Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 961, David Blossom, Mass. Mass. Sea Service Privateer Vt.
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
Mass.|Blossom, David|R.961|
Mass. Sea Service|Rhoda|B.L.Wt. 38,823-160-55|
Privateer Vt.|[blank]|[blank]|
[end of columns]
CONTENTS
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95.908
Act March 3/55
July 30/55
Rhoda Blossom wid of David Blossom Pvt
Capt Russel
Maj Bassett Mass Mil.
[overwritten: W38823 is'd Aug 25/56]
Private Capt Russell Mass Mil'a 
Revolutionary War
Vt Sus June 32
Ad 160 ac's Aug 18/56 Dodge
Daniel D. T. Benedict
Gallipolis Ohio
Vol. B. - 167. -
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Revolutionary Claims. 
STATE OF VERMONT,
Chittenden County, ss. } 
ON this seventeenth day of August A.D. 1832,d personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable County Court for the County of Chittenden, now sitting, David Blossom a resident of Richmond in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, aged seventy seven years, 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, That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. I enlisted into the service in the month of May in the year 1776 into the Company commanded by John Russell as a Volunteer for six months to go to Martha's Vineyard There was no Regiment to my knowledge and my [margin note: 6] time out which was six months, And in the Month of December 1776 I enlisted as Volunteer in the Militia which was to be drafted to Barnstable in the Company commanded by [margin note: 7]  Micah Hamblin for the term of three months and went to Bristol Rhode Island and was there called under the immediate command of General West of the Militia to carry [illegible] back and forth to Howland's Ferry I served the three months out and was dismissed. [margin note: 3]
[margin note: 1] And in the month of November 1777 [illegible] Crocker was drafted from Barnstable in the Militia and I entered as a substitute for him in the company commanded by Captain Lewis [margin note: 9] and served one month in what was then called the [illegible] expedition. And in the month of May 1778 I enlisted aboard of a Brigg at Boston Massachusetts commanded by Captain James McGee and went a cruise in the line of the West India Fleet [illegible] and [illegible] and had some skirmishes with the British and was dismissed after I served four months. 
And in the month of October 1779 I entered a board of a ship Privateer at Bilboa which belonged to Cape Ann commanded by Captain Case and had an engagement with a British Packet and took her and brought her into Cape Ann served between two and three months 
Turn over
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And in the month of November 1781 after I moved to [margin note: 1] Wells in Vermont I was called upon in an alarm in the Militia and went to Castleton and served one month. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. 
/s/David Blossom
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid, } 
Before /s/Nathan B Haswell Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, - And the Court further certify, that it appears to them, that Josiah F Goodhue & Leonard Hodges who have signed the annexed certificate and who are residents of the town of Williston are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. and that J. F. Goodhue is a Clergyman in good standing 
Attest /s/Eli Brownson}
/s/John VanSicklen Jr} Judges of Chittenden County Court
STATE OF VERMONT,
Chittenden County, ss. } I Nathan B Haswell Clerk of Chittenden County Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Blossom for a Pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 18th day of Augt A.D. 1832. 
/s/Nathan B Haswell
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State of Vermont
Washington County } ss. On this 7th day of July in the year 1855 personally appeared before me Calvin Fullerton a Justice of the peace within and for the County and state aforesaid Rhoda Blossom, aged Seventy five years and upwards - a Resident of Washington County in the State of Vermont who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of David Blossom who was a private in Captain Russels (Russell) Company in Major Bassett's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia in the war of the Revolution. She believes that he served more than 14 days in said war she is of the opinion that he serve at Marthas Vineyard on a guard kept there and that he performed said service either in the year 1776 or 1777 - She says that she was married to said David Blossom at Richmond in the County of Chittenden in the State of Vermont on the 3d day of November in the year 1816 by one Isaac Gleason then a justice of the peace but who is now dead - that previous to said marriage her name was Rhoda Day - She says that the aforesaid David Blossom died at Richmond in Chittenden County in the State of Vermont on the 27th day of May in the year 1833 that She has not been married since the death of the said David Blossom but
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that she still remains his widow
She makes the Declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3d 1855 - She declares that she has not ever applied for or received bounty land for the service of Said David Blossom under this or any other act of Congress previous to these presents 
/s/X her mark Rhoda Blossom
Sworn to subscribed before me the day and year first above written
/s/Calvin Fullerton Justice Peace
We Philip G Hoyt and Ira Richardson of Waitsfield Residents of Washington County in the State of Vermont upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Rhoda Blossom in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
/s/Philip G Hoyt
/s/Ira Richardson
/s/Calvin Fullerton JP
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The foregoing Declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons and that I believe the Claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this Claim
/s/Calvin Fullerton Justice Peace
Know all men by these presents that I Rhoda Blossom do hereby constitute and appoint Daniel D Benedict my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to collect all bounty lands that may be due under act of March 3d 1855
/s/X her mark Rhoda Blossom
Signed in Presence of 
/s/Philip Newman
/s/Alexander Stone
State of Vermont
Washington County } ss. On this 7th day of July in the year 1855 personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace
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within and for the County and state aforesaid Rhoda Blossom the party named in the foregoing Power of attorney and acknowledged the same to be her act and deed in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above written.
Calvin Fullerton  Justice Peace 



195.908
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STATE OF VERMONT,
WASHINGTON COUNTY, SS. } I, Luther Newcomb Deputy Clerk of the County Court for the County of Washington, in the State of Vermont, which is a Court of Record, hereby certify that Calvin Fullerton, Esqr., was on the 7th day of July AD 1855 and still is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified by the laws of this State to administer Oaths for general purposes, to take Depositions and the acknowledgment of Deeds and other written instruments; that I am acquainted with his hand=writing, and believe his signatures to the foregoing certificates to be genuine.
[court seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said County Court, at Montpelier, in said County, this 9th day of July A.D. 1855
/s/Luther Newcomb Deputy Clerk.
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Rhoda Blossom widow of David Blossom
act June 7 1832
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State of Vermont
Chittenden County ss }
I, Rhoda Blossom of Richmond, in the county and State aforesaid, aged seventy three years, testify and say that I am the widow of David Blossom, late of said Richmond, deceased; - that he died at said Richmond on the 27th day of May A.D. 1833; that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution, as he stated repeatedly to me, in his lifetime; - that prior to his death he made an application for a pension under the act of June 7, 1832, that his claim was not allowed, through some defect of proof, or some cause not known to me; that I am informed that, as his widow, I am entitled to receive the amount of pension which he was entitled to receive at the time of his death. As his widow I am interested in the claim therefor. And for the promise of procuring the amount due, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint William Weston, of Burlington, Vermont, my true and lawful attorney for me, and in my name, to make all proper examinations of the papers and proofs, filed by the said David Blossom in his lifetime, in the Pension Office, at Washington, relating to his said pension, and to procure from the United States whatever pension I am entitled to receive as widow of the said David Blossom, and to do any act or thing which I might myself lawfully do, in the premises, with the power of appointing a substitute or substitutes, under him to procure said pension. 
Dated at Richmond aforesaid this 20the day of November A.D. 1852.
/s/Rhoda Blossom
[margin note: 2 Witnesses]
Witness.
/s/E B Green
/s/Wm R Nimes
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State of Vermont
Chittenden County ss. } Richmond, November, 20th 1852. 
Then the within named Rhoda Blossom personally appeared and made oath, in due form of law, that the facts in the foregoing affidavit, are true; and she acknowledged the power of attorney therein contained to be her free act and deed
before me. /s/E B Green Justice Peace
State of Vermont
Chittenden County ss } I Daniel B. Buckley, Clerk of Chittenden County Court, do hereby certify that Ezra B. Green before whom the foregoing power of attorney was acknowledged, was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned, and authorized by law to administer oaths and take acknowledgements of deeds, and that the signature above, purporting to be his, is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I do hereunto affix the seal of said Court and subscribe my name, at Burlington, in said County this 25th day of January A.D. 1833
/s/Daniel B. Buckley
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State of Vermont
District of Chittenden ss }
I J. S. Adams Register of the Probate Court in and for said district, do hereby certify that it has been this day satisfactorily proved to said court that David Blossom, late of Richmond, in said district, died at said Richmond on the 27th day of  May, 1833; - and that he left a widow, named Rhoda Blossom, who still resides in said Richmond and is still a widow. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I do hereunto affix the seal of said court and subscribe my name at Burlington, in said district this 18th day of February 1853. 
/s/J. S. Adams Register
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38,823
160 Acres

[addressed envelope]
[postmark: GALLIPOLIS O. JUL 24]
FREE
Hon L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C. 
[margin notes: 195.908. B]
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[verso]
Feby 5 - 1902 R. H. Blossom Portland Oregon

[recto]
Ex'r INVALID.
No. 961
[initials: own]
REJECTED
['Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.' crossed out]
David Blossom
P.O. [blank]
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank]
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank]
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
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Vermont
David Blossom 
additional evidence
Certificate from Mass of a part of his service 
Deposition for a pen't
trsfer'd let N B Haswell 27 May 1835
W. Weston July 15/53
N B Haswell Esq Pres't 
961
195908
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195.908
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[handwritten letter]
Gallipolis Ohio July 23d 1855

Hon Sir inclosed I send you proof sustaining the Claim of Rhoda Blossom to bounty land under act of March 3d 1855
papers in Relation to the matter you will please direct to me at this place
Yours Respectfully 
/s/Daniel T. Benedict
Hon L. P. Waldo
Com of Pensions }
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8437.
N. B. Haswell Esq
Burlington Vt
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office,
Nov'r 25th 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return the papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of David Blossom,
[column headings: Period when the service was rendered.|Duration of the claimant's service.(Years.|Months.|Days.)|Rank of the claimant.|names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.|Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|]
[all columns blank]
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, 
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line,' State troops," " militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits et the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION, 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. 
State, Territory, or District of} County of} ss. 
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers : 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers ;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. ⇒This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c. 
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a RevoIutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank]&c. 
*Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute: And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.{To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer.{Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are  requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the, declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform; and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he most assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making au affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith. that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below. and in the following grades:- For ____ year ____months, and ____days, I served as a ____ . For ____ months and ____days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held; as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers, the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f]The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion or the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if he has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
⇒The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, March 5th 1834.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of David Blossom, as a private, is borne on a Muster Roll, of Capt. John Russell's Company, stationed at Marthers Vineyard, where he is allowed from July 18th to Novemb'r 22d 1776. ['where he is altered' crossed out] three months and twenty four days. - [margin note: 3m - 24ds]
David Blossom claims for further service under Capt. John Russell, in 1776. But the rolls are not found in this Office, except the above mentioned. - 
David Blossom claims for service under Capt. Micah Hamlin, services in Rhode Island.
The roll of Capt. Micah Hamlin's Company from July to October, 1780, is found; But the name of David Blossom is not borne on it. - 
/s/Edward D Bangs, Secy
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[handwritten letter]
Burlington April 11, 1833. 

Sir - 
I enclose a power of attorney dated 20th Nov, 1852, from Rhoda Blossom widow of David Blossom, dec'd who was, in his lifetime, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7, 1832, and died on the 27th of May, 1833. Be pleased to inform me for what period of service he declared, and the officers under whom he served, and that State to which the troops belonged, among whom he stated that he served, and also the defects in the proof, that I may be able to supply such defects, provided the proof is susceptible of being obtained, without fraud. 
I am very respectfully, Your Obt. Serv't
/s/Wm Weston
Loren P. Waldo Esq
Com'r of Pensions,
I also send Probate certificate showing the day of Mr Blossom's death, and the Mrs. B. is his widow. 
/s/W.W.
Page 25

State of Vermont
Chittenden County } We Josiah F. Goodhue of Williston - and Leonard Hodges of the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Blossom who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we knew him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
/s/Josiah F Goodhue
/s/Leonard Hodges
Sworn and subscribed in open Court August 17 1832 - }
Before /s/Nathan B Haswell Clerk
I hereby certify that the above named Josiah F. Goodhue is a Clergyman in good standing
/s/Nathan B Haswell Clk
[official seal affixed]
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I, Peter Blossom of Wells, in the county Rutland and State of Vermont of lawful age wo with of the age of seventy five years being duly sworn do depose testify and say that I am acquainted with David Blossom he being my brother, and believe from family repute that he is of the age of seventy seven years and I am knowing to his entering the service of the United States as a soldier in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war I think in May 1776, he entered into the six months service and I think he served that term of time under the command of Capt. John Russell of Barnstable in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts and in the Town last aforesaid he enlisted he performed a great part of that term of service at a place called  [illegible] on Martins (Martha's) Vineyard Island. and I am also knowing that afterwards to wit in the same year in the month of November then was a call for soldiers to go to Bristol from the Town of Barnstable aforesaid and David Blossom afs'd went with me in that Tour of service which was  three months, and served three months at Bristoll in the State of Rhode Island he was chosen and served as a corporal during that term in the revolutionary war under the command of Capt. Michael Hamlin whose company was under Gen Wests command - and I am further knowing to his entering on board of a brig that was in the United States service his name I do not recolect in the year I think 1778. where he served about four months under the command of Capt. James McGee said brig I understood to be in the privateer service in the revolutionary war, and I also know, that during the revolutionary war the man for whom he was labouring viz Alvin Crocker was drafted for a months service in the year 1778. and said David Blossom performed that term of service for him as a substitute, and further I say not
/s/Peter Blossom
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State of Vermont
Rutland county ss. } Wells 9th August, 1832 Then Peter Blossom of Wells in the county Rutland and State of Vermont personally appearing and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth. before
/s/William Potter Jr Justice of the Peace}
I, Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the Court of the County of Rutland in the State of Vermont do hereby Certify, that William Potter Jr. before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn, was, at the time, a Justice of Peace for the said County, and duly empowered to administer oaths. 
[court seal affixed] IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County, this 11th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
/s/R. Pierpoint
State of Vermont
Rutland County ss. } Wells 8th October AD 1833 - 
I hereby certify that Peter Blossom the within deponant, is a credible man and a man whose Testimony should be relied on him stands fair in the estimation of his neighbours as a man of truth and veracity
/s/William Potter Jr Justice Peace
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[verso]
David Blossom Richmond
N B Haswell Burlington Vt

[recto]
Peter Blossom
deposition for David Blossom
8437.
Page 29

195.908
Page 30

State of Vermont
Chittenden County }ss on this ninth day of July in the year 1855 personally appeared before me Ezra B. Green a Justice of the peace within and for the County and state aforesaid Rolla Gleason a Resident of Chittenden County in the State of Vermont who being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that he was Present at the wedding when David Blossom and Rhoda Day were married at Richmond in Chittenden County in the State of Vermont on the third day of November in the year 1816 that he was present at the funeral of said David Blossom who died in the month of May in the year 1833 that he now knows Rhoda Blossom the widow of said David Blossom that she now lived in Washington County in the state of Vermont and that by these circumstances and by his long continued acquaintance with her he knows that she is now the widow of said David Blossom he further states that this same Rhoda Blossom is the identical person who is now an applicant for bounty land for the services of said David Blossom in the Revolutionary war 
/s/Rolla Gleason
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the day and year first above written
/s/Ezra B Green, Justice of Peace
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State of Vermont,
County Clerk's Office. }CHITTENDEN, SS. 
[Vermont state seal] I, J. S. ADAMS, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Chittenden, being a Court of Record and having a seal, as hereto attached, do certify that Ezra B. Green Esq. was, at the date of the paper writings to which this is attached, and now is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; that his signature to the foregoing jurat and certificate is genius; that the said paper writings are executed [blank] according to the Laws of this State, and are in due form; and that as such Officer, he is duly authorized by the Laws of this State to take acknowledgments of Deeds and Depositions, and to administer Oaths, &c. 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Court, at Burlington, this 10th day of July Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and fifty Five
/s/J. S. Adams CLERK.