Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9,235, for Thomas Stafford, Vermont
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE     Vt.

Stafford, Thomas
Sawyer, Martha
Former widow

NUMBER     W. 9,235

CONTENTS
Page 2

13314
Martha Sawyer
was Stafford
Act 7th July 1838

No 13,324
Martha Sawyer formerly
widow of Thos. Stafford
Pri
act 7 July 1838
[illegible] A
Dec [Declaration] & traditionary evidence
of Service
Page 3

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress of 7th July 1838 3d March 1843 17th June 1844 and 23d August 1842.

State of Ohio
County of Lorain ss 
On this 18th day of March 1847 before the Subscriber a Judge of the County Courts, in and for said County, personally appeared Martha Sawyer of Grafton in said County aged Eighty two years the 29th day of January 1847, who being first duly sworn according to law doth under oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by acts of Congress above named.
That she was formerly the widow of Thomas Stafford, who was a resident of the town of Rutland County of Rutland Vermont during the Revolutionary War, and who Enlisted into the army of the United States, from said County, for the term of three years, One of the Officers with whom he served whose name he often mentioned, was Beach, the exact time of his Enlistment is not known but believed to have been about the year 1776 or 1777. he was also in service after the expiration of the three years. he was married to this deponent whose maiden name was Martha Sheldon in the town of Rutland Vermont on the 22d day of February 1782 One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Two by Revd Mr Root, that she is positive as to the date of their Marriage from the fact that it was celebrated within less than one Month after this deponent was Seventeen years of age, and some nearly two years before the close of the Revolutionary War. That she believes said Thomas Stafford was attached to Col Warners Regt., that he died in 1817, that deponent was again Married to Caleb Sawyer on the 28th day of September (1820) Eighteen hundred and twenty, who died on the 16th day of March 1841, and left this deponent his widow, who has not intermarried since his death but still remains his widow. That she has no record of her Marriage neither does she know of any in existence.
[right] her
[right] Martha X Sawyer [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark
Sworn and Subscribed before me this day and year above written.
[signature] Elizah Dewitt Associate Judge For Com Pleas

I certify that the above named affiant is a credible witness, and that on account of age and infirmity is unable to attend Court, or to write her name.
[signature] Elias Dewitt Associate Judge For Com Pleas
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The State of Ohio
Lorain County ss ⎬ I Geo H Benham Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County do certify that Honr Elijah DeWitt is one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Lorain and State of Ohio duly Commissioned and qualified. that his Commission was dated on the 13th day of March AD 1845 and will Expire on the 15th day of March AD 1852. and that the Signature by him herewith subscribed is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of said Court at Elyria the 19th day of March AD 1847
[signature] G H Benham Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
Page 5

State of Ohio
Lorain County ⎬ ss 
Personally appeared before the Subscriber, a Judge of the County Court in and for said County, Caleb Sawyer of said County who being first duly Sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Martha Sawyer whose Declaration for a pension is hereto annexed, and who claims a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her former husband Thomas Stafford and who deponent has always understood and believed was formerly a resident of Rutland County Vermont and who Entered the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution from said County of Rutland for the term of three years. and that he continued to serve to the expiration of the time for which he Enlisted. and was honorably discharged, but he was also in Service after the expiration of the three years served. that this deponent has heard the name of Beach mentioned by said Martha Sawyer as an officer with whom he done service. that he has heard her state repeatedly that she was married when about seventeen years of age. that they were married by a Revd Mr. Root of Rutland Vermont, on the 22d day of February 1782, some near two years before the close of the Revolutionary war, that he died in the year 1817 - that his widow the applicant for the pension again married Caleb Sawyer in the year 1820. who died in the year 1841. - that since his death she has not intermarried but still remains his widow.
[signature] Caleb Sawyer
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 18th day of March 1847 by Caleb Sawyer who I certify is a credible witness.
[signature] Elijah Dewitt Associate Judge For Com Pleas
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Rev.&1812 Wars Section MMHF
R. 9235

April 13, 1927

Ida M. Welsh
Wellesley Ave.,
Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Madam:
I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau show only one person named Thomas Stafford who lived in Vermont during the Revolution. He married Martha Sheldon, daughter of Nathaniel Sheldon. After his death in 1817 she married Caleb Sawyer. It is not stated that said Thomas was ever previously married.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

[Handwritten]
The widow said he lived in Rutland & son said he enlisted either from Clarendon or Rutland & the state report, wh. gave him Capt Lee's Co. & has Clarendon, I was not sure was the same man as no one claimed Lee's Co for service so I did not use Clarendon but made it general
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E
Marriage & traditionary
evidence of Service
Page 8

said Thomas Stafford had done several years service in the Revolutionary War.
I have always known Joseph Stafford son of said Thomas Stafford and his wife whose maiden name was Sheldon, and from a boy, and from such acquaintance, Judging from my own age, of which I have always kept a record, and know the above to be true, I know that he is now Sixty years of age or upwards. Said Thomas Stafford & wife having removed from Brandon before their deaths, deponent cannot State as to the exact date of their deaths.
[signature] Asahel June
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 9th day of August 1847 by Asahel June, whom I certify to be a credible witness
[signature] E. June Asst. Judge Rutland Co.
Page 9

and that this deponent distinctly recollects that soon after returning to Brandon, at the close of the war, one Thomas Stafford and his wife came to Brandon to reside; - and lived on the farm now occupied by this deponent for several years, during which time the said Thomas Stafford often worked for this deponents father during hay seasons, at which time I was from twelve to fifteen years of age, and often worked in the field with him, and well remember his learning an elder brother of this deponent to mow - this deponent being too young at the time to mow. At that time said Thomas Stafford was a married man whose wifes name before marriage was Sheldon, her given name is not recollected - And I further State that at that time there was much talk about said Thomas Stafford having been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and I have frequently heard him speak of his services, of his hardships & deprivations endured while in service in the Revolutionary Army, and I know that at that time during deponents acquaintance with said Thomas Stafford, he was known and reputed to have been a revolutionary Solider in the army of the Revolution, and it was always understood & fully believed, that he the
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when dying, acquaintances would call to see said Thomas Stafford, and conversation would often turn upon the events of the Revolution, and the part he had acted in them he would get his discharge, and as he could not read very readily, would call upon deponent to read it, which he recollects often to have done. - that he has always understood from his said parents that they were married in the town of Rutland, Rutland County Vermont by the Rev. Benajah Root between one & two years before the close of the war of the Revolution or in the year 1782 Seventeen hundred & Eighty two - that his said mother was a daughter of Nathaniel Sheldon - that deponent having had access to a record of his age most of the time from his childhood, he is positive that his age is as above mentioned, that he is the second child of said parents, that his said father Thomas Stafford died in the year 1817 and left his mother above named a widow, who was again married in the year 1820 to Caleb Sawyer who also died on the 16th day of March 1841, that since his death she has not intermarried, but still continues his widow, that she now resides in Grafton Lorain County Ohio - that this deponent was
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married in April 1810
[signature] Joseph Stafford
Sworn & subscribed before me this 9th day of August 1847 by Joseph Stafford whom I certify to be a credible person & who I fully believe to be of the age he represents
[signature]  E. June assistant Judge Rutland Co

State of Vermont 
Rutland County ss. ⎬
I Asahel June of Brandon Rutland County Vermont aged Seventy five years the Sixth day of February 1847 being duly sworn according to law depose and say that I have been a resident of the town of Brandon originally called Neshobe, from my earliest recollection to the present time, excepting from the year 1777 to 1783 during which time I was in the towns south of said Brandon, to wit, Pittsford Rutland Clarendon Wallingford and Tinmouth, the two last years of the Revolutionary War I resided in Wallingford,
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said Thomas Stafford had done several years service in the Revolutionary War.
I have always known Joseph Stafford son of said Thomas Stafford and his wife whose maiden name was Sheldon, and from a boy, and from such acquaintance, Judging from my own age, of which I have always kept a record, and know the above to be true, I know that he is now Sixty years of age or upwards - Said Thomas Stafford & wife having removed from Brandon before their deaths, deponent cannot State as to the exact date of their deaths.
[signature] Asahel June
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 9th day of August 1847 by Asahel June, whom I certify to be a credible witness
[signature] E. June Asst. Judge Rutland Co.
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6.

State of Vermont
Rutland County ss.
I Joseph Stafford of Brandon Rutland County Vermont, being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he was sixty one years of age on the 9th day of April 1847 that he is a son of the widow Martha Sawyer an applicant for a pension from Ohio, and the widow of Thomas Stafford formerly her husband and who was this deponents father for whose Revolutionary services the pension is claimed, That deponent has always understood from his parents above mentioned that they were formerly residents of Rutland County Vermont from which county either from the town of Clarandon or Rutland said Thomas Hufford enlisted in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution to serve for the term of three years, which service he did faithfully perform, that he was either in Col. Warners Regiment or attached to it, that deponent had many time since his discharge and distinctly recollects that
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Ck'd [or Ch'd]
Marth Stafford
Town Clerk
Rutland 𝔹
Benj. Root the [illegible]
(who married widow)
died 1767.
[illegible date stamp]
William G. Wade Esq Ⓧ
Rose
Wayne Co
N. Y.

Certificate of Town
Clerk. No Record of
marriage-
Page 15

I Ambrose L. Brown of Rutland in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont being duly sworn do depose and say that I am Town Clerk of said town of Rutland, that I have carefully examined the records in my office but cannot find any record of the marriage of Thomas Stanford and Martha Sheldon. that said records contain only a few records of marriages prior to 1790. I have also examined the records of the Congregational Church in said town of which Benajah Root was pastor and who, it is stated, married  the person above mentioned, but can find no record of any marriage, said church records being very defective and it appears from said Church records that the said Benajah Root was the pastor from some time prior to 1780 and continued to preach till his death which took place in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, neither the day or month being mentioned in the record. And further say not
[signature] A. L. Brown

State of Vermont
 Rutland County ⎬Rutland 2d June AD 1847
then personally appeared, Amos L. Brown who is well known to me and who is a credible witness, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Before me [signature] Chas. Burt Jus. Peace

State of Vermont
Rutland County, SS. ⎬Rutland 2d June AD 1847
J. Frederick [?] Hopkins Clerk of the County of Rutland County, in the State of Vermont, which is  court of record, do hereby certify that Charles Burt is an acting Justice  of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six and will expire on the thirtieth day of November
next ; that his signature to the foregoing certificate is genuine, and that he is duly qualified by the laws of this State to administer oaths
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this second day of June  A.D. 1847.
[signature] F. W. Hopkins CLERK.

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
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[left column]
1927 Apr 13 Mrs. Ida M. Welch advised
only one res. of Vermont [illegible] Rev - M.M.H.

[right column]
9235
P. O. Martha Sawyer
Service:
[stamp] REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 __
Discharged: _____, 18 __
Application filed: _____, 18 __
Alleges _____
Re-enlisted:______
Attorney:  ______
P. O. ____________
_____ Recognized.  _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 __
Page 17

Thos Stafford Widow

C.
Marriage & Traditionary evidence of service
Page 18

Stephen Junes Affidavit
Page 19

I Stephen June of Brandon in the County of Rutland & State of Vermont aged seventy two
years, being duly sworn according to law say that I was acquainted with Thomas Stafford soon after the Revolutionary war, and know the fact that he lived with a woman as his wife whose maiden name was Sheldon, but her given name I do not know and further say that at that time he lived with my father and they used to converse in my presence about the hardships they had endured in the service and about their hard pain as soldier in the Revolutionary War - and I further recollect that he complained that he did not get compensation enough, and that sum of the money the soldier received was bad - and further say that it was reputed at that time that he was in the service & my impression is that it at was during the war, but it might not be but three years. I do not know the exact year that said Stafford was living with his wife as I have stated above but it was a few years after the close of the war - and that I have always been acquainted with Joseph Stafford, the son of said Thomas Stafford & his wife as aforesaid, and that from my own age I should Judge him to be not far from sixty years of age
Stephen June [signature]

State of Vermont
Rutland County.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 1st day of April 1847 by said Stephen June, whom I certify is a credible person
E June assistant Judge of Rutland County Court
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EASTMAN & DANFORTH, PRINTERS.

CERTIFICATE OF JUSTICE COMMISSION.
State of Vermont
County,Ss, 

I, Frederick Hopkins,  Clerk of the County Court of the County of Rutland in the State of Vermont which is a Court of record, do hereby certify that Ezra June Esq is a First Assistant Judge of said County Court in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six and will expire on the thirtieth day of November next; that his signature to the foregoing Deposition is genuine, and that he is duly qualified by the laws of this State to take Depositions

Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this Twenty ninth day of June A.D. 1847
F.W. Hopkins Clk
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[envelope]
Free
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[sideways]
Sept 7 47
Add in Martha Sawyer
2
Page 22

Rose New York
September 2nd 1847.

Sir
I have the honor to enclose herewith a certificate of service of Thomas Stafford, in the claim Elizabeth Martha Sawyer an applicant for the benefits of the act of 7th July 1838, from Ohio

I am sir
Very Respectfully
Your obt servt
W. G. Wade

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Page 23

Rose New York,
24th August 1847

Sir,
Herewith is enclosed additional proof in the claim of Martha Sawyer an applicant for a pension under act of 7th July 1838, from Ohio, which we trust will be satisfactory to the Department.

I am Respectfully, 
Your Obt. Servant
W. G. Wade

Honr. J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions.
Page 24

[envelope]
Official [illegible]
Free
20

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[sideways]
13314
March 6 1847
Margaret Sawyer
July 7 1838
Page 25

Rose New York
March 31th 1844

Sir,
Herewith is enclosed the de claration of Martha Sawyer claiming a pension for the Revolutionary services of her former husband, Thomas Stafford who she asserts, [illegible] service with Colonel Warner, or was attached to his regiment

She is unable to name any other officers then Col Warner and one Beach, - having sought
in vain, for some person. he was with him in service - and having failed to find any record of their marriage. I forward her Declaration for her respectfully requesting in her behalf that the records of Col Warner's Regt. (of which I am informed a part are in your office) may be examined, for evidence of Stafford's service,

I am Respectfully,
Your obt srvt
W. G. Wade

Hon J L Edwards,
Comr of Pensions,
Page 26

Bureau of the Interior 
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
Thomas Stafford was in Capt Thomas Lee's Independent Co. June 13, 1783 inlisted from
Clarendon Vt.

Can you inform me if his wife was Mercy (Cleveland) Stafford, or any data regarding
his children. date of his birth or death? 
Yours truly
Ida M. Welsh
Wellesley Ave
Wellesley Hills
Mass.
2. 15. 27,
Page 27

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Burlington Aug 25th 1847

I L. Mc. M. Shafter Secretary of state of Vermont hereby certify that upon an original Pay Roll of the revolutionary service of Captain Thomas Lee's company on record in this office the name of Thomas Stafford With an [illegible] of his enlistment in said company for the space of three years on the 18th day of December 1776, from the town of Clarendon now of Rutland County, Vermont, and & I further certify that the said roll was examined by a committee appointed by the General Assembly of this state that the offices "that the officers & soldiers that are set to said roll have served in the service of the United States for the space of about three years according to the within representation", and that the said report was accepted & an act passed by the General
assembly allowing the said officer & soldier pay in accordance to said Report. 

all of which appears of record
Page 28

In testimony whereof I have
hereto set my hand and
affixed the seal of this fee
this 28th day of May 1847

J. Mc. M. Shafter

[sideways]
D
Certificate of Secretary of State - Service
Page 29

[envelope]
[postmark]
RUTLAND VT
MAY 25

W.G. Wade Esq.
Rose
Wayne Co. N.Y.

[sideways]
Town Clerk
Tho Stafford
[illegible]
Page 30

Town Clerk's Office
Rutland 25 Jany. 1847

I can find no record of the marriage of Thos. Stafford & Martha Sheldon in my office.
A. L. Brown, Town Clerk

To W. G.Wade Esq.

P.S. There are but very few records of marriage of so early a date in this town -
Page 31

V W13314 Ohio
Martha Sawyer
Let to W G Wade Apr 30th 47
Let to same Sept 13 '47
let to Ditto Sept 21 '47

92.35
Act 7 July 1838