Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42408, for Thomas Stafford, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
R. I

Stafford, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 42408
B.L. Wt. 1979-100

CONTENTS
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Know all Men by these present that I Wanton Hazard of Sheldon County of Franklin & State of Vermont Son in Law of Eley Hazard of the Town County & State aforesaid Daughter to the late Thomas Stafford Deceased late one of the soldiers of the Revolution War -  and was from the State of Rhode Island and belonged to the continental troops from the said State of Rhode Island-- Have made constituted & appointed- Joseph Buman of Fairfax County of Franklin & State of Vermont our Lawfull attorney for us & the heirs at Law of the said Thomas Stafford deceased to ask for demand & power of the Hon Sectry of War of the United States or any person attuned to grant the same a Land Warrant to which the heirs of the said Thomas are entitled to for the services under the United States by the said Thomas in the war of the revolution & the said Joseph Buman is hereby impowerd [sic] to constitute & appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purpose of procuring said Warrant & to give such Receipt or receipts as may be made or required by the government or the said Secretary of War - & what the then said Joseph or his substitute may Lawfully do shall be binding on as is fully as though we were personaly [sic] present in doing the same In witness where unto we [illegible] our hands and [illegible] at Sheldon this 14th day of July AD 1833 
In presence of
Andrew Durkee		Wanton Hazard
Lucy A Hazard		Eley Hazard
State of Vermont Franklin County} Sheldon July the 18th 1833 
Then Personaly [sic] appeared Wanton
subscriber to the forgoing declaration & made oath to the same 
Hazard & Eley Hazard persons to me personally known and acknowledged the above power of attorney by them Subscribed to be their free voluntary act & Deed for the purpose therein mentioned 
before me Andrew Durkee Just Peace
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Thomas Stafford
No 1979.
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State of Vermont  Georgia District} Probate office October this 1833 I hereby certify that satisfactory evidence as adduced to me to proove [sic] that  Greenman[noted 1] Jacob [noted 2] Augustus [noted 3] and Daniel [noted 4] Stafford was the same and that the Rebecca [noted 5] Lydia [noted 6] Abigail [noted 7] Christiana [noted 8] Hester [noted 9] Eley [noted 10]  were the daughters of said Thomas and father that the said Rebecca Stafford married to John Deal Lydia married to Denton Smith Abigail married to Denton Fay Christian and John Whitney, Eley married to Wanton Hazard Hesther married to Isaac De Griff by which names to the persons to whom the sd Daughters & married there and each of them are now married.  lt not being known wheather [sic] Nancy is alive or married she is held Nancy [noted 11]  Stafford -  the above are the only known heirs to the said Thomas Stafford late of the State of New York Deceased late a soldier of the Revolution in the Rhode Island line belonging to Col. [illegible]regiment and other troops the war of the Revolution -
given under my hand and sele of Office [illegible][illegible] said District the 31st day of Octr in the year 1833 
Stephen [illegible] Judge
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[left side]
d. Jan 31, 1825
[right side]
16.964
New York
Thomas Stafford
of Florida in the state of New York
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Green of the Rhode Island
line, for the term of 6 years [War in faded letters]
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence o
the 14 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of May 182[Fold ovr number]
and sent to Benedict Arnold Esq
Judge, Amsterdam, New York
Arrears to 4th of March 1820 	|$182.89
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept	|48.
Arrr  22m 22/30 4/31
				|$230.89

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued on the roll
under the law of 1st
May 1820, Notification
Sent to J  L Lobdell July 6 July
1820 [illegible]
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Thomas Stafford
pri.

Continue
16964
18 May 1820

John L Lobdell
Johnstown 
New York
Page 7

State of New York County of Montgomery} ss 
On this 16th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record for the said County of Montgomery called the Court of Common Pleas proceeding according to the principles of the Common law having the power of five and Imprisonment Stafford and unlimited Jurisdiction. Thomas Stafford aged fifty Eight years resident in Florida in said State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows -  in Captains Flag, Brown, and Stephen Olney Companies, in Colonels [illegible] and Olneys Regiment in the Rhode Island line as is more particularly mentioned in my original declaration that my original declaration bears date the 9th day of April 1818 and the number of my pension certificate which I have received is 16.964. and I solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time, by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war past on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have
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I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Sworn to and declared on this 16th day of June 1820 in open Court
Jno McCarthy Clerk
Thomas Stafford
His mark X [ signature]
Real property I have none in possession reversion remainder or expectancy – 
personal Estate, 1 Cow, 2 hogs, 1 pig. 1 Table 4 chairs 1 pair And Irons, 1 set cups & saucers five plates, 6 knifes & forks 2 hoes [illegible] 1 old rake 1 old pitch fork 1Spider 1 Kettles & one loom. I owe to [sic]different persons about $60.00, I am a farmer by occupation but on account of feebleness and ill health am unable to do much work I have five in my family whom I support my wife fifty three years of age who is quite weakly three children one fifteen years of age one fourteen & the other thirteen that I have no other means of support than above mentioned Except the pension I receive from the United States and further saith not 
Thomas Stafford
His mark X [signature] 
[the rest of the page is crossed out]
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State of New York Montgomery County Clerks Office} ss I John McCarthy Clerk of the Court of common pleas in and for the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereunto annexed are truly Coppyed [sic] from the record of the said Court and I further certify that it is proved to the satisfaction of the said Court by the oaths of credible witnesses and that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is thirty dollars In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on the 26th day of June 1820 
Jno. McCarthy
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Montgomery County ss} Thomas Stafford of the Town of Florida in the County of Montgomery aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he served during the war of the Revolution in the continental Establishment as a Drummer that this deponent entered the service upon the Continental establishment in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven in the Month of March and under Lieutenant Michael Whitmark in a company commanded by Capt Flag and was then attached to the first Rhode Island Regiment commanded by Colonel Green this deponent further saith he continued service as a Soldier from the time of his entering the services till the close of the war when he was honorably discharged from the service and in the course of his services he was engaged in a number of Battles [illegible] at Red Bank at Monmouth at Newport and at York town and several other of Less importance - this deponant further Saith he has lost his discharge from the Army and has in his possession no evidence to shew his services and in consequence of his advanced age and reduced circumstances is unable to procure the attendance of witnesses to Substantiate the above parts except the afidavit of John Bartholomew who was in the service with this deponent and the taking of Cornwallis at York town and further this Deponant saith that by Reason of his reduced circumstances
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he needs the assistance of his country for Support and further saith not subscribed and on this Ninth day of April 1818 
Thomas Stafford 
His mark X [signature]
Before me Benedict Arnold Judge of Com pleas State of New York Montgomery County ss} 
John Bartholomew being Duly Sworn Saith that he new [sic] the said Thomas Stafford when in the army and and [sic] that he this Deponant was a solder in the Revolutionary war and that the said Thomas Stafford was with him this deponant at York town at the taking of Cornwalis and further saith not Subscribed and sworn this Ninth day of April 1818 
John Bartholomew 
before me Benidict Arnold Judge of Com pleas 
the above deponent further saith upon his oath that he is aged fifty six years and that he was discharged from the services of the United States at Saratoga in this State further saith not Sworn before me the day and year above writen 
[line crossed out is illegible]
Thomas Stafford 
His mark X [signature]
Benedit Arnold Judge
I Benedict Arnold one of the Judges of the Court Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery do certify that I am satisfied that
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the above named Thomas Safford did serve in the of Revolutionary ^war stated in the preceding declaration and [illegible] herein that I am acquainted with the said Thomas Stanford and know him to be poor and much in need of the assistance, of his country for support and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken therein to the Secretary for the department of war Lieutenant in the afore mentioned act of Congress 
Benedict Arnold
Judge of C Pleas 
Amsterdam 9th day of April 1818 
State of Newyork Montgomery County }ss -I  John McCarthy Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for the said County do certify that Benedict Arnold whose name appears Signed to the Certification and below when the above declaration appears to have been made and sworn to and before whom the affidavit of John Bartholomew appears to have been made, was one of the Judges the Court of Common pleas in & for the said County on the 9th day of April 1818. In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court the 3d day of August 1818 
Jno McCarthy 
State of Newyork Montgomery County} ss. Thomas Stafford the applicant aforesaid being duly sworn before Aaron Haring First Judge of said County in
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said State aged fifty seven years on the fourth day of March last that now resides in the town of Florida in said County and on his oath maketh the following declaration in addition to the preceding in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War” that the reason why he was returned deserted was, that he in the beginning of winter 1780 the furlough from Captain Brown 
[this sentence written in as add on] A.H. [initials for addition of note] & shortly before his [illegible] [illegible] expired
his christian name was Zephaniah for ten days when he went off of the Island & tried to return within the time limited by the furlough but the ice having set in and shortly thereafter he broke his arm could not go: And that in the summer following in the year 1780 about harvest he then joined Coggeshell Olneys Company in a Regiment commanded by Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel Stewart of the Pennsylvania Line & believes his name to be Christopher for and during the war at Orange town in the State of New Jersey and served faithfully and was Honorably discharged at Saratoga in the County of Saratoga & State of Newyork in the month of June 1783 and he was after the discharge & immediately ^marches in company to Williamstown County of Berkshire Massachusetts where the company to which he belonged to & another were disbanded & discharged finally. and the last Captain under which he served was Captain Stephen Olney & that the discharge was brought up to Saratoga from West Point & that the officer who marched them from Saratoga to Williamstown informed the deponent that he intended to march the said Companies to Rhode Island & there hand the discharges but in fact handed them at Williamstown aforesaid & there actually discharged the said Companies that Simeon Thayer a Major enlisted him the last time & handed him the paper of enlistment declared to be by him such which this deponent signed believing it be an enlistment and this deponent did show to Russel Greer and Asa Clothier of Massachusetts his discharge shortly after the deponent obtained it
Thomas Stafford
His mark X [signature]
Subscribed sworn to this first day of November 1819 
before me Aaron Haring the Judge aforesaid
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Montgomery County ss. John Greenman being duly sworn says that he has been acquainted with Thomas Stafford the aforesaid applicant for about twelve years & lived sometimes in the house & the residence of the time within three miles from this deponent and that he is intimately acquainted with the circumstances of the said applicant and that the said applicant has no means of supporting himself wife and three children residing with him but by the daily labor of himself & wife & what his children one of whom are exceeding thirteen years of age are able to gain by labor 
John Greenman 
Subscribed & sworn to this first day of November 1819 
Before me Aaron Haring the Judge aforesaid 
I Aaron Haring First Judge aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Thomas Stafford did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declarations against the Common Enemy and that he is in reduced circumstances and that he stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support. I also certify that John Greenman the witness before me sworn is a credible witness and that Benedict Arnold Esquire is not now a Judge & that he has not been such Judge for more than one year and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had as well before the said Benedict Arnold and John Gardner Esquire as before myself to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the aforesaid act of Congress (The testimony annexed is two declarations of the applicant & the depositions of John Bartholomew Russel Green Asa Clothier & John Greenman) Given under my hand this 24th day of November 1819 
Aaron Haring
State of New York Montgomery County} I John McCarthy Clerk of the said County do Certify that Aaron Haring whose name appears subscribed to the above certificate is first Judge of the Court of common pleas for the said County, Witness the seal of the said Court the 24th day of November, 1819
Jno McCarthy
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Thomas Stafford
Afidavit
It appears from the roll 
that the applicant deserted
from the army 
Rejected 26th Apl 1819 
the roll is torn & does 
not shew whether 
he returned but his 
own explanatory decn 
together with the 
witnesses shew he 
did serve therefore 
admitted
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In reply to your request of [null], received [null]
for a statement of the military history of Thomas Stafford a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [crossed out: (or his widow's)] application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. 42408


[column headers] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. |OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE |
Mrch. 1777 |to June 1783 | Drummer| Flagg		| Green 		| R.I. |
				          |Zephanial Brown |Olney			|
				          |Coggeshall Olney |Christopher Stuart 	|
				           |Stephen Olney	|Gavit			|
Battles engaged in, Red Bank [noted 1], Monmouth [noted 2], Yorktown [noted 4], Newport [noted 3]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated
Date of application for pension, Apr 9 1818  His cl was at
Residence at date of application, Florida Montgomery Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, B Mch 4, 1762
Remarks: in 1820, his wife, name not stated was 53 yrs old
He died Jan 31 1885 at Florida, N. Y. leaving the following
Children: Greenman, Jacob, Augustus and Daniel.
Rebecca mar John Deal ^Deel, Lydia mar Denton Smith, Abigail mar Denton
Fay:*Christiana mar John Whitney; Eley mar Wanton Hazard; Hester
Mar Isaac De Griffe; Nancy marriage or husband not stated
[Notes in left margin, vertical]
Reviewed & corrected
Jan 13 1921 acv.
Col. Gavit had charge of [illegible] at Yorktown composed of cos from various
States. And Col Ch Stuart of Pa. must have been only the - over
Page 17

ranking officer where Capt Coggeshall Olneys R.I. Co was encamped for this captain never was in any troops but those of R.I. acd. Jan 13, 1921
Page 18

I James Austin of Highgate In the County of Franklin & State of Vermont testify & say that I was born in the Town of Richman in State of RhoIsland was a soldier in the war of the Revolution & was personally acquainted with Thomas Stafford of said State of RhoIsland he lived in different Town in said State before the war of the Revolution at the time of the war he enlisted in the Regiment command by Col olney & served in that regiment & In other Continental troops untill after the close of the war. I was well acquainted with said Stafford sundry years after the war after this he moved to the Town of Hancock in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts -  he lived the sundry years & from thence moved to the State of New York where he died sum years past, one of the Daughter of the said Thomas Stafford mared [sic] to Wanton Hazard, who with his wife now lives in the Town of Sheldon in the State of Vermont St. Albans June the 7th AD 1833 
James Austin

State of Vermont Franklin County} ss.  St. Albans June 17th 1833
Here the above named James Austin Personally appeared and made solemn oath that the affidavit by him subscribed contains the bulk of the whole truth and nothing but but [sic] the truth 
State of Vermont Franklin County ss}
Before me Aaron S Beeman Justice Peace 
I Horace James Clerk of Franklin County Court do hereby certify that Aaron S Beeman and Andrew Durkee whose names are affixed to the above are magistrates duly qualified and appointed by the Legislature of the State to act as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Public seal of said Court this 26th day of  July 1833 
Horace James Clerk
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Wanton & Eley
Hazard
Deposition
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State of Vermont Franklin County} Sheldon 14 July 1833 we Wanton Hazard & Eley Hazard both of Sheldon aforesaid depose & say that we were personally acquainted with Thomas Stafford Late Soldier in the RhoIsland Line in the war of the Revolution he said Thomas Stafford dide [sic] ten years past in the Town or vilage of Florida in the State of New York he said Thomas was a Pensioner ^as stated under the Law of the United States at the time of his deth [sic] he said Thomas left the follow heirs viz, Grenman Jacob Augustus & Daniel being same of the said Thomas. Reback Lydia Abigal Christiana Ely Hester & Nancy all daughters being the only children & heir to his estate
Andrew Durkee		 Wanton Hazard 
Joseph Beeman		 Ely Hazard 

State of Vermont Franklin County} July the 18th 1833 then personaly appeared before me Wanton Hazard Eley Hazard persons to me known & I consider them persons of [illegible] truth & veranter made Sollom [sic] oath to the above deposition by them 
Subscribed before 7 Andrew Durkee Just peace
 N 3 where he was paid his his [sic] last Pension is not known to us but supposes 
 [illegible] Florida  in the State of [null][New York] in 1823 or there about
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& 
Eley Hazard
Power of Attorney
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State of Vermont Franklin County} Sheldon July 8th 1833 
we Wanton Hazard & Eley Hazard both of Sheldon aforesaid heirs at Law of Thomas Stafford Deceased as upon oath testify and declare to the best of our knowledge and belief that the said Thomas Stafford did enter the service in 1775 or there about for the term of during the war and served as a private in the Regiment commanded by Col olney of the Rhode Island Line & in other troops in that line and that he continued in the service aforesaid untill the close of the war & we further declare that we nor any of the heirs to said Thomas never have to our knowledge received a warrant for the County Land promised to the said Thomas Stafford in the parts of the United States nor do we believe that he has received it or transferred his claim to it in any manner what soever therefore
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State of Vermont Franklin County}  Shelden Octr 23 1833 -   we wanton Hazard and Eley Hazard both of Sheldon In the County & State aforesaid heirs at Law of Thomas Stafford deceased do upon oath testify and say to the best of our knowledge & belief, that the said Thomas Stafford did enter the service of the United States In 1775 or there about for the term of during the war and served as a privet [sic] in the Regiment commanded by Col Olney of the Rhodeisland [sic] line and in other troops in that line untill the close of the war and we further say that we nor any of the heirs to said Thomas never have to our knowledge received a warrant for the bounty Land due to the said Thomas Stafford on the part of the United States nor do we believe that the said Thomas ever served it himself or transferred his claim to the same and we further testify and say that the said Thomas Stafford Dc’d In the Town of Vilage [sic] of Florida in the State of New York about ten years past and was a pensioner as we believe at the time of his oath & the children & heirs to the estate of the said Thomas are as follows Greenman Augustus & Daniel Stafford, and the daughters names are as follows with the names of the persons to whom they mared [sic] & the name by which they are now cald [sic] viz -  Rebecca married John Deel Lydia maried Denton Smith, Abigail married Denton Fay Christiana Married John Whitney Eley Married Wanton Hazard Hesther married James De Griff Nancy not none [sic] by us [illegible] as did many but under stow had married 
Wanton Hazard 
Eley Hazard 
Personly appered Wanton Hazard & Eley Hazard formaly Eley Stafford and testifide [sic] to the above before me 
Sheldon Oct the 23 1833 
Andrew Durkee} Justice of the peace
Page 24

I Asa Clothier of Hancock in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts being of lawful age do testify and say that about eighteen years ago Thomas Stafford then resided near me in sd Hancock he showed me his discharge I read it and Have no hesitation in saying according to the best of my recollection that it was an honorable one and further the deponent saith it
Asa Clothier
Berkshire ss 
On other on the eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen then personally appeared and before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace within and for the sd County and state made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true
John Gardiner Justice of the peace 
I Russel Green of Hancock in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts being of lawful age do testify and say that some time in the month of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and eighty, I then was in the Service and son Thomas Stafford at Orange Town he then was a soldier and belonged to the Continental establishment  & left the service the December following and saw no more of the sd. Stafford until some time in the year one thousand Seven Hundred and eighty three at which time I saw him at Hancock he showed me his discharge and I read it and further the deponent saith not 
Russell Green
Berkshire ss 
on the eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen then personally appeared Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace within And for the sd County and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true 
John Gardner Justice of the peace 
I hereby certify that the above mentioned deponents I am acquainted with and they are men of truth and veracity
John Gardner J Peace
Page 25

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire ss: I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of the Judicial Court within & for the County of Berkshire do certify attest that John Gardner is a Justice of the peace within & for the same County, duly commissioned & acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that the foregoing are is Signature 
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand affixed the seal of said County this nineteenth day of November A. D. 1819
Jos. Woodbridge Clk

Asa Clothier & Russel Greens 
Affidavits to be used for Thomas 
Stafford to establish his claim 
for a pension
Page 26

Thomas Stafford is
found in the Register
of final settlement certificates
with the sum of $44.66
opposite thereto
No 26.8.54. Page 21.
Feb. 2nd
Page 27

[left side]
42408
INVALID.
Revy
File No. 42.408
Thomas Stafford
Pri Rev War
---
Act: 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. 3, Page 489
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side]
1915, Jan. 14. History to
Mrs. J.K. Stafford for
Letter with Cl. W.25157 John Stafford

19 -1, Jan 13. Hist to Herbert
O. Brigham -- Ecc
Page 28

Fairfax Vermont, November 19th 1833 
Record
By make this day from the Hon Lewis Cass secretary of War Land Warrant No 1979 I said in the name of the heirs of Thomas Stafford late of a privat In the Rhode Island line in the war of the Revolution, said Warrant for One Hundred acres
Joseph Beeman agent & 
attorney for said heirs
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[left side vertical]
Nov 28 1833

Honl
Secretary of War
Washington City

[stamped] FREE
Page 30

Fairfax Vermont Novr 14th 1833 
Honr Sir - 
I received by male [sic] this day yours of the 9th Instant Inclosing Land Warrant No 1979 for the heirs of the late Thomas Stafford who was a Private in the Rhode Island line In the war of the revolution there with Inclose to you my script or those agent & attorney for them 
With Great Respect
I am yours Joseph Beeman
Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Page 31

[letterhead]
HERBERT O. BRIGHAM COMMISSIONER. 

STATE RECORD COMMISSIONER. 
Providence, R. 3 December 4, 1920.                 Rev. KI
F. D. Byington, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: - Will you kindly send me an abstract of service for Thomas Stafford, who served as private, Rhode Island Line in the Revolutionary War. He afterwards resided in Montgomery Co. New York, and died January 31, 1825. 
Thanking you for previous courtesies,
Very truly yours, Herbert O. Brigham
State Record Commissioner.
HOB/D

[ink stamped]
U.S. Pension Office
Dec 6
1920