Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 14,793, David Waller, Vt.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Vt.

Waller, David

Number
S 14.793

carded

contents
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31.949 Reported

Vermont

David Waller, of Manchester in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain   of the regt commanded by Genl. E. Stevens in the Vermont line for

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 60 Dollars  ____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14' day of March 1842 and sent to John H. Everett [illegible]

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 41.   630,00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 March '42  30,00

$660,00

{Revolutionary Cla
{Act June 7, 1832.


Recorded by [illegible] Moody [illegible] March 19, 1842
Book E.2, Vol. 3, Page 109
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Hon H Everett HR
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STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS.
On this 16th day of August A.D. 1837 personally appeared in open Court  before the Judge of the Probate Court of [ ] District now sitting, David Walter a resident of the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged seventy
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.
That he was born in Dover then called nine partners in the state of New York on the twenty fifth day of October in the year 1766, soon after
he was born, his father removed to Fairlee in the State of Vermont where he lived a short time then he removed to Rutland Verment and after residing a short time there, he and his parents removed to Royalton Vermont in the month of June 1779. were he lived untill the year 1809 (excepting the time which is hereafter mentioned that he was in the service and a prisoner of war) when he removed to Bethel in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont
where he now lives and has lived twenty Eight years. In the month of April as he thinks it was
in year 1780 he was taken by Gen. Elias Stevens of said Royalton who was then Lieutenant in the service of the Revolutionary war, and who now
draws a pension, to be his waiter while in the military service, being then fourteen years old. He did duty with him as waiter aforesaid being
constantly in service by reason of the Indians who were prowling about the Country and laying waste any thing which came in their way, when on the 16th day of October 1780. the Indians came and burned Royalton aforesaid
and took many prisioners and among them he the said Waller was one and in whom the enemy laid a heavy hand by reason of his being dressed in his Regimental Court, and having been in the service of his Country.
They took him on the 16" day of October before mentioned barefooted and marched
him towards Canada, and the next day October 17, 1780, there came a snow about half over shoe, and he from his feet, and the Brittish put a pack on his back and notwithstanding his feet was so badly off as to bleed, they marched him from days without any thing to eat, when he arrived at Burlington Vermont, where they all
took boats for St Johns in Canada. He arrived at St Johns about the 22d day of October, and from St Johns, he was marched to Canasadaga about thirty Miles from Montreal, and their he remained untill the first of December 1780
when he was marched for Montreal barefooted and his feet had very bad, so that he would be tracked by his blood. On his arrival at Montreal he was sold to Col. Campbell for eight Dollars which was considered a bounty and who treated him like an old scoundrel. Col Campbell asked him if he was a soldier. He told him he was not old enough. Col Campbell then said should you have been one if old enough. He told him he should. Col Campbell then says I presume are lonely and you will have to go to the provo Goal, which is next kin to death
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and now if you will enlist I will make a man of you, but he told him he die before he would enlist. Col Campbell then turned short about and he saw no more of him. Then came in Captain Jones prison Master, one who took care of the prisoners and he  said to him, that a man in his country who would treat a boy and prisoners as he Col Campbell had him, herein would have his back side, broke in Capt Jones said to him dont you enlist as two of your
Royalton boys have done to day viz Gilbert & Kneeland and I will see you have or
will done by, then went to the Provo God, and when he Jones came to unlock the Iron doors
his tears began to flow and he could see that Capt Jones shed tears, and turning around says my God  you go in and stay one night, and I have a man living next door to me, one of your Countymen from  Boston by the name of John Beach, with whom you shall live if you will behave well. Next day [ ] to promise he went to live with said Beach who treated him kindly and where he stayed untill news came that he was to be exchanged. He was then sent a prisoner to Skeensborough now White Hall in the State of New York when he arrived in the month of October 1781 and was exchanged for other British prisons, having served six months as waiter and been a prisoner twelve months
making in all Eighteen months for which he claims a pension and besides being old, infirm & without much property. The reason has not applied before he says is that he has been told
by many he could not draw a pension for this service. I have no further testimony I can present or  documentary evidence. The record of his age is in his fathers old bible in his possesion
Revd Eri Garfield and Eleaazar Berry will testify to my good Character for truth and the
reputation of my service in the neighborhood
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.
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid.}
David Waller
John S. Marcy
Judge of Probate
We, Eri Garfield a Clergyman residing in Bethel
and Elias Berry residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with David Waller who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }
John S Marcry
Judge of Probate 
Eri Garfield
Eleazar Berry
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Eri Garfield who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Bethel
and that Eleazer Barry who has also signed the same, is a resident in
Bethel and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John S. Marcy Judge of Probate
I, Oel Billings Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Walter
for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this
16th day of August
Oel Billings Register
A. D. 1837
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[ ]
14493
INVALID.
File No. 14, 793
David Waller
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7"" 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 395
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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S Bell 3
Senate Report
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The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the peti-tion of David Waller, report:
That the petitioner asks for a pension on account of military service performed by him in the war of the revolution. He alleges that he entered into the service in April 1780, at Royalton in Vermont, and became waiter to Lieut. Elias Stevens, now Gen Stevens, then commanding a military force in defence of the settlements against the incursions of the
Indians; that he continued in such service until Oct. 16th. 1780, when Royalton was attacked and burned by the Indians; and that in that
attack, he, with many others, was taken prisoner, and was carried to Montreal in Canada, where he was detained until Oct. 1781, when he was sent to Skeensborough, now Whitehall, in New York, and regularly
exchanged as a prisoner of war
The facts stated in the petition are fully and satisfactorily proved by the testimony of Gen Stevens and John Hutchinson, both pensioners,
and both credible and respectable men, and the Committee are of opin-on that the petitioner ought to be allowed a pension at the rate of
sixty dollars a year
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[ ] May 11. 1842
Hon H Everett
J L Edwards Esq
Comm Pensions
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Washington 1. May 1842
Sir
I request that the Pension certificate David Waller and Margaret Bennet, under act of the present session, may be sent to be
respectfully &c
H. Everett
JL Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
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Oct Billings
J Henry
10
11. rate to P.O.

Hon Horace Everett M. C.
Washington City D.C.

Vermont
David Waller $60
per annum Com. 4 March
1831-Act March 19 1842
(on roll Act June 7 1832)
Send cut to Hon H Everett H.R.
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Woodstock May 7. 1842
Hon. H. Everell
D Sir
Two special acts of the present Congress.
have been passed this Session in favor of David Waller and Widow Margaret Barnes for pensions in which case I have been agent or attorney. The bills originated in the Senate and
therefore I wrote to Mr Prentiss to procure their certificates from the pension departament and forward them to me before he left for home.
but I received a letter last eve from him, in answer to one I wrote him saying, that through a multiplicity of things to be attended to, he
inadvertently omitted to procure said certificates. Will you do me the favor to procure the aforesaid certificates and forward the same
to me as soon as may be & oblidge Respectfully your Obt Sert
Oel Billings

I am not acquainted with David Waller or Margaret Barnes, but sent for the cerficiate on the authority of this letters
13. May 42
H. Everett
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34.191
David Waller
of Vert.
Act 7 June 1832
Rejected
32
26th Aug
[ ] Sept
S.3 
Documents in relation to the claim
of David Waller for a pension

1837. Dec. 20. Referred with motion of Hon Mr Prentiss. to the Com: on Pensions
March 30 [ ] S291

1838. Dec. 11. Referred to the Com: on Pensions with Bill S. 33
" "  20th Bill reported
" " without amendment
1839. Dec. 27. Referred with Bill S. 35 to the Com. on Pensions
1840 Jan 6 Bill reported
1840 Dec 14, Referred with Bill S.3. to the Common Pensions
" " 17 Bill reported
Mr Prentiss
Mr Boring
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I John Hutchinson of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State Vermont this sixteenth day of August 1837 aged Eighty two years
testify and say, that I am well acquainted with David Waller of  Bethel County and State aforesaid, and have know him for
above fifty years past. That in the year 1780 I was in sd Royalton when the Indians burned said town, I was taken prisoner by the Indians and said Waller was taken prisoner with me, and we were marched to Montreal through many hardships, and while at Montreal saw said Waller frequently. Some time in the month of October 1781. information was given us that their was to be an exchange of prisioners and accordingly we were informed to get ready for
going to the United States. We very soon were sent to St Johns Lower Canada where we were put aboard of same boats, said David Waller being one of the number, and the latter part of
October 1781 in arrived at now what is called White Hall in the State of New York. On our way from Montreal to white Hall we stayed Eight days at St Johns and Eight days more on board the Ship Royal George on Lake Champlain. We stoped at Ticonderoga Eight days and then to Skeensborough were we were regularly
exchanged as prisoners of war. I understood that old Major [ ] was one of the Commissioners but the other I cannot now recollect. we arrived at Royalton the very last of October 1781
where said David Waller & I once more in hand our families having been prisoners about one year, and I further say that I am now a pensioner of the United States, and further say not
John Hutchinson
State of Vermont 
Sheridan County 
Royalton Augt. 16. 1837
Then personally appeared John Hutchinson the Signer of the above deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the forgoing affidavit by him subscribed and further that said
Hutchinson is a credible witness
Before me John S. Marcy Judge of Probate
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27th Cong
2. Sept
S. 8
Documents relating to the claim
of David Waller for a pension.
1841 Dec. 14. Referred with
Bill S.8. to the Com: on Pensions
" " 20. No amendt
Mr Prentiss
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I Elias Stevens of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State Vermont. this 16th day of August 1837 aged Eighty two years,
and now a Revolution pensioner of the United States testify and say: that I am well acquainted with David Waller now of Bethel County and State aforesaid, and have known him for more than fifty years past. In the month of March in the year 1780 said David Walter was with me then about fourteen years old and I was adjutant. He continued with me while the
Indians were in the County waiting upon me as I directed untill the 16th day of October 1780. the Indians came and burned Royalton and the Indians tock said Waller as prisoner together with many others. I thing in all twenty Eight,
out of which they killed four two in the incampment and two on the spot of their taking them. The Militia were immediately put in motion after them and I, and my Col. John House, proceed after them, and came up with the Indians in Randolph ten miles from here north, about two OClock at night, and on
coming up to their guard, we were fired upon by the enemy, and we returned the fire, and very same the Indians decamped and proceed towards Canada and long before day light they were out of our reach. We found it useless to proceed after them as our numbers were inferior to their and we saw no more of them, said Waller was gone about a year and I have always understood he went to Montreal, I saw said Walter immediately after his return and he then told me that he was carried to Montreal, I
always understand that said Walter was regularly exchanged as a prisoner of war, and further say not
Elias Stevens
State of Vermont
Hartford District
Royalton Augt 16th 1837
Then personal appeared Elias Stevens the signer of the foregoing and made solemn oath to the truth of the same, and I further say
that a man of good character for truth and veracity.
Oel Billings Register of Probate
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David Waller
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27th CONGRESS
2d SEBUION.
S.8. [Pri]
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
DECEMBER 14, 1841.
Agreeably to notice, Mr. Prentiss asked and obtained leave to introduce the follow bill which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Pensions.
DECEMBE 20, 1841.
Reported without amendment.
A bill an act granting a pension to David Waller
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, directed to cause the
name of David Waller to be placed upon the revolutionary pension roll of the United States, and to pay him a pension, at the rate of sixty dollars per annum, from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, during his natural life.
Approved March 19th, 1842
A true copy from the Roll in this Office.
Dept. of State
March 23d 1842
Fletcher Webster