Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,868, John Clefford, N.H.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N. H.
Clifford, John
or
Clifford, Sarah
NUMBER
W. 20,868
CONTENTS
Page 2

Vermont 9374
John Clifford ┃
of Derby in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Emerson of the Regt
commanded
by Col Mooney in the N. Hamphire
line for
1 year 23 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 42 Dollars 55 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13. day of May
1833 and sent to
T . Heisman, Derby, Vt.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $85. 10
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "
$21.28 ┃
106.38.

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.-
Recorded by 
F Anesis 
F. Francioni  Clerk,
Book E.
Vol. 3d Page 56.
⎬
Page 3

Vermont (Bur) 1930
Sarah Clifford
widow of John Clifford, decd
N. H.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June, 1832,
and who died on the 10th of Feb. 1837.
of Orleans Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Emerson of the Regt commanded
by C R. Mooney in the N. Hamp
line for 12 mo.s 23 days per
Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington
at the rate of 42 Dollars 55 Cents per annum
to commence on the 11th day of Feby 1837.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of February
1839, and sent to Hon. G. Prentiss Senate 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838   $66.18
Semi=annual allowance ending 4th '39.
21.27
---
$87.45
Act July 7,
1838.
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk
Book A
Vol. 2
Page 36.
Page 4

Declaration of
John Clifford
No 6752

on Roles
in 15th July 1779
 dis'd 8 Aug 1780
Page 5

State of Vermont  )
Orleans County    )  ss
On this 14 day of August 1832 personally
appeared before the Hon. Probate Court holden at Derby in the district of Orleans, John Clifford of Derby in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont aged 68 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 in the fore part of July 1779 for the term of three months and went to Rhode Island.  Capt. Daniel Emerson
of Hollis NH. commanded the Company and Peter Steams of Plymouth was Lieut.  Col. Mooney commanded the regiment.
He was a volunteer in the State troops, went to Providence staid [stayed] there about three weeks then went to Tivertown and there served
out the remainder of the term of enlistment and was dismissed.
About the first of July 1781 he enlisted for the term of three months and served under Capt. Smith and Lieut. Stearns he went
to Haverhill N.H. and remained there about three weeks then went to the town of Dartmouth now called Jefferson staid [stayed] there a short time then went to Northumberland and staid [stayed] there
scouting in the vicinity until about the middle of Oct. when they returned to Haverhill and staid [stayed] there until his term of service was completed when he was dismissed.  The last three months he served as a ranger on the frontier.  He was born in the town of Candia N.H. Sept. 19 1764, and lived in Rumney
N.H. when he entered the service, has no record of his age and never received a written discharge, and has no documentary evidence
of service.  He hereby relinquishes all claim for a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the
agency of any state.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Clifford
Page 6

I Jared Willey of Shipton in the district of Three
Rivers in the Province of Lower Canada do
certify that John Clifford the within named
applicant enlisted with myself into a company
maned by Capt. Smith Peter Stone, Lieut
about the last of June or first of July 1781 for the term of three months we marched immediately to Haverhill, N.H. and from there to Col. Whipple at Dartmouth in the upper [Illegible] where we continued a short time 
and spent most of our time in scouting
in that part of the country and were dismissed
after our time of enlistment had expired at Col
Johnsons in Haverhill.  I know that John Clifford the within applicant is the same person with whom I served.
 Sworn and subscribed to this 15th day
of August 1832.
Jared Willey

[Illegible] the said Court do hereby
declare their opinion, after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department, state 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 Jared Willey who has signed the above certificate is a resident in the town of Shipton
aforesaid and is a credible person.
John Clifford

I John H. Kimball Register of Said Court
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Clifford for pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office
this 12th day of August A.D. 1832
---
John H. Kimball Register

[SEAL]
Page 7

1930
Sarah Clifford
7 July '38
m 84 d 37
Admd
12. mo 25 as pri
-
$42.55
died 10 Feby 37
pen Com. 11. Feby 37
Hon S. Prentiss
Senate
Page 8

Declaration of Sarah Clifford in order
to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of
the 7th of July, 1838 entitled.  An act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows.

State of Vermont ⎬
Orleans County ⎬ ss
On this first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty eight personally appeared before this Probate Court within and for the District of Orleans, Sarah Clifford a resident in Holland in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont aged sixty nine years who being 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 7, 1838 entitled "An act
granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
That she is the widow of John Clifford late of said Holland, deceased, who was a private in the army of the Revolutionary War in the New Hampshire Line, she thinks he served two campaigns, once he went to Rhode Island
and once to [Illegible] loos in New Hampshire, she thinks he was under a Captain Stearns, but does not recollect for a certainty.
She further declares that she was married to the John Clifford
aforesaid on the seventh day of March A.D. 1784 in the town of Rumney and State of New Hampshire- that her husband the aforesaid John Clifford died on the tenth day of February A.D. 1837,  that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January A.D. 1794, viz.
at the time above stated.
She further declares that her husband the aforesaid John Clifford, was a pensioner on
the pension list under the act of June 7th 1832,  that his certificate under which he drew was dated the thirteenth day of May A.D. 1833, signed by Lewis Cass Secretary of
war and countersigned by J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions. and she further says that she has not been married  since 
the death of her husband, the said John Clifford, but is a widow and has remained so ever since.
Sarah Clifford [Signature]
Page 9

The foregoing declaration of Sarah Clifford was subscribed and sworn to before me this first day of September A.D. 1838.
Joseph Wiggins Judge of Probate
I. Clark Mason of Holland in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont, of lawful age depose and say that I have been acquainted with Sarah Clifford who signed the foregoing declaration, about seventeen years, that I was acquainted for many years with her husband
John Clifford, that he died on the tenth day of February A.D. 1837 - that since that time his wife, the aforesaid Sarah Clifford, has not been married but has remained and is now a widow, that I was well knowing to her husband,
the aforesaid John Clifford, drawing a pension for several years previous to his death.
Clark Nason
The foregoing affidavit of Clark Mason was subscribed and sworn to before me this first day of September A.D.
1838.
Joseph Wiggins Judge of Probate

I, Hannah Nason, of Holland, in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont, of lawful age depose and say that I have been acquainted with Sarah Clifford, who signed the foregoing declaration, for many years, that I was acquainted for many years with John Clifford
the husband of the said Sarah Clifford, that he died on the tenth day of February A.D. 1837,  that since that time the aforesaid Sarah Clifford, his wife, has not been married but is now a widow and has remained so since
the death of the said John Clifford - that I well know that her husband, the said John Clifford drew a pension, for several years prior to his death. 
Hannah Nason
This foregoing affidavit of Hannah Mason was subscribed and sworn to before me this
first day of September A.D. 1838.
Joseph Wigging  Judge of Probate
Page 10

State of Vermont )
Orleans District    ) ss
And the Probate Court aforesaid
do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting interrogatories.  That the said Sarah Clefford is the Widow of John Clefford and that the said
John Clefford did serve as she in her 
declaration hath stated And the Court further Certify that Clark Nason & Hannah Nason who have signed the within affidavits are credible witnesses and their statements entitled to full credit.
Joseph Higgins Judge of Proba [Probate]
I Geo Nye Register of the Probate Court for the
District aforesaid hereby certify that the within &
foregoing is the original proceedings had in said
Probate Court in the matter of the application of
Sarah Clifford for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed
my seal of office and subscribed my name
this 1 day of September 1838
Geo Nye Register
Page 11

Extract from the Town Records of Rumney, N.H.
This certifies that John Clifford Jr. and Sarah Rowe, were joined in Marriage By the Rev. Colton Haines, on the seventh day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.
A true copy of the record with the exception
of the date which is express on the record in
fair legible figures as follows March 7, 1784"
Attest Saml Burnham Jr Town Clerk

I Samuel Burnham Jr. above named depose &  say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in this town of Rumney, State of Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the records of 
said town with the exception above named as certified by me
Saml Burnham Jr Town Clerk
Grafton  ss  State of New Hampshire
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of September A.D. 1838.
Edward Webber
Justice of the Peace
Page 12

State of New Hampshire
Grafton  ss

I Nathan B Felton, Clerk of the
of Common Pleas for said County of
Grafton, hereby certify that Edward Webber
whose name is subscribed to a certificate
written written, was on the 18th day of September last past an acting Justice of the Peace for said County & that his name so subscribed is his genuine signature-
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed
the seal of said Court the 10th
day of October AD. 1838.
N. B. Felton Clerk

[SEAL]
Page 13

Affidavit of
Samuel Clifford
for John Clifford
Page 14

I Samuel Clifford of Barnston in the Province of Lower Canada aged 65 years depose and say that in the fore part of July 1779 my brother
John Clifford of Derby in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont enlisted into the service of the United States for the term of three months and passed muster at Plymouth N.H. and immediately marched to Rhode Island and was gone from home three months and on his return he said that he had continued in the service until he came home.
He enlisted in the town of Rumney in the State of Newhampshire [New Hampshire] in the year 1781 in the fore part of July when people had just commenced paying my father and my elder brother Nathaniel were drafted from
Capt. Clark's company in the town of Rumney N.H. to serve three months between them, and my brother John went and did the service in their stead as a ranger on the frontier and I am positive that he was gone the full term of three months.  I recollect that my brother John was called upon at another time to go to Haverhill
N. H. and that he went and staid some time but cannot tell how long the Indians came upon the frontier and the call was for
men to repel them and as soon as the alarm was past he returned
Samuel Clefford

State of Vermont )
Orleans County    ) ss 
Derby August 17 1832  Then  Samuel Clifford
personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed was just and true, before me
Tim,o  Hinman    Justice o the Peace

And I hereby certify that it appeared to my full satisfaction that Samuel Clifford who made the foregoing affidavit is in all respects a credible witness and by reason of the sickness of his family could not attend in Court
Tim Hinman Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont)
Orleans County   )  ss
I Ira H Allen Clerk of Orleans
County Court do hereby certify
that Tim o Hinman before whom
the above affidavit was sworn
was on the day of the date of
his certificate a Justice of the
Page 15

Peace within and for the County of Orleans and
his name thereto affixed I believe to be his proper signature.  In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court this 23 day of August 1832-
Ira H. Allen Clerk
Page 16

1752
John Clifford
Admitted
Private N. Hampshire
Militia
12 mo & 20 days
Timothy Hinman
Derby
Vermont


4250
8510
Page 17

BRIEF in the case of John Clifford of Derby
of Orleans Cty in the State of Vermont
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? 
Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
[Blank]
3. How old is he? 
18
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
Duration of Service
Years, Months, Days.
Rank.
Names of General and Field officers under whom he served.
Enlisted [Illegible] July In 1779 
__years, 3 Months, ___Days.
as a Private
Col Mooney                )
Capt. Daniel Emerson  )  N. Hampshire troops    
Capt. Smith  Cap. Rumgus
Enlisted 1. July 1781
___years, 3 Months, , ___Days.
 as a Private
Capt. Smith  {illegible] Rangers

5. In what battles was he engaged?
not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Rumney New Hampshire
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
By living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
not attached
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
Chas G Wilcox Examining Clerk
24 Jany 1833
Page 18

orleans
John Clifford   VT
21. Feby 35

Act 7 June when certified
GM.
Burlington E.T. Englesby
Died 10th Feb 1837 p% that period
P.H.
Page 19

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20,868
Sarah Clifford
Widow of
John Clifford
Priv. Rev. War
---
Act July 1838
Index: Vol. A,  Page 138
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Clifford which require further proof or explanation.
which require
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 
Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
[Blank]
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? 
Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Yes
Page 21

2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain it?
No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
[Blank]
XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
5th
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:
For ___
year ___    ___months and ___ days, I served as a ___.  For___ months and ___ days, I served as a
___ ___; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 22

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
*QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Page 23

J. L. Edwards Com. Pensions
Page 24

Derby Vt 22d Oct. 1808
Dear Sir
Should a certificate be granted on the
enclosed application please address the undersigned Attornies [Attorneys] for the Applicant.  We suppose the service of the Deceas'd pensioner will be proved
by documents in the possession of your Department.
Very Respectfully
Yours & ec
Colby & Prentiss
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 25

James L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Hon S. Prentiss
Senate US
Page 26

The declaration of Sarah Clifford
with evidence in support of it, was sent
to the Pension Office last October.  I shall
be much obliged if Mr. Edwards will
examine the case, and let me know his
opinion upon it, soon
James Prentiss
Monday,
Feb. 18th