Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,231, John Davis, N.H.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N. H.
CONTENTS
Davis, John
Deborah
NUMBER
W. 16,231
Page 2

6630
Portsmouth N. Hamp
Deborah Davis decd late widow of John Davis, decd [crossed out] who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died [crossed out] on the about 1822
of Strafford Co. in the State of N. Hamp
who was a Priv. and Ensign in the Compy commanded by Captain Drew of the Regt. commanded by Colo [blank] in the New Hamp line for 2 months Private 6.64
5 months Ensign 50.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth N H
at the rate of 56 Dollars 67 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 and ended 3d March 1846
Certificate of Pension issued the [blank] day of April 1842 and sent to Richard
Russell Rochester N.H
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $198.34
allowance ending 2 March 1840 the day of
her death 28.01
[Total] $263.35
Act July 7,1838
Recorded by D D Addison
Book A Vol 1st Page 38
Vol. 5 Page 38
[right side of page]
amount due as payable
to Ebenezer Davis
Betsey Emerson
Polly Kenney and
Deborah T. Card
Children of said
deceased
Letter to Isaac Waldron
May 2d 1842 Pension Agent
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State of New Hampshire
Strafford SS
On the twenty eighth day of Jan. AD 1842 personally
appeared before me Hiram R Roberts a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Strafford in
said State Deborah T Card a resident of Dover in said County aged forty-three years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the vested right to the benefit of the provisions made
by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 that she is the daughter of the widow of John Davis formerly of Madbury in said County who was a soldier and an officer in the Revolutionary army. that she has heard him say that he was at Crown point while in the service and was in service in more
then one campaign. she further declares that her father and mother have often told her that they were married in the day 22d day of November AD seventeen hundred and seventy nine and that her father died more than twenty years ago and that her mother remained his widow to the day of her death which
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took place on the second day of March AD one thousand eight hundred and forty one as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed
Deborah T Card
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written before me
H.R. Roberts Judge of said Court 
I hereby certify that the applicant from bodily infirmity cannot attend the Court
H. R. Roberts Judge of said Court
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I George Piper of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, testify and say, I am Clerk of said Dover and that I have in my possession the records of said
town of Dover, and that I find Recorded on said records under the head of Marriages by the Rev. Jeremy Belknap, minister of Dover, the following,
"A.D. Seventeen hundred and seventy nine Nov twenty second John Davis and Deborah Tasker both of Madbury "
and I certify the above is a true copy of the records with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair and legible figures as follows
"A.D. 1779 Novr 22"
I George Piper above named depose and say I hold the Office of Clerk in the town of Dover in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me -
Dated at Dover aforesaid this twentieth day of January A.D. 1842
Geo Piper, Clerk of the town of Dover
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County SS Dover January,21st 1842
Then personally appeared the above named George Piper, well known to me, as Town Clerk of Dover and made oath that the above certificate by him signed is true
Before me
Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
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Pension Office
March 10, 1842
Sir
The claim of the heirs of Mrs Deborah Davis, late widow of John Davis, decd has been examined, and their papers
placed upon our files. They allege that their deceased father, John Davis, performed a service in the year 1775, of two months in Capt. Caleb Hodgdon's company, and that he entered the service again in the Spring of 1776, and continued into the Summer, and that he was subsequently an Ensign in Capt. John Drew's company in the Summer
and Fall of that year. The name of John Davis is found on Capt. Hodgdon's roll dated November 1775. This service was about six weeks. The name of John Davis also appears on Capt. Drew's company roll under date of July 1776. No favorable decision can be had on the claim until the question of identity shall be satisfactorily established. John Starbird, a witness, swears that the said John Davis served with him from about March 1776 in the same company until he joined Capt. Drew's company as an Ensign. This witness in his own declaration for a pension, set up no service prior to August 1776 in Capt. Perkins' company of the N. Hampshire
line. Andrew Drew also swears that he served with John Davis
in 1775, two months, and that he understood he performed the service in 1776. This witness never claimed any such service for himself. He was allowed a pension for six months service in 1778.
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Davis, it seemed resided in Madbury, and it may be proper to state the residence of Capt. John Drew, Lieutenant Samuel Copp and Mr Neil in 1776, and also Davis's age. John McDuffee testifies to the service of Davis in Drew's company, and yet McDuffee's name is not on his (Drew's) roll; nor are the names of those persons who testified in behalf of McDuffee.
I am respectfully
Your Obt Servt
J L Edwards

Mr Richard Russell
Rochester N. York
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Rev WIDOW, etc.
---
File No. 16231
Deborah Davis
Widow of
John Davis
Priv. Rev. War
Act July 7th 1838
Index: Vol. A, Page 170
Arrangement of 1870.
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The enclosed papers are favorable at the agent of Hon Richard Russell
Rochester N. H.

N York 
Deborah Davis
let. to Richd Russell 10 March 1842

6.66-
50--

Act 1838
Page 10

J L Edwards Commr of Pensions
[stamp] FREE
Mr Richard Russell
Rochester N. York

[sideways]
July 14, 1842
Dead letter
Deb Davis
[stamp] Washington DC Mar 11
Page 11

V No 8202
Deborah Davis
Wid of John
NH
July 7th 1838
admd [admitted]
2 mo pri
5 - Ensign
[Total] 56.66
[in lighter ink underneath] Roll on file Cap Jno Drew and Col Hodgson
no deduction
Richard Russell Esq
Rochester N H
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I Andrew Drew of Durham in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire eighty two years old depose and say that in December 1775 I enlisted as a Soldier into a Regiment of New Hampshire Malitia [Militia] for two months. Moses Hodgdon was adjutant of the Regiment and Paul Nute was Lieutenant of the company in which I served the Captains name I do not recollect I believe Caleb Hodgdon was Colonel of the Regiment
I was personally and intimately acquainted with John Davis a Soldier in the same Company with myself. He the said John Davis belonged to Madbury in said County and State of New Hampshire and enlisted as a soldier into the same Company with me for two months and served out the time for which he enlisted and was discharged and I have understood that he served in the campain [campaign] at Ticonderoga in 1776.
During our term of service we were stationed at Portsmouth in said New Hampshire and were engaged in building the Forts at that place called Fort Washington and Sullivan
Andre Drew
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss
October 16. 1840 Then personally appeared the above name [named] Andre Drew a reputable witness to me well known and made oath that the above affidavitt by him signed is just and true
Before me
Richard Russell Justice Peace
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I John McDuffee in the eighty six year of my age depose and say, that in June (I think) 1776 I inlisted [enlisted] as a soldier in the war of the revolution for five month under Capt John Drew in Col Winans Regiment, Samuel Copp was first Liuten. Daniel McNeal second and John Davis Ensign, we marched to No 4 - from thence through Shrewsborough [Shrewsbury] to Ticonderoga I served out the term of my enlistment, during all of said five months
the above named John Davis was in said Company and Regiment and served as Ensign I think he the said John Davis then belonged [page torn] Madbury N. H.
John McDuffee his mark
Witness
James Roberts
Betsey Bragdon
mark
Strafford County SS
August 23rd 1838
Personally appeared John McDuffee above named and made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him
Subscribed is just and true
Before in James Roberts Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that James Roberts is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Strafford duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the eighth 
day of January 1838 and will expire on the eighth day of January 1843 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this twentieth day of November 1841
Josiah Stevens Secretary of State
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I John Starbird of Durham in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire eighty six years old depose and say that in March 1776 I enlisted as a Soldier into Captain Caleb Hodgdon's Company and Colonel David Gilmans Regiment of New Hampshire State troops. I was soon promoted to Clerk of the Company and in August commissioned as Ensign, John Davis[.] inlisted [enlisted] as a soldier about the same time that I did and into the same company with me and served untill sometime in the summer of the same year and there joined John Drews Company and went to Lake
Champlain[.] John Starbird

State of New Hampshire
Strafford SS
July 2 1841 Then personally appeared the above named John Starbird a reputable man to me known and made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Race
thro [through] the State of New Hampshire
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[faint writing on bottom of page]
James Chisley of Conway of Caleb Hodgdons Cpmpany
John Aken of Bennington [illegible] John Davis's Company
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid,  do hereby certify that Richard Russell is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for [crossed out] the county of said State duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the twenty first day of May 1839 and will expire on the twenty first day of May
1844 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 26th
day of February 1842
Josiah Stevens Secretary of State
Page 18

State of New Hampshire
Strafford SS. At a Court of Probate holden at Rochester
within and for said County on the first day of February
A.D. 1842- Satisfactory evidence was presented to me
Benning W. Jenness, Judge of said Court to prove that John Davis late of Madbury in said County died more than twenty years ago and that Deborah Davis, his wife remained his widow until the second day March A.D. 1840. At which time she died and that Ebenezer Davis, Betsy Emerson, Polly Kenney and Deborah T. Card were all the children and heirs at law of John and Deborah Davis at her decease
B W Jenness Judge Probate
State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss.-
I, Winthrop A. Marston, Register of said Court of Probate, hereby certify that Benning W. Jenness is Judge of the
the Court of Probate for said County of Strafford, and the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine-
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate, this first day of February A.D. 1842
W.A. Marston, Register of Probate
for said County
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that H.R. Roberts is an acting Judge of the Court of C. Pleas in and for the County of Strafford duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the seventeenth day of March 1840 and will expire on the sixteenth day of May 1876 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 26th day of
February 1842
Josiah Stevens Secretary of State
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[stamp] FREE
James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[sideways left] Apl 18 1842
WH
D. Davis
[stamp] Rochester N. H. Apr 14
Page 21

Rochester N.H. April 14. 1842
Mr Edwards
Sir
On the first day of Feby last I made out the evidence to support the claim of the heirs of Deborah Davis Widow of John Davis
Ensign as a vested right to a Pension and forwarded the same to Mr Stevens to make an exemplification of the Rolls in his office and forward them to your Department. A number of weeks afterwards Mr Stevens informed me the had made out the copies and forwarded them on the 26th of the same month. In further support of said claim I herewith enclose the affidavit
of Jacob Leighton. Will you be so kind as to inform me if said papers have reached your office.
I am Sir with great respect
your obt. humb servt
Richard Russell
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I Jacob Leighton of New Durham in the County of
Strafford and State of New Hampshire eighty four years old depose and say that I was a soldier in Captain John Drew's company five months in the continental army in the year 1776 at Mount Independance and Ticonderaga, that John Drew was captain, Samuel Copp was first Lieutenant Daniel Mc Neal Second Lieutenant an John Davis Ensign and the Colonels name was Wyman and that the said John Davis was Ensign in said Drews Company the whole of said five months
Jacob Leighton his mark
Attest H Wentworth
Richard Russell
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County, New Durham March 28 1842
Then personally appeared the above
named Jacob Leighton, a credible man by repute
and made oath that the above affidavit by him signed
is true Before me Richard Russell Justice of the Peace
Page 23

of (Madbury)
Jno Davis d. 1820
Deborah, M 1779 S d. Mar 2d [18]40
(Married at Dover)
[17]76 Caleb Hodgdon
Deborah T Card, daughter Ebr Davis, Betsy Emerson Polly Kenny etc.
Jno Starbird
Andre Drew (QM from Dec [17]75)
Jno McDuffee