Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21680, William Blair, Continental Mass.
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SERVICE                                    NUMBER

Continental       Blair  William     W21680

Mass [massachusetts]    Elizabeth
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5399

New Hampshire   4

William Blair

Massachusetts line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of January 1819 and sent [to] Levi Woodbury Esq. [esquire]
Hillsborough N.H.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818     $38.92
Semi-anl. [annual] all'ce [allowance] ending 4 March 1819    $48   [Total]  $86.92
1 yr & 9 mo

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818}

Continued
 Peterborough  Hillsborough

[written on the side]  Notification sent to J K Smith Esq
Amherst, N.Hamp; 4th Sept 1820
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Concord N. Hamp [New Hampshire]   620

Elizabeth Blair
widow of William Blair decd. [deceased]
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 13 October 1825 of Hillsborough Co [county] in the state of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Pope of the Regt [regiment] commanded by Col. Sargent in the Mass [Massachusetts] line for 2 years 

Inscribed on the roll of Concord N.H. at the rate of 80 Dollars [and no] cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Octo. [October] 1838 and sent [to] Luke Woodbury Antrim N.H.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838                $200.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. '39   40.00
          [Total]  $240.00

Act July 7, 1838

Recorded by D.D.Addison  Clerk,
Book A   Vol. 1st   Page 34
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N. H. 
William Blair (Peterborough)

[illegible]

error

Admitted
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss.  April 9, 1818
I hereby certify that the written named William Blair this day personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the written declaration by him subscribed before me:  And that said declaration hath satisfied me that said William Blair served against the common enemy in the Revolutionary War, as a private Soldier in the Massachusetts Line in the Continental Service longer than nine months at one period and that from [not visible] circumstances he needs assistance from his [not visible] for support.
[signed]  Levi Woodbury As. Jud. Sup. Ct. (N. H.)
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I William Blair of Peterborough in the county of Hillsborough and state of New Hampshire and formerly of the same place Husbandman depose, that in March AD 1776 I enlisted, as a Private soldier, into Capt. Pope's Company in Col. Sargent's Regiment in the Massachusetts Line in the Continental Service and there served against the common enemy till March AD 1777: then reenlisted & served six months longer.  In AD 1778 I enlisted again into the same line in Col. Sargent's Regiment & served there as above nine months.  In AD 1777 I served four months previous to the last time.  At the end of all which services I was honorably discharged but have since lost the Certificate of it,
I further depose, that I have never received any pension from the United States; am now sixty six years old; have a family; am very destitute of property, and from my reduced circumstances need assistance from my country for support
April 9, 1818    [signed]  William Blair

I William Blair above named further depose, that the Regiment in which I served in 1778 above named, must have been Col Marshall's according to my impression after further recollection.  Oct 19th, 1818
[signed]  William Blair
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Copy  75

William Blair
5399  


[rest of page illegible except for]  March 1814
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
HILLSBOROUGH, SS.
At a Court of Common Pleas for the first district, holden at Amherst in said county of Hillsborough, on this 4th day of July, 1820, being a court of record; having power of fine and imprisonment, and unlimited Jurisdiction in point of amount,
PRESENT The Hon. JOSHUA DARLING, [and] JEDIDIAH K. SMITH, Justices.
Personally appeared, in open court, William Blair aged 68 years, resident in Peterborough in said county, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows, to wit:  enlisted March 1776 for one year in Capt. Pope's Company in Col. Sargent's Regiment in the Massachusetts line, and served the year out and six weeks over--was discharged at Chatham in the state of New Jersey.  I served in the revolutionary war nearly three years in the whole at different times

the date of my original declaration was on the 9th day of April Anno Domini, 1818  I have received a pension, the certificate of which is numbered 5399 on the back thereof.

And I do 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 to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land or naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed 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 I any income, other than what is contained in the following schedule, by me subscribed.
one cow valued at $16.00
one hog    "        "      8.00
[Total]                       24.00

[signed]  William Blair
I owe more than the above property
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My occupation is that of a Farmer, but I am able to do but little work

My family, residing with me consists of a wife

[signed] William Blair


Sworn to and declared in open court, on the 4th day of July Anno Domini, 1820
[signed] M Eastman  Clerk



I MOSES EASTMAN, Clerk of the above named Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing declaration and oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copies from the record of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited, in the foregoing schedule, is Twenty four dollars

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, on this fourth day of July, 1820.
[signed] M Eastman  Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Hillsborough
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Blair

Payable semi-annually ---the first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of March next, at Portsmouth N.H.


[bottom of page]  Recorded
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War Department, No. 5399
PENSION OFFICE
7th Sept. 1820
SIR,
You are hereby informed that the schedule of your property has been examined; and the Secretary of War has directed your name to be continued on the Pension Roll.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant, 
[signed]  J. L. Edwards

To Mr. William Blair
care of J. K. Smith, Esq. [esquire]
Amherst, N. H.
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WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM
I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818, William Blair late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension 
List, Roll of the New Hampshire Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the ninth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this Eighteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

[signed]  J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
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767
Declaration
Elizabeth Blair
 Wid [widow] of William
NH
Act 7 July 1838

Aug 22, 1838  I am requested to forward the enclosed papers.  Please address any communications respecting sums to me at Antrim Hillsborough County N. Hampshire
[signed] Luke Woodbury

Married 1787
Died 1825
Alloco [allocate?] 2 [years?] $80 per annum
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss.  At a Court of Probate holden at Temple within & for said county of Hillsborough on this Eighth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred & thirty eight, personally appeared in open Court, Elizabeth Blair a Resident of Peterborough in said county of Hillsborough aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, Doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows;" that she is the widow of William Blair, who was a private soldier in the army of the Revolution & received a pension under the act of Congress of March 18th 1818.  A certificate of which is hereunto annexed [I Drew?] it from the New Hampshire agency.  The order of the war Department in relation to said pension is also hereunto annexed.  The reason of his retaining his original Certificate is that he died so soon after a semi-annual payment, that the arrears of his pension were not thought worth the expense of applying for[.]
  She further declares that she was married to said William Blair on the twenty seventh day of December seventeen hundred & eighty seven, that her husband the aforesaid William Blair died at Peterborough aforesaid on the 13th day of October eighteen hundred & twenty five, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the Service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred & ninety four, or at the time above stated, that she has remained a widow ever since the decease of her said husband 
    Elizabeth Blair  X her mark
[signed]  S. Peabody
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Sworn to & subscribed on this day & year before written Before me in open Court
[signed] Luke Woodbury Judge of said Court

Hillsborough ss.  August 8, 1838.  I do hereby certify that this aforesaid deponent is in my belief a credible witness
[signed]  Luke Woodbury  Judge of aforesaid Court

I Andrew Wallau [Wallace?], Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury above named is Judge of the Probate of Wills &c. in the County of Hillsborough aforesaid as above mentioned, and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine
   In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my Seal of Office and subscribed my name at Amherst in said County this Tenth day of August A.D. 1838.
[signed]  A. Wallau [Wallace?]  Clerk
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Elizabeth Blair
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I Sarah Todd aged 77 years testify and say that I have been acquainted with Elizabeth Little now the widow Elizabeth Blair from our infancy, we were both born in Peterborough and have lived near neighbors ever since; on the 30th of January 1783 I was married to the Reverend Davis Annon then the [Settled?] minister of Peterborough.  Some two or three years after we went to keeping house I think it was in the fall or winter of 1787 William Blair and said Elizabeth Little came to our house to be married   I remember perfectly well it was in the fore part of the evening, no person came with them, and were married in my presence and I believe one or two of my sisters, who were then at our House   They stayed and took Super [supper] with us, Mrs Blair has never married since William Blairs death which I believe hapned [happened] in the year 1825   Mr Annon never kept any records of the marriages he Solemnized to my knowledge
[signed]  Sarah Todd

State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss.  August 17th 1838
Personally appeared the above named Sarah Todd and made oath in due form of law that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true
[signed]  Before me John Scott Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the above deponent is a person of good moral Character, she is a person of a Strong and Sound mind and remarkable retentive memory - her character for truth and veracity is unexceptionable
[signed] John Scott Justice of the Peace

I further certify that I lived a near neighbor of William Blair from the 18th day of March 1788 till his death in 1825  They raised a family of Children and there cannot be a Shadow of doubt but they were lawfully married, his wife has remained a widow ever since his death
[signed] John Scott
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I Andrew Wallau [Wallace?] Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that John Scott before named is a Justice of the Peace as before mentioned, and that the foregoing signatures (three in number) purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name at Amherst in said County this twenty first day of August A.D. 1838 - 
[signed] A. Wallau [Wallace?] Clerk
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Elizabeth Blair
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I Nancy Swan aged 49 years depose and say that my father William Blair died on the 13th day of October 1825 and that my mother Elizabeth Blair has has [sic] never married since but still remains a widow and lives with me
[signed] Nancy Swan

State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss.
Sworn and subscribed this 18th day of August 1838 Before me
[signed] John Scott Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the above deponent is of good moral character and her veracity undoubted
[signed] John Scott  Justice of the Peace
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I Moody Davis depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Peterborough in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire and that I have carfuly [carefully] examined the records of said Town from the year 1775 to the year 1794 and I find no record of the marriage of William Blair and Elizabeth Little or any other person whatsoever
[signed] Moody Davis  Town Clerk of Peterborough

State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss.  August 17th 1838
Then the above named Moody Davis Personally appeared and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit by him Subscribed is true
[signed]  Before me John Scott Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the above deponent is a person of good moral Character and is a good and competent witness
[signed] John Scott Justice of the Peace

I Andrew Wallau [Wallace?], Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that John Scott above and before named is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hillsborough as above and before mentioned and that the foregoing signatures, (four in number) purporting to be his, are genuine
   In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name, this twenty first day of August 1838.
[signed] A. Wallau [Wallace?]  Clerk
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Hon. Cyrus A. Sulloway, House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. Sulloway;
In response to your letter dated the 19" and received the 22" instant, requesting information for Jonathan Smith, Esq. of Clinton, Massachusetts, I have the honor to furnish you the military history of the only William Blair of Peterborough, New Hampshire, found on the Revolutionary War pension records, and to state that said records fail to show that a claim was ever filed for James Taggart as described.  
Wid. File No. 21,680, William Blair was allowed pension on his application executed April 9, 1818, at which time he resided at Peterborough, New Hampshire, and was [illegible] of age.
It appears that he was a resident of Peterborough when he served in the Massachusetts troops and on the Continental Establishment.
Enlisted in March, 1776, as Private in Captain Pope's company, Colonel Sargent's regiment and served one year and six months; enlisted in May, 1778, under Captain Flower, Colonel Creaton, served one month or more, and on June 19, 1778, joined Captain Smith's company, Colonel Marshall's regiment, and served until March 19, 1779.
Soldier married, December 27, 1787, Elizabeth Little at Peterborough

[written at bottom, upside down]  Record
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Wid. File No. 21,680,

New Hampshire, where she was born, where he died October 13, 1825, and she still resided when she applied for pension August 8, 1838, while eighty-two years of age.
In 1838 their daughter Nancy Swan aged forty-eight years testified in the case.
Owing to the lack of clerical force available for such a purpose, this Bureau is unable to furnish full copies of papers on file, but any one designated by you or Mr. Smith, will be allowed to examine and copy the papers in the above cited claim.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
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CONGRESSIONAL

MAY 22, 1911

[ILLEGIBLE]

U. S. BUREAU of PENSIONS
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON INVALID PENSIONS
WASHINGTON

May 19, 19ll.

Hon. I. L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions.
My dear Davenport: - -
   If you can furnish the writer with the information asked for I would be pleased to have you.

Sincerely,
[signed] C. A. Sulloway
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1911 May 23, Hist. to Hon.[honorable] 
Cyrus A. Sulloway


WIDOW, &c.

File no. 21,680

Elizabeth Blair
Widow of William Blair
Pri Rev War [Private, Revolutionary War]

Act July 7th, 38 [1838]

Index: Vol A, Page 69

Arrangement of 1870.
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John Matthews
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I John Matthews of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire of sixty five years of age, do testify and say that I served in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy in Capt William Scotts Company and Col. Sargents Regiment the whole of the year one thousand and seven hundred and seventy six, that being the term for which said Regiment was out that time [unknown].  And that I was well acquainted with William Blair of Peterborough in the County of Hillsborough in said State; (which town I then lived in) and am knowing that said Blair served as an aide in Capt Pope's Company in said Sargent's Regiment the whole of the said year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six and further saith not
John Matthews   X his mark

State of New Hampshire, Cheshire ss.
Jaffrey, November 3, 1818
I hereby certify that the above named John Matthews this day personally appeared before me the subscriber and after due caution made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed and for myself, I have no doubt but that the same is strictly true.

[signed] [Abel Barker?] Judge of Probate for said County of Cheshire
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Law's Dep [deposition]

for 

Wm. [William] Blair
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I Samuel Tradwell [Treadwell] of Peterborough in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire of seventy seven years of age testify that William Blair of the same Peterborough Husbandman served in the revolutionary war against the common enemy in Capt. Pope's Company in Colo [colonel] Sargents Regiment in the Massachusetts line from March 1776 untill [until] the first day of January 1777 when I left the army and left the said Blair still in the service.  I was well acquainted with said Blair as we belonged to the same town.  I served in the same Regiment.  The said Blair is now destitute of property according to the best of my knowledge and belief.
[signed] Samuel Treadwell

Hillsborough ss. Oct 19th 1818  Then the written named Sml. Treadwell Wm. Scott & Reuben Law appeared & made oath to the truth of the written affidavits by them subscribed & they are all credible witnesses.
[signed]  Levi Woodbury [Esquire?]
Page 31

I William Scott of  Peterborough in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire of sixty years of age testify that William Blair of the same Peterborough Husbandman served in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy in Capt. Smiths Company in Colo [colonel] Marshalls Regiment in the Massachusetts line in the continental Service from the 19th of June 1778 untill [until] the 19th of March 1779.  The said Blair and myself both enlisted in May 1778, but did not join the army untill the 19th of the following June [crossed out: we both served in the same Company] at Fishkill.  we were for a month or more under the Command of Capt. Flowers of Gratam Regiment at Fishkill then marched to the White Plains and joined Marshalls Regiment as above.  We were both inhabitants of Peterborough at the time we enlisted.  we joined the army together and returned home together and were both honourably discharged
[signed]  Wm Scott
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I William Law of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire being sixty six years of age testify that about the middle of June 1778 I joined the continental army at Fishkill having enlisted the May before William Blair and William Scott both of Peterborough New Hampshire joined the army at the same time   they had enlisted as I understood for nine months   The said Blair Scott and myself were under the command of Capt. Flowers for a month or more untill [until] we went to the White Plains where they joined Marshalls Regiment and I joined Colo [colonel] Baileys Regiment.  I saw them frequently afterwards untill [until] we went into winter quarters   I have no reason to doubt that they served their time out for which they enlisted and were honourably discharged
[signed]  Reuben Law