party who  has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the 10 identical child of the reputed ['soldier' crossed out] Prisoner aforesaid. I further certify that 11 B. W Merritt Esq before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this twenty third day of December 1852
/s/C Demming Vaughan Dept Clk of Clinton Co 
1. Claimant's name or names in full. - 2. Post Office address. 3 "That he is the identical man," or "that she is the widow of the identical man," or "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c.,&c. 4. Leave this line blank. - 5. "He is,"she is," or "they are." - 6. Revolutionary soldier's full name. - 7. Claimant's signature. - 8. Claimant's name. - 9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of." - 11. Magistrate's name. - 12. Clerk's signature. 
N.B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
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