Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W, 25.207, William Baxter, Conn. Vt.
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn
Vt

Baxter, William
             Deborah

NUMBER
W.25.207
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5642
Vermont
Deborah Baxter
widow of William Baxter, dec'd
who  was a pensioner under the Act of [blank]
and who died on the 25th August 1832 
Stanstead in the Province of L. [Lower] Canada and was a private in the Compy commanded by line for 7 months, N.Y. and Conn. Line Records corrected. Jany 23 '04

Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th of July 1840, & sent to John Kimball Present

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840  $93.33
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sep '40  11.66 [total] $104.99
{Act July 7, }
1838

Recorded by D McCurdy  Clerk
Book A.  Vol.  2,  Page 64.
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7155
Deborah Baxter
Declaration
widow of William
Vert [Vermont]
Act 7 July 1838
Page 4

[VERY FADED TEXT...First two lines illegible]

State of Vermont...on the 6th day of September A.D. 1837; personally appeared before said Court  Deborah Baxter, a resident of Stanstead in the Province of Lower Canada, aged Seventy three years who doth under oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"-
That she is the widow of William Baxter who was a private in the War of the Revolution and served as follows (as near as she can state from what information she has had of his services).
That in the month of July or August, in the year 1776, he enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Hatch of Norwich and served under the command of Major or Col. Hoisington in the Ranging Service in said Hatch's company until the fall of 1777, a period of about fifteen months.
In the year 1778 or 1779 as she believes, he again enlisted into a company in the State of Connecticut and served as she has been informed at New London under Major Elias Buell, a period of not less than two months. She & others state that he was in service at the  latter part of the war since that I (illegible) his services, he was at the Cowpens- the Battle at Hubbardton, and in other places- the above statement is [illegible] to her best information.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Baxter of Coventry Connecticut (in a Parish called Andover) by a Justice of the Peace by the name of [illegible] in the month of May in the year 1786- That she was not married to him, the said William Baxter, prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four viz. at the time above stated.
She further declares that previous to marriage her name was Deborah Buel and she lived in the Town of Coventry above written and that her husband the said William Baxter also resided in said Coventry where they continued to reside after marriage until the year 1792 when they removed to Rutland Vermont where they continued to reside and in Pitsford [Pittsford] until the year 1822 when they removed to Massena in the State of New York where they continued until
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the death of her said husband which took place on the 25 day of August 1832, at which place she the said Deborah continued to reside until the year 1834, since which she has resided in Stanstead aforesaid and has continued a widow
Deborah Baxter [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
Before me John Kimball Judge

and the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the within named Deborah Baxter in the Widow of the within named William Baxter (that he is the same man as she hath declared) served in  the Revolution, and died on the 25 day of August 1832 as she in her declaration has set forth and that she resides in Stanstead aforesaid continues his lawful Widow -
John Kimball Judge
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[the death which took place  on the 25th day of August in the year 1832 - crossed out]

I Almira D. Martin (formerly Almira D Baxter) of Stanstead, Lower Canada depose and say that I am now the seventh and youngest child of my Father & Mother, William and Deborah Baxter, that my age is thirty three years and that my oldest Brother, Henry Baxter who resides in the Town of Fulton in the State of Ohio is the oldest child of my Parents and is now fifty two years of age.   I further state that (by the information received) my Father the said William Baxter died on the 25th  day of August 1832 and that for the last five years my Mother the said Deborah Baxter has resided at Stanstead aforesaid in the same house in which I reside and has ever remained a widow.
  Almira D. Martin

At the time and place [illegible] is the foregoing declaration Almira D Martin signer of the above deposition a person well known to me as a credible witness appeared before me and made oath to the truth of the same before me.
 John Kimball  

State of Vermont  }
Orleans County ss}  I, Samuel C Crafts, Clerk Of Orleans County Court, do certify that the Hon. John Kimball is a Judge of Orleans County Court duly  commissioned and sworn, and by the laws of said Stated empowered to administer oaths and take and certify depositions, &c. and that his name subscribed to the foregoing certificate is in his own hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this sixth day of September, AD 1839.
 Sam'l C Crafts  Clerk
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Rutland Vt.  8th July 1840

Sir-

I have been requested by John Kimball Esqr of Barton in this State, to state to you my knowledge of the intermarriage of William Baxter, deceased, with his widow, Mrs. Deborah Baxter, whose maiden name was Buel, and who was a daughter of Benjamin Buel Esqr of the town of Coventry in Connecticut, now also deceased.
I know only that the parties in question cohabited in the character of husband and wife, in this town and the adjoining town of Pittsford for about 25 years after the year 1792, when they first came to this town to reside.  They came here from said Coventry, and brought with them one or two children,
and others born to them, afterwards; all of whom I well know, until the parents removed to the northern parts of this State between the years 1810 and 1820 or perhaps 1825. There names were Harry, Frances or Fanny, Laura and two other girls whose names I am unable now to call to mind.  Harry was the oldest of their children, and was brought into this town by his parents when they came here to establish their residence.  The particular date of their arrival I was too young to fix, from my own recollection, and have therefore derived it from the records of deeds in the town Clerk's Office in Rutland, where a deed is recorded from one Roger Higley of Vergennes, to said Baxter and another man by the  name of Lester, which i dated the 4th of May, 1792, and in which deed Baxter is set up as a resident of said Rutland.
Mrs. Baxter's marriage with William Baxter, as I have often heard repeated by her mother, and by her sisters Mrs. Lord, and Mrs. McCarter (all now deceased) who resided in this plan, was furtive - not having been approved at the time by her parents; though a reconciliation was affected before they left Connecticut, and they were then received into
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favor by all the branches of the family  The alliance was regarded as an unfortunate one, though Mrs. Buel, the mother, and the other sisters above mentioned always spoke of their sister Baxter with the utmost kindness & affection.  My own impression is, though I cannot state how I came by it, that they were married not long after the close of the revolutionary war.  Harry Baxter, the son, had arrived at his majority, and was in business on his own account at Pittsford as far back as 1810 or 1811.  He left that place, however, before his father did, and migrated to some of the western States - which of them, I do not recollect.
All of Mrs. Baxter's family relatives who formerly resided in this town, are either deceased or removed to the Southern States of the Union; so that I cannot refer to them to corroborate the preceding statement; which depends altogether upon my own recollection, and the references to the above mentioned record.  Yet, I have no doubt, and do fully believe that a Mr & Mrs Baxter were married before 1790.
As to Baxter's services in the revolution, I know nothing, only what I have heard him say; and my recollection of that is not particular:  I can only state, that I have heard him say he had been in the revolutionary army; but where, or how long I do not remember.
[signed] Jesse Gove

P. S. I should add, further that I understand Mrs. Baxter is an applicant for a pension on account of her husband's service.  This information I derive from W. Kimball, at whose request this letter is written. }  
[signed] J. Gove

James L. Edwards Esqr  }
Commissioner of Pensions }
City of Washington }
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State of Vermont  }
Rutland County ss}  Be it known that on the ninth day of July 1840, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the above named Jesse Gove who hath subscribed the foregoing letter in my presence and made oath in due from of law that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth according to his best recollection and belief.   And I do hereby certify that the said affiant is a credible witness.
[signed] F. W. Hopkins Justice Peace

STATE OF VERMONT   }
RUTLAND COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, ss.}  I, Frederick W. Hopkins, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland, do certify that Frederick W. Hopkins was at the date of the certificate to which this is annexed a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned:  that his commission is dated on the twenty fifth day of November A.D. 1839, and will expire on the thirtieth day of November A.D. 1840; and I verily believe his signature to the same is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland in said county this ninth day of July A.D. 1940.
[signed] F. W. Hopkins
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., [blank], 19 [blank]

W.F. 25.207

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of William Baxter a  soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
July or Aug 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
15 mos.

RANK.
Pvt

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
Captain Joseph Hatch
Major Hoisington

STATE.
Vt. Rangers

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1778 or 1779

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos

RANK.
[Blank]

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.

Colonel Tilden

STATE.
Conn.

Later went South and was in the battle of Cowpens (1781)

Battles engaged in,  Hubbardton [Vt]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Coventry, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 6, 1839 Her cl. [claim] was al. [allowed]
Residence at date of application, Stanstead, Province of Lower Canada
Age at date of application, He was born in Coventry, Conn date not given.
Remarks:  He married at Andover Parish Coventry, Conn, in 1783 or May 1786 Deborah daughter of Benjamin Buel and died Aug 25, 1832.  In 1837 then oldest child Harry was 52 years old and their youngest child Almira D. Martin was 33 years old. Frances or Fanny, Laura and 2 girls whose names are not stated are also referred to as their children.
Respectfully,

See Vt. books pages 649, 640 and 833
       Commissioner

6-285C
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Deborah Baxter
Wid of William
Vt
Act July 7 1838
Married 1786
Died 1832

Allow 7 mo pn
Capt Hoisington
$23.33 per annum
Vt. State troops

John Kimball Esq
Present
Page 12

Wm. Baxter   d Aug 1832
Deborah      m 86.
July 76   J Hatch Vermont}
*5 M.P.S.   Hoisington}

78. 2/7.  Maj. Buell


* E Stevens amt. says 5 mos 
ad'd  [Admitted] No. 28.056 Vt. Jun 7
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For Coventry Vt.       Paid 6
Sept 30

Addressed to:
Jeremiah Parish Esq,
Tolland, Ct.

Town Clerk
Certificate
Page 14

I John R. Howard do hereby depose & say that I have carefully searched the Public Records of the Town of Coventry in Tolland County & State of Connecticut... (vis) all those parts of sd [said] records which contain any entries of the marriages solemnised [sic]  in this Town, as far back as A.D. 1740 - and I have not been able to find an entry of the marriage of  William Baxter & Deborah Bewel [Buel] under any date by diligent search and said Records at this early period are very imperfect.
And I further depose & say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk and Register for said Town of Coventry, and have the custody of its Records, & that the above certificate is true.
[signed] John R. Howard Town Clerk

Coventry Sept. 28th 1839.

State of Connecticut
County of Tolland, Ss Coventry
On this 28th day of September A.D. 1839, personally appeared before me Edward G Huntington one of the Justices of the Peace for said Tolland County John R. Howard, a credible person well known to me, & who is Town Clerk & Register of the town of Coventry aforesaid, & then & their made solemn oath to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed -
 Edward G Huntington Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut }
Tolland County         }ss.  County Clerks Office

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of the Courts in sd [said] County Certify that Edward G. Huntington Esq of Coventry is a Justice of Peace within said Tolland County legally appointed and acting in sd [said] Capacity.  That his commission (now in this office) bears date the 8th day of June 1839 and will continue untill [sic] to the 20th day of June 1840.
Also that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be the official signature of sd [said] Justice Huntington is genuine.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of sd [said] County this first day of October 1839
[signed] Jeremiah Parish Clerk.
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South Coventry  Sept 30 1839

Dear Sir,

I sent you the enclosed certificate in Elocution to the marriage of the within named, wishing you to make the necessary certificate in relation to the authority of the Justices Signature.
I wish also, that you would enclose sd [said] certificate, in a letter, and direct it to John Kimball of Barton, Orleans County, Vermont, by our early attention to this you will confer a favor and I will satisfy your fees the first opportunity.
Yours respect,y [respectfully] John R. Howard

Jeremiah Parish Esqr.
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Stevens & Whites
depositions
Page 18

I Elias Stevens of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged eighty four years and a revolutionary pensioner of the United States depose and say that in the month of August in the year 1776 one Hoisington of Woodstock Vermont was appointed Major as I understood by the Government of New York and was authorized to raise three companies of soldiers for the Ranging service.  Joseph Hatch of Norwich Vermont was appointed Captain of one of several Companies.  I enlisted as sergeant and William Baxter as a private in said Hatches Company both of us served untill [sic] the month of February 1777 being a period of not less than five months service.  We were then told that we  might go home, but stand in readiness at any time we should be called for.  I have no recollection of seeing said Baxter from that time untill [sic] after the war since then I have seen him a number of times.  During the said five months we were stationed at Royalton Vermont.  In the month of November 1777 I understood then the three companies enlisted under Hoisington were discharged.
[signed] Elias Stevens

State of Vermont }
Windsor County ss} Sharon September 4th 1839 then personally appeared Elias Stevens the signee of the foregoing affadavit [sic] in writing and under oath that the facts therein stated are true.
Before me Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace

I have been acquainted with Elias Stevens above named for fourteen or fifteen years he is a man of credability [sic] and undoubted veracity.
[signed] Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace
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I Lemuel White of Sharon in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged eighty years and a revolutionary soldier of the United States depose and say that in the month of April 1779 I enlisted at Coventry Connecticut under Captain Dana the same month our Company went to New London- in the month of May next after William Baxter came to New London- & staid [stayed] at New London till the last of August during which time said Baxter staid [stayed] at New London and served in Colonel Tilden's Regiment a period of not less than three months. Elias Buell of Coventry was Major-
[signed] Lemuel White


State of Vermont } 
Windsor County ss} Sharon September 6th 1839  Then personally appeared  Lemuel White the signee of the foregoing affidavit (sic) in writing and made oath that the facts therein stated are true.
Before me Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace

I have been acquainted with Lemuel White above named fourteen or fifteen years he is a man of credit.
[signed] Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace
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[Left side]:

Dec. 18, 1901
Hon J. P. Baxter
Portland Maine

1919 Dec 5 Hist. to Nellie L Marquison

[Right side]:

WIDOW, &c.

File No.  25.207
Deborah Baxter
Wid. of 
William Baxter
Priv  Rev war

Act:  July 7th 1838

Index: -- Vol. A,  Page 41

[ Arrangement of 1870 ]
Page 21

I Samuel White of Sharon Vermont in the County of Windsor being in my 81st year testify and say that I was born in Coventry Vt and from a small boy was well acquainted with William Baxter who was born in the same place or in a Parish named Andover formerly belonging to Coventry.  I was acquainted with the sd (said) William Baxter while a soldier in the Revolutionary War we were both in Col Tilden's Regiment stationed at New London Ct. in the year 1779.  Elias Buell was Major.  I was well acquainted with Deborah Buell of Coventry from a child.  She was married to the sd [said] William Baxter about the year 1783, in the year 1780 I understood the sd [said] William Baxter was stationed at Bethel & Royalton VT. aft sd [said] Baxter was married to the sd [said] Deborah Buell he moved from Coventry to Rutland VT and I have been acquainted with him & his wife untill [sic] within a few years ever since.
[signed] Lemuel White

Windsor County ss: Sharon May 24, 1839  Then personally appeared Lemuel White the signee of the above affidavit and made oath that the same contains the truth and I further say that the said White is a creditable person that I have been acquainted with him for sixteen years past and I further say that I was present when the said White signed as above and the word understood was interlined before signed
[signed] Samuel Shuttleworth Justice of Peace
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State of Vermont  }
Windsor County ss}   I Norman Williams Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont do hereby certify that Samuel Shuttlesworth is an acting justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated in the month of November last and will from on the thirtieth day of November AD 1839 and that his signature to the foregoing certificate is genuine and is his proper hand writing.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court, this thirtieth day of May AD 1839.
[signed] Norman Williams, Clerk
Page 23

Albany June 14, 1839

John Kimball

Sir

I much regret that it is not in my power to aid Cawnin Baxter in her application for a pension.  I have no personal knowledge of any facts material in her case, nor can I direct her except to John Fitch, of Huntington Vermont, my brother -in law, who is himself a pensioner   And he can probably give the names of some persons in Coventry who can certify in the matter.  Make my respects to Mrs. Baxter, and tell her I am the only member of her uncle's family now living

Very respectfully
J. Buel
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7155

Deborah Baxter
Page 25

The deposition of Stevens & White have been since taken in their first they mentioned no period of the service of William Baxter which I supposed to necessary so that their Deposition were taken a second time in which they make much less service than is set forth in the declaration 

Stevens say not less than five months
White says not less than three months
If by the record more than eight months service is shewn no doubt it will be allowed. I do not expect otherwise
John Kimball
Page 26

Stevens Deposition
Page 27

I Elias Stevens, of Royalton in the County of  Windsor and State of Vermont being in my eighty fifth year testify and say that in the year 1776 I think in August, one Hosilton [sic][Hoisington] of Woodstock Vermont was appointed Major by the government of New York to raise three Companies of soldiers called rangers in what is now the State of Vermont.  Joseph Hatch of Norwich Vermont was appointed captain of one of the said three Companies. William Baxter of said Norwich and myself enlisted under said Hatch during the revolutionary war said Baxter as a soldier and myself as serjeant [sergeant] in the year 1777 the inhabitants of Vermont began to assert their rights as a State in which year the above companies as I understood was disbanded.  I have since been acquainted with said Baxter while he resided in Rutland Vermont.
[signed] Elias Stevens

State of Vermont  }
Windsor County Ss   }  Sharon, June 17 1839   Personally appeared Elias Stevens above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit 
Before me Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace

I hereby certify that the above name Elias Stevens is a person of credit.  I have been acquainted with him fifteen or sixteen years
Samuel Shuttleworth Justice Peace
Page 28

Samuel Shuttleworth

State of Vermont
Windsor County

I, Norman Williams Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont do hereby certify that Samuel Shuttleworth is an acting justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated in November AD 1838 and will expire on the 30th day of November AD 1839 and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 31st day of May AD 1839 at Woodstock in said County of Windsor
[signed] Norman Williams Clerk
Page 29

Vt  Act 1838  7155
Deborah Baxter
Widow of Wm
Let to J. Kimball 1 st July 1840
Page 30

[stamped]:
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
D
NOV
24
1919

Sioux Falls, SD

Nov 2(?) 1919

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs
Will you kindly send me a certified copy of Pension record W25.207 of William Baxter, soldier Revolutionary War.  Born 1755 Andover Conn.  [illegible] Deborah Buel 1781
Page 31

[Top line too faded to read]

Thanking you for same.

I am yours truly,

[Signature illegible]
Page 32

JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER,
PORTLAND MAINE

November 26, 1901.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir: - 

I find that William Baxter, a Revolutionary soldier, was a pensioner under certificate, number 5642.  Will you kindly give me the date of said certificate and the age of the applicant at the time?

Very truly yours,
[signed] J. P. Baxter

[stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
NOV 30 1901