Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,574, Henry Bemies, Mass. N.H.
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(3-1776)
Service Number
Mass. Bemies, Henry  W. 15,574
N.H. or Bemis, 
Susanna
Contents
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10626  Dead. Sce [illegible] to E. Carleton
New Hampshire June 28, 1837
Henry Bemies
of Grafton in the State of NH
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain --- of the regnt commanded
by Col Stark in the NH
[unknown] for 6 Mos 10 Days
Inscribed in the Roll of NH
at the rate of 54 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of Apr
1833 and sent E Carleton
Littleton Village NH
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $108.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 27.16
$136.82
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J[?] H McBlair Clerk
Book E Vol. 1 Page 13
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State of Newhampshire
Grafton
On this 18 day of September 1832 personaly approved before the Judge of Probate in open court for the County of Grafton State of Newhampshire Henry Bemies a resident of Littleton in the County of Grafton and state of Newhampshire aged Eighty two 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 7 1832. 
That he enlisted into the army of the United States on or about the 21 day of April 1775 in Captain Jeremiah Stiles Company Col. Starks Regt in the Newhampshire line marched to Cambridge soon stationed them with the army said Regt contained twelve Companys after about two months Commissions ware sent on for ten Companys that Gen Washington arived at Cambrige in July and finding two Companys not Commissioned sent Gen. Lee to winter hill where we ware stationed at this time to invite Capt Miles and Capt Scotts Companys to join the army at Cambridge which I together with others did and was placed in Col Sargents Regt that I sarved with the army for Eight months was in the battle of Bunker hill and was one of the last men that left the redout when it was nearly surrounded by the Enemy that on or about the firs of January I was honorably discharged that when I enlisted I lived in the town of Bakersfield in the County of Cheshire and State of Newhampshire that after joining Col Sargents Regt can state whether in the Newhampshire or Massachusetts [illegible] that I Recd my pay at Watertown the next spring
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that on or about the first of June 1776 at Bakersfield in the County of Cheshire Newhampshire that he enlisted into
Captain Parkers Company Colonel Wymans Regt for the term of five months marched to Whitehall and Mount Independance that he was honourably discharged at Mount
Independance about the forepart of November following that in the month of July 1778 he turned out as a volunteer in Capt Lewiss Company Col Hales Regt served with the 
army under Gen Sulivan about three months went to Rhodeisland under Gen Sullivan and was with him in his retreat from said state in 1778 and after three months was honourably discharged and returned home to Bakersfield
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pention or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pention roll of any state
Henry Bemis [signature]
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
And the said judge of Probate does herby declare his opinion that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier served as he states-
Edward Webber Judge of Probate
I Moses Dow Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Henry Bemis for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the Court this eighteenth day of September
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
Moses Dow [signature]
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Henry Bemis
Hampshire
Private 16 Mos 10 days
$54.33
12898
E Carleton
Littleton Village
N H
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Brief in the case of Henry Bemis
Co. of Grafton
in the State of N.H. 
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? [illegible]
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 82
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[column headers:] Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Office under whom he served.
[subheaders:] Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.

N.H. time
11th April In 1775 inlisted 8 10  [illegible] Cap Stiles Col. Starke

1 June 1776 on roll of service " Cap [illegible] Col. [illegible]

July 1778 " on roll of ser " Cap Lewis Col Hales

5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Bunker HIll

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service County of Chesshire Co
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary any three living witnesses 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are not attached agreeably to the regulations
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
George Taylor [signature] Examining Clerk
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New Hampshire, 1540
Susanna Bemis
widow of
Henry Bemis,
who died on the 24th June 1833, at Grafton in the State of N.H who was a private in the Compy commanded Captain Stiles of the regiment commanded Col. Stark in the N. H.
for 16 mos 10 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord N.H.
at the rate of 54 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 24th June 1833
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of November 1837, and sent to Edwd
Carlton, Jr Littleton N.H.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $225.10
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '38 27.16
$252.26
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3d
Recorded by D. McCurdy, Clerk
Book A
Vol. 2, Page 22
(town
Men 12th 1883
J.P. Jackson
(town Committee)
with personal history
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State of New Hampshire
Grafton County S. On this eighteenth
day of July Anno Domini 1837 Personally
appeared before the Justices of the Superior
Court of Judicature now sitting at Haverhill
within & for said County of Grafton in the State
aforesaid, Susanna Bemis a resident of
Littleton in said County of Grafton in the
State aforesaid, aged eighty seven years on the 26th day of December last past, who in open Court being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following  declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 -- that she is the widow of Henry Bemis late of Littleton aforesaid deceased who was, at the time of his decease, a pensioner of the United States, under the act of Congress, as is supposed, which was passed June 7th 1832 and the evidence of services, which entitled him to said pension, is supposed to be on file in the pension office
at Washington. She further declares that
she was married to the said Henry Bemis on
the fourteenth day of September in the twenty
third year of her age, which would be in the year seventeen hundred & seventy two -- that her husband the aforesaid Henry Bennies died at Littleton aforesaid on the twenty fourth day of June in the year eighteen hundred & thirty three,
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that she has remained a widow ever since that
period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed -- that as the widow of said Henry Bemis, She drew, after his decease, the arrearage of his pension which accrued from the March next preceding the time of his death up to the time of his said decease --
Susanna
Bennies
Her Mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year
above written
Attest
S. P. Webster Clerk
I Stephen P. Webster Clerk of the said Superior
Court of Judicature for said County of Grafton
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said Susanna Bemis in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress of June 4th 1836
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Haverhill in said County of Grafton this eighteenth day of July Anno Domini 1837-
S. P. Webster Clerk
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I John Ness of Littleton in the County of Grafton State of New Hampshire of the age of seventy seven on the 18th day of May A.D. 1837 depose & say that I was present at the marriage of Susanna Bemis with her late husband Henry Bemis late of said Littleton deceased -- said Susana is my sister. I was a boy at the time of said marriage & well remember it was before the commencement
of the war of the revolution -- the marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev Mr Parker whose Christian name I do not remember, but who was the Christian minister in the town where my father then resided, said town being called Hubbard'stown or more commonly honored Hoveystown in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I have ever since except one year, lived near my said sister -- she dine with her husband, the said Henry Bemis as his wife until his decease, which was in the year 1833.
They reared a large family of children she has
remained a widow ever since his decease, & is now a widow -- said Parker has been commonly reported to have died many years since --
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County Ss Littleton July 17th 1837
Then & there the said John Ness personally appeared & made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true. Before me -- Edmund Carleton Jr Jus Peace. I, 
Edmund Carleton Jr aforesaid Justice of the Peace aforesaid do certify that I am well acquainted with John Ness where
aforesaid the signer of the above deposition, having known him, & lived within about two miles of him, about seven years. He is a man of credibility, sustaining a perfectly
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fair character so far as I know & retaining his faculties in a high degree -- 
Edmund Carleton Jr Justice of the Peace
State of New Hampshire
Graton Ss
I Stephen P. Webster Clerk of the Superior
Court of Judicature within & for the County
of Grafton do hereby certify that Edmund
Carleton Jr Esquire before whom the foregoing
Deposition of John Ness was taken, was on
the 17th day of July current an acting Justice
of the peace within & for said County duly
commissioned & sworn, and that his signature 
above written is genuine.
---
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this eighteenth day of July
Anno Domini 1837
S. P. Webster Clerk [signature]
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I Susannah Morse wife of Joseph W. Morse of Littleton in the County of Grafton & State of the Hampshire. of lawful age depose & say, that I am the daughter of Henry
Bemies late of said Littleton deceased & Susanna Bemies his widow. that since my earliest recollection I have ever lived with or in the vicinity of my parents so long as my father was living, & of my mother since the decease of my father. My father kept a family
record of the births in his family on a piece of paper which he kept deposited in a drawer in a chest with his papers which he considerd of importance.
Before Marriage to said Morse, which took place on the 10th of September 1790, I frequently saw said record. Some years
after my marriage aforesaid, said paper containing said Record was borrowed at the request of myself & my husband, the births of my father's children were copied from it into the family bible of myself & husband. this said copying was more than twenty five years since, & soon afterwards said paper or record was returned to my fathers, since which time 
I do not remember to have seen it. Diligent
search has been made for it without success, it is suffered to be lost. Whether it did or did not contain a record of my father's marriage, I am unable to say for I do not remember. But the record of my own birth as copied into said family bible is as follows -
Susanah Bemies was born at Peekersfield (N H)
Feb. 24, 1774
said family bible has always remained in my family
In my father's family from childhood up, the
circumstances of my father marriage & of my births occuring before the war of the revolution,  & of
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my father having my mother & myself to go into the service in the American army, were frequent subjects of conversation - 
/s/Susanna Morse
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss. October 11th 1837
Then & there the above named Susanna Morse, whose name at the commencement of her affidavit is spelled Susannah Morse & subsequently Susanah Bemis wife of the said Joseph W. Morse. personally appearing made oath that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is true - 
Before me
/s/Edmund Carleton J'r Justice of the Peace
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I Joseph W. Morse of Littleton in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose & say that I was born on the first day of December 1763 as appears by my family record & as I have always ['been' crossed out] understood - that on the tenth day of September 1770 I was married to Susannah Bemis who is my present wife, she being the daughter of Henry Bemies late of said Littleton deceased & of Susanna his wife - I have seen the foregoing affidavit of my said wife & concur with her in her Statement in regard to the copying into our family bible the births in her father's family from his family record - The record of her birth as copied into said bible is correctly stated in her affidavit - I also concur with her in her statement in regard to her residence near her parents & another since our marriage. 
/s/Joseph W Morse
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss. October 11th 1837
Then & there the above named Joseph W. Morse personally appearing made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true. Before me
/s/Edmund Carleton jr. Justice of the Peace
I Roxana Stow wife of Alvin Stow of Littleton in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose & say that I am the daughter of Henry Bemies late of Littleton aforesaid deceased & of Susanna Bemies his widow. I am also the sister of Susanna Morse whose affidavit above written I have seen. I agree with her in regard to my father's keeping a record of the births in his family & the manner of his keeping it, & also in regard to its being supposed to be lost, & the search made for it - soon after my marriage to said Stow nearly eight years ago I had said record caused to be copied therefrom into the family bible of myself & husband, the births of my father's children, & I find my copy of my said sister's birth to agree in date with her copy of her birth as given in her affidavit it being Feb. 24, 1777 I also agree with her in regard to the subjects named by her
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as being frequent subjects of conversation in my father's family - 
/s/Roxana Stow
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss - Littleton October 11th 1837
Then & there the above named Roxana Stow personally appearing made oath that the foregoing affidavit by been subscribed is true - Before me. 
/s/Edmund Carleton jr Justice of the Peace
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[typewritten letter]
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MCS/eel [initials: own]
December 15, 1928

Mrs. Isabel D. Randall
Richmond Maine

Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 15574, it appears that Henry Bemies, while a resident of Packersfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, enlisted April 21, 1775 in Captain Jeremiah Stiles' Company, Colonel Sargent's Massachusetts Regiment, was in the battle of Bunker Hill and was discharged January 1, 1776.
He enlisted June 1, 1776 in Captain Parker's Company in Colonel Wyman's New Hampshire Regiment and was discharged in November, 1776.
He enlisted in July, 1778 and served three months in Captain Lewis' Company in Colonel Hale's New Hampshire Regiment and was in Sullivan's Rhode Island expedition.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, at which time he was eighty-two years of age and was a resident of Littleton, Grafton County, New Hampshire.
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[typewritten letter]
He died June 24, 1833 at Littleton, New Hampshire.
The soldier married, September 14, 1772, in Hubbardstown, Massachusetts, Susannah Neers, who was born December 26, 1749. She was allowed pension on her application executed July 18, 1837, while a resident of Littleton, New Hampshire.
Henry and Susannah Bemies had a large family, the only names given are Roxanna, who married Alvin Stow, and Susannah, who was born February 24, 1774, at Packersfield, New Hampshire, and who married, September 10, 1790, Joseph W. Morse, who was born December 1, 1763.
This is the history of the only soldier by the name of Henry Bemies, searched under all spellings of the name, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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V2332
Susanna Bemis
NH
wid of Henry dec'd
married 1772. died 
Ad'd pr. 16 mo 10 day
$54.33 per ann. comp
25th June 1833
Edw'd Carlton Jr. Esq
Littleton N.H.
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[verso]
N.H. 
Rev WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 15574
Susanna Bemis
widow of Henry Bemis
Pri Rev War
Act: July 4th 36
Index: - Vol. A, Page 52
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[recto]
1928 Dec. 15 hist. to Mrs. Isabel D. Randall M.C.S.
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12.898
Henry Bemies' application for a Pension - 
H. Bemies application 
Spell is as you please
BJB
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I John Nurse of Littleton County of Grafton New hampshire aged seventy two years depose and say that in 1775 I resided in the Packersfield in the County of Cheshire New hampshire that I lived in said Town of Packersfield till 1787 a near Neighbour to Henry Beamis (Bemies) Now of Littleton and was intimately acquainted with him and personaly knowing that he enlisted into the army of the revolution on or about the 21 of April 1775 and served til about the first of January following and returned home that in 1776 about the first of June he again enlisted in Capt Parker's company and went to Mount Independance was in the service five months or there abouts
that in 1778 he again turned out as a volunteer in Capt Lewis' Company went to Rhode Island was in the service at this time about three month and returned home to Packersfield
/s/John Nurse
State of Newhampshire
Grafton ss} at Littleton this 12 day of September 1832 personaly appeared John Nurse the signer of the above affidavit and made oath that the same is just and true that I am personaly acquainted with the said Nurse for the last twenty years that I consider him a man of unimpeachable trouth and verasity 
Before me /s/James Rowell} Justice of the peace
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I David Rankin of Littleton County of Grafton State of Newhampshire aged fifty years depose and say that I have been acquainted with Henry Beamiess (Bemies) of Littleton for more than thirty years last past that more than twenty years ago I heard him tell of being in the army of the Revolution that he stated that he was in the battle of Bunkerhill and was one of the last men that left the redout that he had got a ball in his gun that would not go down that he stooped down to get it out and when he rose up our men had ['nerly' crossed out] nearly all left the redout that I consider him a man of trouth and verasity
/s/David Rankin 
State of Newhampshire 
Grafton ss} at Littleton this 12 day of Sept 1832 personaly appeared David Rankin the signer of the above affidavit and made oath that the same if Just and true that I am personaly acquainted with the said Rankin believe him to a man of trouth and verasity 
Before me /s/Jon'a Rowell }Justice of the Peace
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We Drurey Farebank Clergyman residing in Littleton and Ebenezer Pingree of Littleton County of Grafton state of Newhampshire hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Beamies who has subscribed the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
/s/Eben'r Pingree
State of New Hampshire Grafton Ss. Littleton September 14. 1832. 
Then the above named Ebenezer Pingree, made oath that the above statement by him subscribed, is in his belief just & true. 
Before me /s/Nathaniel Rix Justice of Peace
State of New Hampshire
Grafton ss - I Moses Dow Register of the Court of Probate for said County, do hereby certify that Nathaniel Rix is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that Jonathan Rowell is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that their signatures respectively to the above annexed certificates are in their own hand writing - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year above written - 
/s/Moses Dow

State of Newhampshire Grafton ss} at Littleton this 12 day of September
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[handwritten letter]
Littleton N.H. July 17th 1837
James L. Edwards Esqr. Sir - 
Enclosed are the Declaration and other papers of Susanna Bemies for obtaining her pension
If all is not right please return the papers with your intimation of what is wrong - When her certificate is made out please forward it me at this place - 
Yours Respectfully
/s/Edmund Carleton jr.
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Henry Bemis Grafton Co NH a pensioner under the Act 7 June '32, When past last?
HHL
Died 24 June 1833 paid to that period
JH
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[handwritten letter]
Littleton N.H. June 20th 1837

Dear Sir - 
Susanna Bemies, widow of the late Henry Bemies, who was in his life time a Revolutionary pensioner, wishes me to procure for her the widow's pension to which she is entitled. I have done but little in the way of procuring pensions, & am destitute of the forms & requisites for obtaining them. You would of course confer a favor on me by sending to me as soon as convenient, such papers as you may think of service to me - Mrs Bemies was married to Henry Bemies & had one child before the commencement of the Revolution. 
He was at Bunker hill serving at that time if I remember rightly 8 months. He served at two other times either by enlistment or draft something like 5 or 8 months. He died about the 24th June 1833 being then a pensioner. As balance due to him serving after his last draft before his death. Mrs. Bemies has already received it - the signer of this you may recognize an old friend who once taught a school near your house & was patronised with the tuition of your oldest son - Is your son yet alive, & is Dan'l H. Hashell yet alive? 
Yours very Respectfully
/s/Edmund Carleton jr
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[handwritten letter]
Littleton N.H. October 12th 1837

Sir - 
The letter of Mr. Crump dated at the Pension Office August 8, 1837 is before me - Mr Crump says that upon examination of the papers of Mrs Susanna Bemies, widow of Henry Bemies deceased, he finds the proof in relation to the date of her marriage insufficient to justify the admission of her claim - As Mrs Bemies has been hitherto unable to find record evidence of her marriage, & that appearing by the papers, it was supposed that the testimony of her brother John Neers, a respectable unimpeachable witness, who was present at her marriage, would be perfectly satisfactory. But Mr Crump suggests that his being at that time only about 12 years of age, makes ['the' crossed out] his testimony exceptionable - Of course the department will adhere to its own rules in regard to the admissibility of evidence, but I would beg leave to suggest, that though a person 12 years of age might not be a competent witness to testify at that age; yet the same person, after arriving at maturity, might be a competent witness to a fact or transaction which occurred when he was only 12 years of age - 
In fact we often remember important events which occurred in our childhood, with greater distinctness & accuracy than we remember similar events which occurred only a few years since. 
Mr Nurse knew the minister of the place, was present at the marriage ceremony performed by the minister, & remembers all ['all' crossed out] this to have been before the war of the revolution - Now it seems to me, that if he is a man to be believed, & he swears that he remembers
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[handwritten letter]
the marriage to have been before the war, it cannot affect the credit of his story to have been only about 12 years old when the events occurred - 
I have however enclosed the affidavits of her Mrs. Bemies' daughter Mrs Morse & her husband, & of her daughter Mrs. Stow. to show that not only the marriage occurred before the war, but that the oldest child was born before the war - As the department have, on the papers already sent, the certificate of the clerk of the Court as to my signature & office of Justice of the Peace, I suppose a further certificate unnecessary - should the evidence still appear insufficient, please inform me of it.
Should a pension certificate issue, please forward it to me - 
Yours Respectfully
/s/Edmund Carleton jr
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Enoch P. Huntoon's Deposition
Page 30

Henry Bemis in Sept of 1832 of Littleton, NH aged 82 yrs. While residing in "Pakersfield" (so written) [illegible]
he enlisted on or about April 21, 1775 under Capt Jeremiah Stiles in Col John Stark's NH Regt, going to Boston where he remained until the end of the year. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill + last of the men to [illegible]

Owing to an excess of [illegible] in the Regt [illegible] he was by order of George Washington transferred into Col Sergant's Regt (which from the name may been a Mafs regt. Bemis states he was paid off at Watertown, notably a place where Majr [illegible] met)


there & county for only 2 stone walled her by
Warlington am barren into Col Sergeant & Rig which for the same may
have and make any states he was at Watertown where the
Paid Regan M
about him he takes hold be
enlisted into Capt Parkers & Col Wyman's Regt for in
to what hath my & Indiana
Lewis Co in Colo Haley serving with the army under God
Sullivan in the Company and
John Nurse of Dillon in Sept 1832 and her states that in 1774 be and
aged at
in Pakenfold unto
Sept 1772 in 23 years of age. He deeded to June 1833
ton in terms of Holston age 87 on the west last part Had
will and her daughter Susanna Morse
which she had called into the same will she was both at Taken but
F
Dec 1776- and another daughter Mr
of Little
1760
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Richmond, Me
March 7-1928.
Pension Department
Washington D.C
Gentlemen ; -
Will you please send me what information only you can concerning Henry Bemis a pensioner of the Revolutionary war.
Thanking you for the favor I am,
Yours very truly
(Mrs.) Isabel D Randall