Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14448, William Castor, New York
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Service: New York
Castor, or Caster, William
                   Mary
number : W14448
Contents
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2344
Vermont
William Castor
of Highgate in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain ..........  of the regiment commanded by Col. Willett in the New York line for 7 months and 26 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 66 Dollars 17 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of
November 1832 and sent to Pensioner
Highgate, Vermont
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1832     99.25
Semi+anl allowance ending 4 M'ch  33.08
                                             1832   ---------
                                                          $132...
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by [jmsuffille] Clerk
Book D  Vol. 4  Page 98
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William Caster
Dec[ln]
[ No. ? 1967]
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Declaration
Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, Passed June 7th. A.D. 1832

State of Vermont } 
District of Georgia  
Franklin County Probate Court, 
August 11th A.D. 1832
Personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for thre County of Franklin, and a Court of Record for said County and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute Law of said State, entitled "An act constituting probate Courts Courts of Record, " --- passed November 15th A.D. 1821, {see 1st section of said act,}
William Caster  aged 70 years, resident in Highgate in said County, 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 7th, 1832.
In the month of May  (the year he does not recollect) he enlisted for three years at Albany under Capt Jonathan Percey  [Luints] [Chafer T.] Richardson  Col. Merimus Willett Regiment -Pliny Moor Adjutant - marched to Schenectady - there a few days and then marched to Fort Plain - there stationed about two months as near as he can recollect - from there to Currierstown with a [Lieuts] guard to a Piquct Fort - there stationed about three months, then to Fort Herkimer there seven or eight weeks then with a Lieuts guard to Fort Daton - there some time, does not recollect how long - and from there back to Fort Plain - In the month of Febuary (he thinks) the Regiment to which he belong and a Regiment from Rhode Island marched to Fort Otsego for the purpose of taking said Fort - but were discovered and their designs frustrated - then marched back to Fort Plain after a campaign of fifteen days suffering much from the severity of the weather and being short of provisions - stationed at Fort Plain until spring and then the Regiment to which he belonged moved to 
Fort Stanwick on the Mohawk River - there stationed he thinks untill november or December and their return back to Fort Plain, there remained until January or February - from there to Schenectady there discharged from service by Pliney Moor as his Adjutant (he thinks in the year  1784 which he has lost - thinks he served two years and nine months, but of this is not certain but believes that the certificate of  [ ?] Pliney Moor will show the time of his enlistment and discharge. I(n the year 1818 or 19 the said Castor applied to the late General Plyney Moor of Champlain, State of New York for his affidavit and information relative to the applicants service in the Army of
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[ first half identical to end of page 4]
the revolution  - said Moor being Adjutant of Col. Willets Regiment to which said Caster belonged. Gen. Moor furnished said Caster with the miutes of his service from his Adjutants Book and made an affidavit in due form of the law before Justice Hix - said Castor then applied to the late Hon William Brayton then one of the Judges of the Supreme Court for the State of Vermont  and before him the said Brayton the applicant made his declaration for a pension under the Act of March 18th 1818 which together with the evidence aforesaid was sent to the Hon. Secretary of War which was examined and allowed and a Pension  certificate granted and forwarded to the applicant upon which he drew two demi annual payments, one from the Hon. David Robinson at Bennington then Marshal - and one from the Hon. Herman Roll on account of his service being State service instead of Continental as he was afterwards informed by advice from the Hon. Ezra Meach who applied to Mr. Edwards for information 
Recently the Applicants Pension certificate accompanied by Col. Edwards Letter was forwarded to the Hon. Herman Allen for the purpose of having said Caster reinstated upon the Pension  Roll Under the Act of June 7th 1832 which was presented to Col. Edwards by Mr. Allen for examination and allowance - which certificate and Letter is presumed now to be on File in the Secretary's Office.
The applicant further states that Col. Willet, General Moore and the Hon. William Brayton are all deceased and he knows of no person
[several words blanked out] relative to his
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[Repeat of page 5 until bottom ]
he knows of no person where evidence he can procure relative to his service.

He has no documentary evidence whatever.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, 
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  William X Caster
                         his mark
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
        William Bridges Judge
I, John Gates, jr. Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of William Caster for a pention. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this [4th or 11th] of August
         John Gates Jr. Register
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No 1967
Wm  Caster
Vermont
admitted
Private 1 yr 7 mo. .....26

to Claim't
   High Gate
   Franklin Co. Vt.
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Brief in the case of Wm. Caster of Highgate
County of Franklin in the State of Vermont
   (Act 7 June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a judge?      Court
2. If before a Judge does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?  70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

Period   May in 17__ Year not known
     thinks he was discharged in 1784.
Duration of Service. 
  2 years 9 months  ( served from 12 May 1782 to 6 January 1784)
Rank Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
  Col. Wills H Regiment
see old papers and testimony of Pliny Moor
5. In what battles was he engaged? 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Albany
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof , by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  
Says that he applied and was [? ] on the Pension roll under the Act of March 1818 and drew two semi annual Pensions and refers to Mr. Edwards letter to the Hon. E. Meach.  He was droped from the Rolls at that time because he was in State Service.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
   Correct
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
   Jas Wilson  Examining Clerk
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4277
 Vermont  Burlington
     Mary Caster
widow of William Castor NY
who served in the Revolutionary War
as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
66 Dollers 17 cents per annum to commence on the 3rd February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 24th day of June
 1854, and sent to William Bridges
St. Albans Vt.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act 
February 3, 1853, Page 27 Vol. A
(32)
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State of Vermont
Franklin County [?]
On this 19th day of April AD 1854, Personally appeared before the [subscribing?] authority
Mary Caster, a resident of Swanton County of Franklin and state of Vermont, aged seventy three years, who , being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
the provisions made by the act of Congress, past February 3rd 1853; that she is the widow of William Caster, who was a private in the army of the revolution, and a pensioner of the United State, uder the act of 1832. amount of his pension was $66.17 per annum, was a resident of Swanton [?] and he drew his pension at Burlington Vermont.
She further declares that she was married to the  [?]  William Caster on the ninth day of September eighteen hundred and twenty Seven, that her husband, the afs'd Wm Caster died on or about the twenty six day of Novr
eighteen hundred and thirty nine; that she was married to him at the time above stated.  She further swears that she was a widow at the passage of the act, and is still a widow, and that she has never before made application for a pension. 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me  Mary X Caster
                                            her mark
Willaim Bridges Judge of Probate
Attest
Henry S. Bailey
Charles Church
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I further certify that I have no interest in the result of this case whatever, and I have good reason to believe that no person has any interest in the [illegible] but the applicant herself. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Probate court for the District of Georgia at St. Albans, this 19th day of April AD. 1854.

William Bridges, Judge
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State of Vermont
Franklin County

Be it remembered that at Swanton in said County this ninth day of September A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven William Carter and Polly or Mary Sumaricks, both of said Swanton were duly joined in marriage by me
Shadrach Hathaway, Just. Peace

Rec for Record Town Clerks Office Swanton
May 1st 1854 and recorded by me
W.S. Thayer, Town Clerk

Town Clerks Office Swanton May 1, 1854
I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of record
attest W.S. Thayer, Town Clerk

State of Vermont,
Franklin County

Personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Franklin aforesaid this second day of May AD 1854 Wheelock S. Thayer the signed of the [illegible] certificate and who is Town Clerk for the said town of Swanton and made [illegible] oath to the truth of said certificate.

By me Shadrach Hathaway, Just. Peace
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I, Andrew M. Thayer of Swanton in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont of [illegible] age make affidavit and [illegible] that I was well acquainted with William Castor formerly of Swanton aforesaid a United States Pensioner and Polly or Mary his wife and that the said Polly or Mary is now the widow of the said William Castor. 

A.M. Thayer

State of Vermont
Franklin County

Personally appeared before me one of the justices of the peace in and for the County of Franklin aforesaid this first day of May AD 1854 Andrew M. Thayer a respectable and creditable witness and made solemn oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed. 

Benjamin Shadrach Hathaway, Just Peace
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State of Vermont
Franklin County

I, Joseph H Brainerd, Clerk of Franklin County court, do hereby certify that Shadrach Hathaway who has affixed his name to the annexed certificate is a magistrate only authorized by Law to act as such; qualified to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments, and I believe the signatures purporting to be his are genuine. 

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 4th day of May A. 1854
Joseph H. Brainerd, Clerk
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I Brandford Scott of Swanton in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont is lawfull age make affidavit and say that I was well acquainted with William Castor formerly of Swanton aforesaid a Pensioner of the [illegible] and the United States now deceased and Polly or Mary his wife, and that the said Polly or Mary is now the widow of the said William Castor.

Bradford Scott

State of Vermont
Franklin County

Personally appeared this [illegible] day of May AD 1854 before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Franklin aforesaid Bradford Scott a respectable and creditable [illegible] [illegible] and made solemn oath to the above aforesaid by him undersigned. 
Benjamin Shadrack Hathaway, Just. Peace
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[illegible] WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14448
Mary Castor
Wid of 
William Castor
Priv. Rev. War

Act: February 3d, 1853
 Index:-- Vol. A, Page 118

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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No. 4605
Mary Castor
Wid of 
William

[Illegible] for May 10, 1854

Act/53
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2107
Vermont
William Castor, Private
New York Line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 27 of March 1818. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 of Aug 1818 and sent to Pensioner
Swanton Vermont

Arrearages to 4th Sept 1818
5 mos 5/81 & 4/30th
$42.35

Revolutionary Claims
Act 18th March, 1818

One Year
[illegible] continental

Swanton, Franklin

[illegible] under act  June 1832
for affidavit of service
8th Nov 1832
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Payable semi-annually. The first payment on this Certificate will be made on the 4th of September next, in Burlington by the Agent for paying U. States Pensioners in the State of Vermont.

Recorded
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War Department

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM

I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March 1818
William Castor late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Vermont agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the twenty seventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixth day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

J. C. Calbone
Secretary of War
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Pensioner Office
21 Mar 1854
Sir 
Please certify the time to which the within named pensioner was paid On the date of his death.

Very Respectfully,
L Waldo
Commissioner

6617  30 Nov 09

Francis Burt [illegible]
[illegible]

William Castor, act 1832 $66.17
Said 30 Nov 1839
Paid
F. Burt
Auditor
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State of Vermont
Franklin County

On the 27th day of March 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont personally appeared William Castor resident in the town of Swandon in the County of Franklin and state of Vermont aged sixty years and [illegible] and being by me first duly sworn [illegible] to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the pension made by the late Act of Congress [illegible] and provide for [illegible] persons aged and the [illegible] served of the United States in the revolutionary war, that on the 12th day of May 1782 he enlisted in the company commanded by Cap. Jonathan Pearson in the Regiment of Col. Marinus Willet in the New York Line on the continental [illegible] that he continued to serve [illegible] also until he 6th day of January 1784 when he was formally discharged from the service of the United States that he was in general action and that he in reduced circumstances and [illegible] in need of the [illegible] of this county for support, and that he has no other evidence [illegible] in his possession of his said service than the testimony [illegible] transmitted. Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
William Brayton, Judge Sup
Court Vermont

I William Brayton, Judge Supreme Court of the State of Vermont as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said William Castor and serve for the time of nine months and upwards [illegible] [illegible] of seven in the Army of the United States on the continental establishment
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in the revolutionary war against the common enemy as stated in the preceding declaration, that the said William Carter is in reduced circumstances and absolutely Stands in need of the assistance of his country for Support and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had in the case before me to the Secretary for the Department of War in pursuance of the directives of the aforementioned Act of Congress St Albans July 20- 1818-

William Brayton Judge Sup Court Clerment 

State of Vermont    }
Franklin County      } ss

Franklin County Supreme Court Clerks
Office July 20th 1818 I Horace James Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont in and for the County of Franklin do hereby Certify that William Brayton Esq. is one of the Judges of said
Court duly qualified to act as Such and that the foregoing Certificate is signed by him in his own proper hand

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Signed my name and affixed the Public seal of said Court
Horace James Clerk
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State of New York  }
County of Clinton  ⎬

Pliny Moore of Champlain County of Clinton & State of New York Being duly Sworn Deposeth & Saith that he served in the revolutionary war as Lieutenant & Adjutant in the Regiment of New York State Troops Commanded by Col. Marinus Willett which were clothed subsisted & paid by the goverment of the United States - That as adjutant he kept the Regimental Books Registering a description of all officers & privates belonging to the said Regiment & all casualties that happened in the Same.  That the Said book is yet in his possession in an entire state -- That being applied to by William Caster, who served as a private in the Said Regiment in Capt Jonathan Pearses Company - he this deponent has examined the said Register finds that the above named William Caster Inlisted on the 12th May 1782 & was discharged 6th January 1784 having Served his country for anything that appears by the said Register or is in his recollection Faithfully over one year Seven months against the common Enemy - That as adjutant, he did make sign & Register his discharge & it does not appear from the register of casualties that the [illegible] was ever confined or furloughed during the term of Service aforesaid -- That he does not remember to have seen the said William Caster Since the date of his discharge yet he recollects his person & has no doubt of his identity

Pliny Moore

Sworn before me at Champlain
this 3rd day of July 1818-
Samuel Hicks [Illegible]
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St. [illegible] Vt. June 11th 1854

Hon. L.P. Waldo
I herewith transmit the affidavit of Rodman S. Hazard in support of the claim of Ms. Polly Castor. Mrs. Caster is very poor and is unable to support herself and is assisted by her friends, and now lives in the family of Hazard. She is not a relative of Hazard, nor any of his family,  and he has no interest whatever in the pension, should she obtain one. Ms. Caster is a super [illegible] old lady. I have interrogated Mrs. Caster respecting the time of the death of her husband William Caster, and all she can recollect about it is that it was (as she believed) the last of Nov Fourteen and Fifteen years since, has no record of her death.
I have some knowledge of the death of Caster, which I will now state. After he obtain his pension he sometimes applied to me to make out his vouchers and [illegible] for his money and after his death Mrs Caster (his widow) applied to me to make out her voucher and draw the balance of her husband pension and I find that on the 11th of April 1840 I sent with others her voucher to the Hon. Augustine Clark, agent for paying pensions at Montpelier and the [illegible] charged for my book to Mr Clark to be $15.76, which was paid to Mrs. Caster, and have no recollection of the time of his death, excepting the entry upon my Book.

Very respectfully,
Your Hon Servt
Wm Bridges
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War Department
Pension Office
23rd Jan. 1827

Sir,
I herewith return the cancelled pension certificate which you forwarded in the case of William Castor, and have to state that he was dropt from the Pension List because it was ascertained that Colonel Marinus Willett under whom he served was not a continental officer.

I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
yr. obt. sert
J.L. Edwards


Hon. E. Meech
House of Representatives
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Washington  January 25th 1827

Sir,
I [illegible] to you the reason why William Castor can not be placed on the pension roll again. There is a bill before the [illegible] if it passes will  imbrace Col. Willett regiment and all those troops which were raised by States and paid by the government which are not now [illegible] of the continental establishment. 

Yours Truly
Ezra Meech

Shadrach Hathaway
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I Shadrach Hathaway of Swanton, county of Franklin and State of Vermont do testify and say that I am well acquainted with William Caster formerly of Swanton now of Highgate in said county , for more than twenty years. I was knowing that said William Caster heretofore obtained a pension certificate under the writ of 1818 duly signed by J. C. Calhoon then Secretary of War. Shortly after this Mr. Wm Caster informed me that he was stricken from the pension list and requested me to assist him to be replaced. 

I took his pension certificate and enclosed it to Mr. Ezra Meech then a member in Congress from this state, requesting him to apply to the war office for that purpose. 

Mr. Meech returned to me the certificate with a letter from a Mr. Edwards, a principal in the war office, that Mr. Caster was stricken from the pension list because he belonged to the State Troops and no the United States Troops. Mr. Caster's certificate and the letter from Mr. Edwards remained in my hands until after the pension law of June 1832, when Mr. Caster requested me to hand them to Mr. Allen then just elected a member to congress to take to Washington that he might be placed on the pension list which I did. 

Mr. Allen since informed me that he handed the papers to Mr. Edwards, but when he left Washington they were not at the upon I understood and believe that Mr. Caster obtained his former pension certificate from the certificate and affidavit of the late Gen Moor of Champlain, State of New York now deceased
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who was during the Revolutionary war the adjutant of Col. Marinus Willet Regt. William Caster is an aged man and I know him to be perfectly honest and I know him to be the same identicle man that obtained the pension certificate herein before mentioned. 
Shadrach Hathaway

State of Vermont
Franklin County

St. Albans August 11th AD 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Shadrach Hathaway personally known to the court to be a credible witness who did make oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed as these in contained are true according to his best knowledge, information and belief. 
William Bridges, Judge

State of Vermont
Georgia [illegible]
I John Gates a register or clerk of the court of Probate in and for the district of hereby certify that William Bridges before whom the above and foregoing affidavit was taken is judge of the court aforesaid and duly authorised by the laws of the state of Vermont to administer oaths and the signature signed to the above certified is his genuine signature. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 14th day of August AD 1832
John Gates, Register
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Wm. Castor
claim or petition
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William Castor enlisted into Capt. Jonathan Pinys or Perceys Company. Col. Marinus Willets Regiment of the State of New York. The late Plinny Moor of Champlain was the adjutant. The Adjutants certificate or deposition supposed to be now in the War Office will probably share the time Castor was in service. 
Castor enlisted for three years but was discharged in consequence of [illegible]. He thinks he was in service in about two years nine months. Was now about a day in the [illegible] furlough or [illegible]. Was never [illegible] or [illegible] [illegible] by an officer. He was struck from the pension list because he [illegible] to the State Troops
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Brief in the case of Mary Caster, wid of William
Franklin County and State of Vermont
act 3rd February 1853

Claim ("original")

Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance. 
She [illegible] pension under the act of 7th June 1837

Record evidence of marrigage

(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what? 

William Bridges, [illegible]
St. Albans, VT
Name and Residence of Agent

J. C. Boynton
Examining Clerk
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I, Rodman S. Hazard of Sheldon in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont, of lawful age, do depose, testify, and say that I am personally acquainted with Mary Caster, widow of William Caster, a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States; that the said Wm. Caster was in his lifetime a resident of Swanton in the County and State aforesaid; the said William & Mary lived together as husband and wife and I have no doubt but that they were lawfully married. The said Mary now resides in my family. 
R. S. Hazard

Sworn to and subscribed this 25th day of May AD 1854

Before more Wm. Bridges, Judge

And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the deponent who has subscribed and made oath to the above and he is a man of truth. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at St. Albans in the District of Georgia the day and year above written.
Wm. Bridges, Judge of Probate