Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24084, Thomas Durfee, R.I.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
Durfee, Thomas
Mary
NUMBER
W.24084
CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

Rhode Island
Mary Durfee of Newport in the State of R.I. who was a R.I. in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the [blank]
Widow of Thomas Durfee dec'd late a private & Ensign in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll of R. I. at the rate of 150 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Dec'r 1836 and sent to Charles Durfee Tiverton R.I.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1826 $825.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 37 [$] 75.00
[Total] $900.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk
Book A Vol. 1 Page 101 [possibly 107]
Page 3

No. 552
Mary Durfee
wid of
Thomas Durfee
RI
Adm^d. pri 9 mo    30
Ensign 12 [mo]       120
per ann    $150
[illegible] 1831
R.I. Militia Col Church
Capt Durfee -
Page 4

Declaration of Mary Durfee widow of the late Hon. Thomas Durfee, in order to obtain the benefit of the 3rd section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836 - 
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
On this 4th day of November 1836 personally appeared before me Job Durfee Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State aforesaid Mary Durfee a resident of Tiverton in the County of Newport, aged eighty three years, who, being conscientiously scrupulous of taking the oath, was first duly affirmed according to law; and now on such her solemn affirmation, made and given under peril of the penalty of perjury, doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision, made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 - That she is the widow of the late Hon. Thomas Durfee deceased, who in the year 1776, before and after that period, up to the day of his decease, resided at Tiverton aforesaid, and who was a soldier and officer in the revolutionary war, That, likewise, in said year of 1776, and previous, she the said Mary occasionally resided at a relatives, in said Tiverton, and in the neighborhood of the said Thomas, with whom she was then, well acquainted, that now, at this time of life, her recollections of the events of that date, are vague and indistinct, more particularly of those, in which she was not personally concerned, but that her recollection, of the revolutionary services, of her said deceased husband, as far as it extends, accords with the statements of the same, contained in the depositions hereunto annexed; to which depositions and
[continued]
Page 5

and the documentary evidence, accompanying this declaration, she refers for all and any further particulars, necessary to supply any incompleteness, which may otherwise appear, in this account of his said services, or which may be deemed necessary to sustain this application - She further declares, that she was married to the said Thomas on the [blank] day of September in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Nine, That her husband, the aforesaid Thomas Durfee, died on the 17th day of January in the year 1829; and that she has remained his widow ever since that period, will more fully appear, by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
[signature] Mary Durfee
All which is made under affirmation as aforesaid and subscribed the day and year above written, before me the said Job Durfee, and I do further certify that the said applicant is well known to me as the widow of the said Thomas and as a credible person, and that by reason of great bodily infirmity, she is unable to appear in Court, for the purpose of making the declaration aforesaid
[signature] Job Durfee
Page 6

State of Rhode Island &c. }
County of Newport} ss.
Town Clerk's Office, Tiverton, November 2nd 1836
I Asa Gray Town Clerk of said town of Tiverton do hereby certify that Thomas Durfee, son of John Durfee and Phebe his wife, was born November the seventh A.D. 1759 - as appears of Record in the Office - 
[signature] Asa Gray Town Clerk

I do hereby certify that Thomas Durfee son of John Durfee of Tiverton & Phebe his wife and Mary London late of Newport were lawfully joined together in marriage in said Tiverton Septem^r 13th A.D. 1779
By me, Walter Cook Justice Pleas

State of Rhode Island &c. } ss.
County of Newport} ss.
Town Clerk's Office, Tiverton November 2nd 1836
I Asa Gray, Town Clerk of said town of Tiverton do hereby certify that the above certificate of Marriage is a true and exact copy taken from the Book of the Records of Marriages in this office.
[signature] Asa Gray Town Clerk

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
County of Newport, Tiverton November 5th 1836.
I Job Durfee, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State aforesaid and a resident of said Tiverton, do hereby certify that this day personally appeared before me, the above named Asa Gray known to me to be the Town Clerk of said town of Tiverton, and as such to have the keeping of the Records of Marriages and Births of the foregoing Certificates by him severally subscribed
[signature] Job Durfee
Page 7

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Newport sc.
I Charles Durfee of Tiverton in the County of Newport, of the age of forty three years, one of the children and representatives of the late Hon. Thomas Durfee of said Tiverton deceased, under oath, do testify and declare, That being in possession of the private papers and documents of the said Thomas, I find and have amongst them, Two commissions appointing Thomas Durfee ensign to the 3^d company of trained band of the Town of Tiverton, and dated 21st of June 1779, The other appointing Thomas Durfee [first?] ensign as before dated 9th of July 1780, both signed by William Green, also with them, the remnant of a commission signed by the said Green, the date of which and most of the essentials are gone, this latter I mention on the conjecture, that it is the fragment of a commission, appointing him as mentioned in the year 1778 - In relation to his services as a private and an officer in the Revolution, I can only state in reference to his remarks and relations, when in life, upon that subject; I have often heard him speak of being on duty as one of the guard at different places, particularly of being at the post and quarters at Howland's Ferry (so called) which I believe to have been in the early part of his service as a private; Also of his being occasionally upon the Island, of being stationed upon some guard, when an alarm was given and then in the gloom of a very dark night, of the rush upon them of the enemy, in which ambuscade or surprize, some of his party were killed or wounded - At times & at places, within the vicinities mentioned, where I have accompanied him, he has shown and pointed out to me the locations or places where certain incidents took place, in which he participated as an actor or was from necessity present, and occassionally spoke of his personal emotions and
thoughts
[continued]
Page 8

thoughts resulting [several words crossed through] on such  occasions; Particularly he has pointed out to me, the different stands taken by the army in their march upon R. Island, and the place of their encampment in Sullivan's expedition (so called) - I further state, that the said Thomas Durfee died at Tiverton on the 17th of January in the year 1829, That he left Mary Durfee his widow, who is now living and unmarried and so hath remained, from the day of her said husband's decease
[signature] Charles Durfee
State of Rhode Island
County of Newport }ss.
Be it known , that on the 3rd day of November 1836 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Newport, personally appeared Charles Durfee Esq. and subscribed his aforegoing Deposition and made oath to the truth of the same and I further certify that said Deponent is a credible person -  Before me
Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
Page 9

Rev. WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24084
Mary Durfee
Wid of
Thomas Durfee
Priv Rev War
Act June 7th 1832
Index: Vol A, Page 201
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

Apr. 23/97 Sent Hist.
915 F St. N.E. Washington
Oct - 10 - 1901
Mrs. C. E. Lyford.
[this page text partially obscured]
6 - Wm. F. Reed
[illegible] Ill. [illegible]
Kewanee, Ill
Page 11

Mary Durfee
Widow of
Thomas Durfee
R I
[Sus.?] See let. - [Asa Gray crossed through] Nov 12 1836
Charles Durfee
Admitted
Act 4 July '36
Page 12

By His Excellency,
John Brown Francis
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
Be It Known, that the name "Henry Bowen" to the aforewritten attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who, at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation, full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence, this eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-first
[signature] John Brown Francis
By His Excellency's Command.
[signature] Henry Bowen Secry
Page 13

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Secretary's Office Oct 11, 1836.
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State on the thirty first day of October seventeen hundred seventy eight, Thomas Durfee was elected Ensign of the third Company of Militia for the town of Tiverton in the County of Newport for and until the first Wednesday of May then next - That at said May session the said Thomas was continued in said office until the next session of Assembly - That at the said next session on the second Monday of June (1779) the said Thomas was reelected Ensign of said Company until the first Wednesday of May then next. (1780) That at said May session no officers were appointed for said Company, nor at that in the June session following do I find the usual vote continuing officers not reelected and in whose places no others have been appointed.
At the session on the first Monday of July 1780 Thomas Durfee Jun. was elected Ensign of said Company until the first Wednesday in May 1781, when he was superceded.
As appears of record
Witness Henry Bowen Secry.
Page 14

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
On General Assembly February session 1783.
It is voted and Resolved, That an abstract exhibited unto this assembly for the pay of a detachment from Col Church's Regiment of Militia under the command of Ensign Thomas Durfee, which did duty in Tiverton in October AD 1779, amounting to forty two pounds seven shillings and six pence Lawful Money as reported by the auditor, be allowed. And that the said John Handy make out and give certificates to the several persons therein named for the sum due to them respectively: which certificates shall be received by the General Treasurer in payment of the next State Tax.
True copy of record
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
Secry's office Rhode Island &c.
Nov 7 1836.
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State in May last, Job Durfee was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State: and Asa Gray a Justice of the Peace for the town of Tiverton in the county of Newport, each for one year and that they have been severally Commissioned accordingly as appears of record.
The signature Job Durfee to the papers annexed is genuine - with that of Asa Gray I am not acquainted
Witness Henry Bowen Secry
Page 15

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
John Brown Francis
Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name, "HENRY BOWEN," to the afore-written attestation subscribed, is the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the
State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of said State to be affixed at Providence,
this seventh
day of November in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six
and of Independence the sixty-first
[signature] John Brown Francis
By His Excellency's Command.
[Signature] Henry Bowen Secry
[seal affixed to the left]
Page 16

Tiverton
Decem^r 13th 1836 - 
D. Sir
In behalf of Mary Durfee the widow of the late Thos. Durfee deceased I acknowledge the receipt of her pension Certification and at the same time tender you sincere thanks for your very kind and prompt attendance to her claim - 
I am sir very respectfully your humble and obedient Serv^t
Charles Durfee
J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 17

Tiverton Dec^m  [illegible]
J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
D.C.
[vertically on left]
R I Dec 19
[illegible]
[writing upside down faint]
Mary Durfee
Page 18

Tiverton November 22^d 1836 - 
Sir - 
In behalf of the applicant Mary Durfee, the widow of Thomas Durfee - I thank you for the promptitude with which you have examined the documents accompanying her claim to a pension, and for your letter acknowledging their receipt - The difficulty, which has presented itself to your mind, has, I apprehend arisen from the general reference of the declaration to the evidence, and from the fact, that the evidence shews that said Thomas Durfee was appointed not only in '76 and '79 (during which years we have proved actual service rendered every other month) but likewise, that his appointment was renewed in '80 and continued to May '81: so that it may have seemed, that a claim was set up for services rendered in those years. There is no claim set up for services rendered in '80 or '81 - The fact that he held a commission and the exposed condition of the State, during those two years, are circumstances insufficient to justify the inference that services were actually performed during that time - Whatever may be the presumption, it does not amount to proof when, where, or to what amount services were rendered during those years ('80 and '81) - It was not thought that there was sufficient evidence to prove that services were rendered subsequent to Novem '79 - But that services were rendered in December '76 and continued to November '79, it was thought that the documents accompanying the claim did most clearly and unequivocally prove - 
[continued]
Page 19

the three witnesses, one of whom was the captain of the company, and the other [was?] either his companion in arms or serving under him, all agree, that this company from December '76 to November '79 both inclusive performed duty in Tiverton R. Island or on the Island during that whole space of time - The company having been divided in December 76 for that purpose, one division doing duty one month and the other the next - The same witnesses agree, that in one of those divisions. as they verily believe and doubt not, that the said Thomas performed his full share of duty as a private, untill the company was divided into two distinct companies; up to that time he acted as a private, and there can be no doubt that he performed his full share of service - Examine the testimony of Elisha Gifford. He testifies that said Thomas belonged to the same company with himself up to the time of its being divided and organized into the second and third Companies - that during that time, he had frequently been in the guard service with the said Thomas - that he has also seen him doing military duty - in Tiver[ton] in the neighborhood of Howland's Ferry - that from Dec^r 76, when the British took possession of the Island to the summer of 78, when the company was divided, he believes that the said Thomas performed his full share of military duty, every alternate month, and that within that period he did not less than nine months service - Proof of
[continued]
Page 20

of actual service ten years ago could not be more clearly or precisely settled by the mere aid of human memory - 
This service as a private, terminated, in the summer of '79  Rich^d Durfee, his captain testifies that said Thom. having been chosen by the company their Ensign acted as such, in that company, which he [deposed?] , commanded during Sullivan's expedition - This is a matter of fact - The question whether his time is to be computed in this case as that of an officer, and not as that of a mere private is a question of law, and not of evidence - and the claimant must be content to have the question decided by any general rule applicable to all cases in which such question may arise - But the fact, that he served as ensign during that expedition - that he was recognized by the officers and privates of his company as such - by the whole regiment in fact by the whole expedition as far as he was known is not at this day, and against such testimony, a matter of doubt - There can be as little doubt, that he received pay as an ensign during the month, and that he was to all the purposes of the service, an ensign, whatever may be the construction of the act under which his widow now claims - I perceive that you recognize him in the following October '78 as ensign, and regard him as continuing so to be, untill November '79 and long after - Now the question is, is there any proof, that he
[continued]
Page 21

performed any service during that time & What says his Capt R. Durfee a man, who above all others ought to know the best? He testifies, that the company was called into duty in tours of a month at a time, and so continued from Decem 76 - to Nov '79 - That they were stationed on the shores from Howlands ferry to fall river (that is to say in Tiverton) under the same officers, among whom must have been ensign Thomas Durfee from August '78 to Novem '79; Indeed this witness expressly testifies, That he had no reason to doubt, and fully believed, that said Thomas performed his full share of service in said company, both as a private while he so acted and as an officer, from the summer of '78 to Nov^r '79 - this is the oath of Ensign Durfee's captain, whose business it was to see that he performed his tours of duty and to whom, complaint must unavoidably have been made the moment he had neglected to perform them - Can there be stronger proof of actual service during this whole time than this, which comes from one whose duty it was to watch, and mark every dereliction of trust in his subaltern & the last monthly tour of Ensign Durfee was in October '79 This is made conclusive not merely by this testimony of his captain, but by the distinct and definitive recognition of his services as done in that month, by the
[illegible]
Page 22

recorded act of the legislature; a resolution which from being in the hand writing of the secretary, must have escaped your notice - This resolve is to pay a detachment "under the command of Ensign Thomas Durfee, which did duty in Tiverton in October 1779 - a detachment, I take it means, not only the privates, but the officer who commanded them, and who was detached with them - This is the recorded act of the Legislature, a body which would have been the last to have paid a man for services that he had not performed, and would have been careful how they gave him credit for a wrong month - a month which if wrong, would have belonged to another officer's detachment - Is not the pay roll, in ordinary cases evidence of the performance of services - actual services? Is not a certificate of honorable discharge also evidence to the same effect, is not this resolution taken in connection with subsequent appointments tantamount to both - Would they have paid a man who had neglected his duty and would they have continued to reelect him to the same office if he had not faithfully discharged his trust - The marriage was in the September preceding this October, actual service was therefore performed after the marriage - I will now show in what months he did duty and in what capacity.
That is certain, which can be made certain by the coincidence of facts - It is clear that he performed duty every alternate month - October '79
Page 23

[this page is a duplicate of the previous page]
Page 24

was one of those months - If he commenced his tour in December '76 his last tour would be in October '79 - He served [word crossed through] then his first tour in Decem, 76 as a private his next was in Feb^r '77; his next in April - next in June next in August, then in October; then Decem^r then in Feb^r '78; then in April then in June; when he was chosen by the Company ensign - Then in August during the Expedition, when he was acting ensign of the company - Then again in October, when he received his commission then in Decem, & Feb 7 '79 April - June August and October 79; to which last tour the act of the Legislature has reference - Thus at the end of April 78 he had served nine months as a private - in June and August he acted as ensign by appointment of the Company; but as it is uncertain at what time in June he was cho appointed, let the whole of that month be added to the preceding, and it will make 10 months; as a private and one month as acting ensign; and then there will remain 7 months under the commission that is eight months in the whole as ensign - Thus there is the most entire certainty as to the amount of his services in his several capacities - The object in requiring date, is to ascertain this - but here it is ascertained equally as well without precise dates - The fair inference however, from the evidence as it stands on the papers, is that he commenced his tours the first of Decem^r
Page 25

76 and terminated them the last of October 79 but it maybe that the calendar months were not strictly followed, and that Decem^r run a little in January and October a little in Nov^r &c. that circumstance cannot affect the merits of the claim - 
I have been thus particular, because I am certain that from the brevity of the declaration of the claimant this Statement is in some sort rendered, if not necessary, at least convenient to you - I feel confident, that if you felt any difficulty in coming to a conclusion, it arose from my having forwarded his several reappointments as ensign subsequent to Nov^r 79 - But the inference which I now draw from these last appointments, is that he had faithfully discharged his duty whilst on actual service, and connecting them with the above act, past by the appointing power considered there taken together, as equivalent in point of proof, to a certificate of honorable discharge - 
Will you have the goodness, to acknowledge the receipt of this communication and give us the result as soon as may be convenient - 
I am respect^y your very hum^le & obed^t Servant
[signature] Cha^s Durfee
James L. Edwards Esquire
Commission^r of Pensions
Page 26

[handwriting is very faint]
I Richard Durfee of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy eight [years?] and a Captain in the War of the Revolution on my oath do testify and say, that I was always acquainted with Thomas Durfee late of this town deceased from our boyhood to the time of his death. In the year 1777 and after I was discharged from Col Levitts Regiment I was enrolled in the 2nd company of Militia in Tiverton in the Regiment of Col John Cooke and said Thomas Durfee lived within the precinct and belonged to this [illegible] company - in the summer of 1778 said Company was divided and myself was appointed Lieutenant of the one in the Northerly part of said town called the 3rd company, and the Captain declining to serve I had the command of the Company, and said Thomas belonged to it and was Ensign of said Company under me in the month of August 1778 on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition - the Captain of said Company declining to serve was assigned [several words illegible]  to the best of my belief said Thomas was chosen by the Company to be their Ensign after the division of said Company in June 1778 - it has been usual since the [rest of line illegible] was at that time for the Companies to choose their Officers and send their names to the General Assembly who appointed the same if to them it appeared proper - the said Company was called into the service in tours of a month at a time one half being on duty at a time and it continued from [illegible]mber 1778 to November 1779 when the British left Rhode Island and were stationed on the shore from Howlands ferry North to the fall river under some of the Officers of said Company. I have no reason to doubt, and I fully believe said Thomas performed his full share of service in said Company both as a private while he so continued and as an Officer in the summer of the year 1778 til November 1779 - I have no knowledge of any other Thomas Durfee within the town of Tiverton [illegible] of age to do Militia duty in the war of the revolution. I know Mary Durfee of this town who was the wife of said Thomas Durfee. She remains his widow and has never been married since his death.
[signature] Richard Durfee
Page 27

State of Rhode Island &c.}
County of Newport} ss.
Be it Known that on the 24th day of October A.D. 1835 before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Newport, personally appeared Richard Durfee, and subscribed his within Deposition and was duly sworn to the truth of the same. And I further certify, that said Richard Durfee is a credible person. before me, Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
Page 28

I William Borden of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, aged Eighty two years, on my Oath do testify and say, that from his youth to his death, I was well acquainted with Thomas Durfee, late of this town. After I returned from the army at Boston in 1776, I was enrolled in the North Company of Militia in said Tiverton, under Capt. Benjamin Durfee, and when said Company was divided in 1778, I was still in the North or 3rd Company and Richard Durfee was the Captain and said Thomas Durfee was the Ensign - said Thomas was in the Company of said Benjamin Durfee in 1777 and up to the time it was divided in 1778. I was in said Militia Companies all the time the British were on Rhode Island except three months I served at Fall River and a still shorter time at Boston, and from the best of my recollection he performed his full share of services at the different guard Posts on the Shore of Tiverton opposite Rhode Island after the British landed in 1776. Said militia Company was put into two divisions and one division served a month and then the other division took their turn and served a month and so alternately - said Thomas Durfee was on Rhode Island in Sullivan's Expedition and was an Ensign in said Company under Capt Richard Durfee and I was in the same Company there, - I after this time and before the British left Rhode Island in 1779, saw said Thomas Durfee at two different and distant periods doing duty as an Officer with a part of said Company of Militia, stationed in the vicinity of Howlands ferry in said Tiverton - when our Company was in service in divisions as above named, there would not be all the Officers with it, but they also took turns and we would be sometimes under one of the Officers and at another time under another one of them and sometimes two of them. I am acquainted with Mary Durfee who is about making application for a Pension, she is the widow of said Thomas Durfee, and never married since his decease - there was no Thomas Durfee in this town old enough to do military duty in the war of the Revolution, other than the Thomas Durfee above named - [signature] William Borden
State of Rhode Island &c.}
County of Newport} ss.
Be it Known that on the 24th day of October A.D. 1836 before  the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the
[continued]
Page 29

the County of Newport, personally appeared William Borden and Subscribed and made oath of his aforegoing Deposition, and I further certify that said Deponent is a credible person. before me
Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
Page 30

I Elihu Gifford of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, aged Seventy seven years, on solemn oath, do testify and say that previous to the Revolutionary War, and ever after till his death, I was well acquainted with Thomas Durfee Esq. late of this town - in the War of the Revolution we both belonged to the same Militia Company in Tiverton in the Regiment of Col. John Cook. viz. the North or Second Company, and we served together in said Company until it was divided a little before the time of Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island in 1778, when I was enrolled to the second or middle Company and said Durfee to the North or third Company - while we belonged to the same Company I have frequently been on duty with him in the guard service in the vicinity of Howlands Ferry in said Tiverton - and I have also seen him in the service of his Country doing military duty on the shore of Tiverton North of said Howlands ferry opposite Rhode Island, and often heard of him there in said service, - while we belonged to the same Company I fully believe from the best of my recollection, that he performed his full share of Militia duty from December 1776 when the British took Rhode Island till the summer of 1778 when our Company was divided, serving his regular monthly tours, every alternate month and that he performed within that period not less than nine months service - after our Company was divided I heard of said Durfee being in the service but do not recollect of ever being with him - I am acquainted with Mary Durfee, who is making application for a pension, she is the widow of said Thomas Durfee and has never married since his decease, which took place a little more than seven years ago, as near as I can recollect.
[signature] Elihu Gifford
State of Rhode Island &c.}
County of Newport} ss.
Be it Known, that on the 26th day of October A.D. 1836 before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County of Newport, personally appeared Elihu Gifford and subscribes the above Deposition, and was duly sworn to the truth of the same, and I further certify that said Deponent is a credible person - before me, Asa Gray Justice of the Peace
Page 31

L
915 F St. N.E.
Washington D. C.
March 28 1895
Judge William Lochren
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C. 
Sir:
Please direct that a transcript be furnished me of the papers filed in connection with the application for a pension of Mrs. Mary [Louden?] Durfee who was the wife of Judge Thomas Durfee, who was an Ensign in the third Company of Militia of the town of Tiverton R. I. in 1778, 1779, and 1780. Judge Durfee was my great grandfather.
Hoping that it will be convenient for you to comply with my request at an early date
I remain Very Respectfully Yours
Wm. F. Reed