Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19086, for John Shearman, Rhode Island
Page 1

Service                                                 Number
Rd.                 Shearman, John              S19086
Vt   

                                                                 Carded
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[Left side]

Vermont 28975
John Shearman of Pownal in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Harrington of the Reg. commanded by Col ____________ in the Rhode Island & Vermont.
line for Militia, 9 months & 13 days
Bennington County

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 31. Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 5th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of Aug 1835 and sent. S Danforth
Bennington Vt

Arrears to the 4th March 1834       93.99
Semi-ann. allowance 4 Sept "         15.66
                                                       -------
                                                     $109.65
[Below enclosed in braces]
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.
[Above enclosed in braces]
Recorded by Henry H Sylvester Clerk, 
Book E  Vol. 3 Page 93

[Right side]
Order to pay [illegible]
Letter to Pen Agent declining at present to freeze Apl 14, 37.
Letter to Pen Agent 37, Sept 1837.
Order to pay 26 March 1838

Death not in A. 13 [written vertically on left side of right half]
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Declaration
Bem
State of Vermont
County of Bennington 
[above in right brace]
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

On this 28th day of July AD 1834 personally appearing before me Silvanus [Sylvanus} Danforth Judge of Probate for the District of Bennington John Shearman a resident of Pownal in the county of Bennington & State Vermont aged 78 years who having first duly Sworn according to law doth on his oath mak the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832  The said John Shearman being sick with a disease called the dropsy in the testacles [testicles] rendered incapable of traveling and appearing at this session of said court therefore the following declaration was made at the dwelling house of the said Shearman in Pownal.   who says he entered the service  of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
1st That at Situate [Scituate] in the State of R. I. in the month of June or July 1776 he was drafted and a private in to a Company  of Militia commanded by Captain Simeon Harrington Col Cornell or Comwall's Regt for the time of one month & marched immediately to Providence R. I. a distance of 20 miles where he served on guard and other duties until his term of service expired and he was dismissed & returned home
2nd That at Situate [Scituate] R. I. in the month of October same year he was again drafted and a private in to the same company and same Regt for the term of one month & marched immediately to Warrick R. I. where he guarded
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The shores (The British Fleet lying in the Bay at the Same time) until his term of service expired and he was dismissed
3.  That at Situate [Scituate] R. I. in the month of September or October 1777 on an alarm he volunteered as a private in to Capt Simeon Harrington Company of Militia Col Cornell or Cornwall's Regt and marched immediately to East Greenwich R. I. and [staid] stayed there not less than six days was then dismissed & returned home.
4th That at Situate [Scituate} R. I. The last of July or the first day in August 1778 this declarant together with one half of the said Capt Harringtons Company was ordered to meet at Angell's Tavern in Situate [Scituate] & in obedience to said orders he mas assembled and was ordered to March to Providence R. I.  That this declarant marched immediately to Providence R. I. under said order staid [stayed]then one might therein marched to Rohobath [Rehobath] crossing Taunton River then marched to the Town of Warren & staid [stayed] all night marched to Fall river and crossed Slades Ferry into Trenton or onto the Trenton Side Then Marched to Howland's Ferry and crossed that Ferry onto the Island where General West had the command of  about 1800 men without tents or cooking utensils  We were paraded at the north end of the  Island where he continued several days That we was detached to go on Picket guard on the far shore that he continues on guard 25 hours during which time it rained with our interruption to which he was constantly exposed having no shelter  That he was taken sick with camp distemper 2 days after and continued sick constantly under the care of a physician for more than 4 months
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unable to perform a single days duty  That even after he was taken sick he was transported to Bristol Hospital that for a long time after being confined he was allowed on his diet but half a pint of milk porage [porridge] for Breakfast and half a pint of fresh meat broth for dinner & half a pint of milk Porage [porridge] for supper until he was reduced to a mere Skeleton  That the last of December or the first of January following he was dismissed after serving not less than 4 months and 20 days in this last tour including sickness
That in March 1779 his Father moved from Stituate [Scituate] R. I. to Pownal Vermont with his family this declamant being one of the  number and be further says
5th That in the Fall of the year 1780 or 1781 at Pownal in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont in the month of October according to the best of his recollection on an alarm he volunteered as a private  into a company of Militia Commanded by Capt Joseph Briggs Col Herrick's Regt and marched immediately to Castleton Vermont where continued on guard duty and other duty such as Patroling or Scouting until December when he was dismissed having served not less than 6 weeks.  Ethan Allen had the command after arriving at Castleton he was called genl Allen at that time.
6th That at Pownal aforesaid in the autumn of 1782 on an Alarm he volunteered as a private  in the said Capt Biggs [Briggs] company of Militia Col Herrick's Regt and marched to Castleton Vermont where he continued on guard and other duties for a term not less than 5 weeks when he
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was dismissed and returned to Pownal his place of residence  That he has no documentary evidence & that he hereby relinquishes every claim to any pension or annuity except the present one that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State
In answer to the interroggatories [interrogatories]  propounded by the court the applicant declares
1 That he was born in North Kingstown R. I.  April 11th 1756
2 That he has no record of his age except it is on Record in the Town where he was born
3 That he lived in Stiuate [Scituate] R. I. when he was first called into service  That he removed from there in March 1779 to Pownal Vermont where he has resided ever since
4 That he was drafted and volunteered allways [always] as a private as stated in his foregoing Declaration
5 That among the regular officers who were with the Troop when he served he recollects Genl Sullivan & Genl Spencer at Rhode Island a Luit [Lieut] Potter and Capt John Carr
6 That he never received a written discharge
7 That he is known to the Rev Edward Green residing in Pownal & Benjamin Gardner Esq residing in Pownal who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a Soldier of the Revolution
John Shearman

Sworn and Subscribed this day & year aforesaid

We Edward Green residing in the town of Pownal and Benjamin Gardner Esq residing in Pownal hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Shearman who had subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration that
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we believe him to be 78 years old that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Edward Green
Benj Gardner
Sworn & subscribed this day and year aforesaid
And the said court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented 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 Edward Green who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Pownal & that Benjamin Gardner Esq who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Pownal and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
S. Danforth Judge

I William Haswell Register of the Court of Probate for the district of Bennington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of that P. Court in the matter of the application of John Shearman for a pension  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 6th day of August, A.D. 1834.
Wm Haswell.
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September 27, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-JMCS
John Shearman, A, 19086

Ella F. J. Tafe
437 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for an abstract of the papers on file in the pension claim of John Sherman of Rhode Island and Bennington County, Vermont, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 19086, based upon the military service of John
Shearman; the name does not appear as Sherman.
John Shearman was born April 11, 1756, at North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The names of his parents were not given.  While a resident of Scituate, Rhode Island, he enlisted in June
or July, 1776, and served one month as private in Captain Simeon Harrington 's company in Colonel Cornell's Rhode Island regiment. He enlisted in October, 1776, and served one month in Captain Simeon Harrington's company in Colonel Cornell's regiment. He enlisted in September or October, 1777, and served six days in Captain Simeon Harrington's
company in Colonel Cornell's regiment. He enlisted the last of July or first of August, 1778, and served until the last of December, 1778, or
first of January, 1779, in Captain Simeon Harrington's company in Colonel Cornell's regiment. He moved with his father to Pownal, Vermont, in March, 1779, and enlisted in the fall of 1780 or 1781, and served six weeks in Captain Joseph Briggs' company in Colonel Herrick's Vermont regiment. He enlisted in the fall of 1782 and served five weeks in Captain
Joseph Briggs company in Colonel Herrick's Vermont regiment.
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John Shearman
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 28, 1834, while a resident of Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont.
In 1834 one William B. Shearman was living in Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and stated that he was in the seventy-sixth
year of his age, his relation to the soldier not given.
The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family,
Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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[Left side]
P 19086

File No.  19086
John Shearman

Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32

Index: -Vol 1,  Page  341

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[Right side]

Dec-4-1902
Wm B Browne
N. Adams Mass

1924  Feb 18, Hesr. 8
Mason J. Niblack
1935. Sept. 27. hist to Ella F. J.  Tafe N.C.S.
Page 11

John Shearman Vermont $31.33  7. June1832

To what time last paid

Pension Office
                        [section sign]  paid to 4 Sep 1835
27th Sept 1837.                                            J/4
Page 12

STATE OF VERMONT, BE IT KNOWN, That before  
me, Heman Scranton BENNINGTON COUNTY,  SS. a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared John Shearman and made oath, in due form of law, that he is the identical person named in an original certificate in his possession, of which (I certify,) the following is a true copy: WAR DEPARTMENT-REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.- I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832. John Shearman of the state of Vermont, who was a Private in the War of the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty-one dollars and thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831 and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and the 4th of September, in every year.  
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 16th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty four 
Examined and Countersigned, J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions John Forsyth Acting Secretary of War
that he now resides in Pownal Vermont and has resided there for the space of 58 years past: and that previous to thereto he resided in  Rhode Island
Sworn and subscribed this 5th day of Sept. 1837 before me John Shearman
Heman Scranton Justice Peace

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I John Shearman of Pownal, Vermont a Revolutionary Pensioner of the Unites States, do hereby constitute and appoint Wm Haswell my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the Agent of the United States for paying pensions in the State of Vermont, my pension from the 4th day of Sept. 1835 to 4th day of Sept. 1837  Witness my hand and seal this 5th day of Sept. 1837
Sealed and delivered in presence
Wm Angel   John Shearman
Heman Scranton

STATE OF VERMONT, BE IT KNOWN, That on the 5th day of Sept 1837 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace BENNINGTON COUNTY, SS. in and for said County, personally appeared John Shearman above named, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his set and deed.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, the day and year above mentioned
Heman Scranton Justice Peace.

STATE OF VERMONT, BE IT KNOWN, That on the 6th day of Sept 1837 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said Bennington County, ss County personally appeared Wm Haswell the attorney named in the foregoing power of attorney, and made oath that the same was not given him by reason of any sale, transfer or mortgage of the pensioner arrears of pension therein authorized to be received by him Sworn and subscribed, the day and year last above mentioned, before me John S Robinson Justice Peace.
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Bank of Burlington
 March 13 1838
J L Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions

Sir

Evidence I forward the vouchers  of John Herrick and John Shearman for your authority to pay
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
E T  Englesby Esq
R B Cole
Page 14

Bank of Burlington
Sept 23, 1837

J L Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions

Sir

F Cerrwik I forward the voucher of John Shearman for your inspection, also the voucher of Joseph Sherman, the claimant under this voucher ever [ ] of obtaining the arreas  [arrears] of Pension but I did not for that it would be proper to pay without submitting in my first place, my pay a group  An application has been made by Susannah [illegible] for her [illegible] certificate [illegible] that an increase has been made to her pension.
No order has been received at this office directing the increase
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
E T Englesby P {illegible]
R B Cole
Page 15

From S. Danforth

J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions
War Department 
Washington 
City

Pownal 7th
August 9th

free

[The following is upside down]
AdmLar aprival
9 mo 13 days
31.33
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State of Vermont Bennington County Pownal 9th August 1836
J. L. Edwards Court of Pensions Sir Enclosed are the Pension papers of John Shearman  Since the passing the act of congress June 7th 1832  I have been requested by John Shearman several  times to attend at his dwelling in Pownal to take his declaration  I deferred it under the expectation that his dificulty [difficulty] would be  removed and his health become such that he might attend a session of the court but I am persuaded that he has not been able so to do- in case the claim is allowed please forward the certificate to me at this place
I am Sir yours very 
Respectfully
S Danforth
Page 17

Hon H. Hall H R
Page 18

I Solomon Wright of Pownal in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont aged now in my 71st year depose and say that I am well acquainted with John Shearman of Pownal aforesaid and have lived in the same town with him  for more than 50 years   That during the War of the Revolution I recollect the said John Shearman was a Soldier in Capt Briggs Company of Militia  That he went to Castleton Vermont as volunteer and continued at Castleton for several weeks can not say how long nor do I recollect the year   I know it was in the season of autumn  And I further say that he then said Shearman was a Soldier in the Revolution but I have heard and understand by the report of others before he came to Pownal but can not state from my own knowledge - of his service only the time above mentioned and further say not
Solomon Wright

The above Deposition Sworn to before me at Pownal in the County of Bennington & State of Vt this 28th day of July 1834
S. Danforth Judge of Probate

I certify that Solomon Wright the subscriber to the above deposition to me well known is a credible witness & think that his statement is entitled to full and entire credit
S. Danforth Judge of Probate
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State of Vermont
                                      [braces section sign]
Bennington County, Js

I Henry Robinson, Clerk of the Court of Bennington County certify that Silvanus Danforth is a Magistrate as within, and that the within signature purporting to be his is genuine,  In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this 8th day of August, A.D. 1834.
Henry Robinson

[The following is written upside down at the bottom of the page]

     36
     29
     37   
     37
     33
__________
    1720
      172
__________
     1892
           7-
__________
    132.44
Page 20

Heman Scranton Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont
                                   [section sign]   
Bennington County js.
I Henry Robinson Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Heman Scranton is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission was dated on the first day of December 1836, and will expire on the 30th day of November A.D. 1837, and that his signature above written is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of ssid County this 11th day of September A.D. 1837.
Henry Robinson

I, John Shearman of Pownal in the County of Bennington, and State of Vermont, a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States testify and say, that I have not drawn any part of my pension since the 4th day of Sept. A.D. 1835;- I neglected drawing it, on account of its being small and supposing that I could obtain it at anytime, did not apply until March last.
John Shearman

Sworn to and subscribed 
this 5th day of September
A.D. 1837, before
Heman Scranton Justice of the Peace.

"Figure "5" in date of oath written on an erasure before signing
Heman Scranton  Justice Peace
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I, Benjamin Gardner of Pownal in the county of Bennington & State of Vermont aged 70 years depose & say that I have been well acquainted with John Shearman of Pownal in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont for more than 50 years
That in some of the last year of the Revolution I volunteered as a private in a company of Militia commanded at Pownal by Capt Briggs and went to Castleton Vermont in said company and I well remember that John Shearman of Pownal volunteered as a private in the same company and I think in Col Herrick's Regt and at the Same time I did  and went to Castleton and we Staid [stayed] several weeks, the precise time I do not recollect it was in the fall of the year and I further say that said Shearman has always, been reputed as a Soldier of the Revolution
Benj Gardner

State of Vermont
                        [section sign]
Bennington County
Pownal 29th July 1834 then Benjamin Gardner Subscriber to the above deposition personally appeared and was duly Sworn to the truth of the above Deposition before me
S. Danforth Judge of Probate

I certify that Benjamin Gardner Esq Subscriber of the above Declaration is a credible witness and that his statement as above is entitled to full and entire credit & that I have been acquainted with him for more than 40 years
S. Danforth Justice of Peace
Judge of Probate
Page 22

State of Vermont
                        [section sign]
Bennington County, Js
I, Henry Robinson, Clerk of the Court of Bennington county, certify that Silvanus Danforth is a Magistrate as within, & that the within signature purporting to be his is genuine. -In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this 8th day of August, A.D. 1834.
Henry Robinson
[seal affixed on left]
Page 23

I William B. Shearman of Williamstown in the County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts aged in my 76 years depose and say that in the year 177 in the month of August I saw and know that John Shearman now of Pownal Vermont was a soldier at Newport R.I. & in Capt Simeon Herringtons Company of Militia as I was informed and supposed at that time for I well knew that that I said John Shearman belonged to said Herringtons company when at home in the Town of Situate [Scituate] and was informed that Capt Harringtons one half of his company was called into Service and was at Newport at the time above mentioned a violent storm took place about this time such as I believe was never known before or since in that section of county and I further say that 10 or 12 Days afterward I saw the said Shearman at the hospital in Bristol at a place called Poppensquash sick and confined in said hospital with a disease called the Camp Distemper and that he did not recover of said disease for several months  I further say that in the year 1779 I moved from R. I. to Vermont and was a soldier in Capt Briggs company of Militia in the fall of the year 1780 or 1781 and that the said John Shearman was a soldier in said Briggs company at Castleton Vermont at the same time I do not recollect how long he served this time
Wm B. Shearman
Page 24

State of Vermont
                         [section sign]
Bennington County JJ

Pownal 31 July 1834 Then personally appeared
William B. Sherman Subscribed to the within deposition and was duly Sworn to this same before me
S. Danforth Justice of the Peace
& Judge of Probate

I certify that William B. Sherman Subscribed to the within deposition to  me well known is a credible witness & that his statement is entitled to full and entire credit
S. Danforth Justice of the Peace
& Judge of Probate

State of Vermont
                                  [section sign]
Bennington County, Js

I Henry Robinson Clerk of the Court of Bennington is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine-In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this 8th day of August, S.D. 1834.
Henry Robinson
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State of Vermont
                   [section sign]
County of Bennington js.s September 4 A.D. 1837
Conformably to the Regulations of the War Department, of the 19th of June 1824, I, Heman Scranton, a Magistrate in the County above named, do hereby certify that i have the most satisfactory evidence, viz

Personal knowledge that John Shearman who has this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity is the identical person named in the pension certificate which he has exhibited before me numbered 28975 and bearing date at the War Offices the 16th day of August 1834, that the said certificate was originally issued for him, that he now holds the same in his possession, and claims all the benefit arising therefrom.
Given under my hand, at Pownal on the day and year above written.
Heman Scranton Justice of the Peace
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CARLETON MONROE WINSLOW, Secretary
LANSING G. L. SAVRE, Assistant Secretary
CASSIUS MILTON JAY, Treasurer
ERWIN WILSON WIDNEY, Asst. Treasurer
DR. CHARLES EDWARD FUTCH, Registrar
ORRA EUGENE MONNETTE, Historian
DIRECTORS
DR. WESLEY WILBUR BECKETT
JUDGE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BLEDSOE
COLONEL THOMAS FRANK COOKE
MAJOR ROBERT ADAMS GIERS
Dr. EDWARD MARSHALL PALLETTE
E. PALMER TUCKER, President
Vice Presidents
COLIN MUNRO GAIR
DR. EGERTON CRISPIN
LANSING GLENN LYTLE SAVRE
FRED HAYES SCHAUER
NATHAN WILSON STOWELL, librarian and Genealogist
ELLA F. J. TAFE, Assistant Genealogist
RT. REV. W. BERTRAND STEVENS, D.D., Chaplain
COLONEL HARCOURT HERVEY, Marshal

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JUDGE GUY RICHARDS CRUMP
RALPH BELDAM HARDACRE
JOHN EMERSON MARBLE
HENRY MAURIS ROBINSON

Sons of the Revolution
in the State of California
137 South Hope Street
LOS ANGELES
September 14, 1935

[Stamp Received Sep 18. 1985
{Up arrow pointing at 12   illegible 21}]

Veterans Administration
Revolutionary Section
Washington, D. C.

Will you be so kind as to send this office
a report on the pension granted in 1832 to John Sherman
of Rhode Island and Bennington Co., Pownal Vermont.
Thanking you for this courtesy, I am
Sincerely,
E
E. F. J. Tafe
Assistant Genealogist.
Page 27

Route 8
Vincennes Ind Jan 15 1924

Bureau of Pensions
Rev. War Records Section
Washington DC

Dear Sirs :

My great grandfather, John Sherman, enlisted at Situate [Scituate] Rhode Island in 1775 and served four months under Captain Harrington in Colonel Cornwallis Rhode Island and Regiment and again enlisted in October 1780 at Pownal Vermont under Captain Briggs in Colonel Herricks Vermont Regiment
I wish to ascertain if there are any records as to this John Sherman in the Revolutionary War Records Section of your office.  I am anxious to know the dates of his birth, marriage and death and to whom he was married and if he was married more than once.
And was he or his widow a pensioner
I will thank you very sincerely for as full a record of this John Sherman as you can supply
Yours truly
Mason J Niblack
Page 28

recs
Rev. & 1812 War Section
Mrscr or J. Niblack
Vincennes, Route 8
Ind.
Sir:
February 18, 1924
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.19086, it appears that John Sherman was born April 11, 1756, at North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
While a resident of Scituate, Rhode Island, he enlisted in June or July 1776, and served one month as a private in Captain Simeon
Barrington's Company, Colonel Cornell's Rhode Island Regiment.
He enlisted in October 1776, and served one month in Captain Simeon Harrington's Company, Colonel Cornell's Regiment.
He enlisted in September or October 1777, and served six days in Captain Simeon Harrington's Company, Colonel Cornell's Regiment.
He enlisted the last of July or first of August 1778, and served until the last of December 1778 or first of January 1779 in Captain
Simeon Harrington's Company, Colonel Cornell's Regiment.
He moved to Pownal, [[with father} inserted here] Vermont, in March 1779, and enlisted in the fall of 1780 or 1781, served six weeks in Captain Joseph Briggs' Company
, Colonel Herrick's Vermont Regiment.
Page 29

He enlisted in the fall of 1782 and served five weeks in Captain Joseph Briggs' Company, Colonel Herrick's Vermont Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 28, 1834, while a resident of Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,



Commissioner