Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2689, for Levi Preston, Vermont
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Service
Vt.

Preston, Levi
Martha

Number
W.2689
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11002
Pensylvania
Levi Preston
of Bradford in the State of Pensylvania
who was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Wood of the Regt commanded
by Col Allen in the Vermont
line for 12 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Pensylvania
at the rate of 40 Dollars per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of March
1833 and sent to J. E. Paine Esq. Troy, Pa

Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 $80
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 20
$100

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by AB Thruston Clerk,
Book E Vol. 5 Page 45
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State of Pennsylvania}
Bradford County } Ss

On this tenth day of September Anno Domini 1832. personally appeared before judges of the court of common pleas of Bradford County in open court, Levi Preston a resident of the town of Columbia County and State aforesaid 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 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of United States in the year 1775 with and at the request of Colonel Fuller and served in the Regiment of the Vermont Line under the command of Col. Ethan Allen and Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Arnold, under the following named officers. The names of the other field officers not recollected. Captain, Wood. Lieutenants names not recollected. Nor can he remember the names of any other officers. He enlisted in the town of Rockingham in the State of Vermont, and joined the army under Colonel Allen at Ticonderoga in the last of April. He was present at the taking of the Fort at Ticonderoga. Was afterward sent up to Fort George and Fort William Henry, where he remained some time. Afterwards went back to Ticonderoga and was discharged on account of serving nine months after the time of his enlistment.
In the year of our Lord 1777 he was again called out, and joined General Stack's command, at Bennington the day previous to the battle. Under the command of Col. Porter, Captain Green, and one of the Lieutenant's names was Pulsipher, but can recollect no other officers. Was pre
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State of Pennsylvania} 
Bradford County } Ss  

On this tenth day of September Anno Domini 1832. personally appeared before judges of the court of common pleas of Bradford County in open court, Levi Preston a resident of the town of Columbia County and State aforesaid 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 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of United States in the year 1775 with and at the request of Colonel Fuller and served in the Regiment of the Vermont Line under the command of Col. Ethan Allen and Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Arnold, under the following named officers. The names of the other field officers not recollected. Captain, Wood. Lieutenants names not recollected. Nor can he remember the names of any other officers. He enlisted in the town of Rockingham in the State of Vermont, and joined the army under Colonel Allen at Ticonderoga in the last of April. He was present at the taking of the Fort at Ticonderoga. Was afterward sent up to Fort George and Fort William Henry, where he remained some time. Afterwards went back to Ticonderoga and was discharged on account of serving nine months after the time of his enlistment. 
In the year of our Lord 1777 he was again called out, and joined General Stack's command, at Bennington the day previous to the battle. Under the command of Col. Porter, Captain Green, and one of the Lieutenant's names was Pulsipher, but can recollect no other officers. Was pre
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present at the Battle. Marched, after the battle to Stillwater, was there until after the surrender of Burgoyne. Was present at the battle or skirmish in August previous, at which Col. Baum of the Hessians was killed. In about five weeks after the surrender of the British army was discharged by General Stark having served three months.
Recollects the fact of Colonel Allen calling on the commandant of Fort Ticonderoga, to "surrender in the name of the great Jehovah and the continental congress." General Stark made the following explanation to his soldiers previous to the battle of Bennington. "Fellow soldiers we shall gain this battle or Polly Stark will be a widow." Was not thirteen when he first went out.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity whatever, except the present. And he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above mentioned.
Levi Preston
for J P Bull Prot
E. S Goodrich Dep

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states afore that the court further certifies that the persons, Reuben Wilber and Elihu Case are residents of Troy and credible persons and their statement entitled to credit.
James P. Bull Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Levi Preston for a pension.
J P Bull
Prothonotary
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We Reuben Wilber residing in Troy Bradford County Pennsylvania and Elihu Case of the same adjoining town to Columbia, County aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Levi Preston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and that no clergyman resides in his neighborhood.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above mentioned.
for J P Bull Prot
E S. Goodrich Dep
Reuben Miller
Elihu Case

I certify that the foregoing certificate was presented before the court on the hearing original application of Levi Preston aforesaid for a pension.
J P Bull, Prothonotary

[vertically at left] Levi Preston Declaration
10.698
Levi Preston
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State of Pennsylvania}
County of Bradford} ss On this 3rd day of June 1851 personally appeared before me Jeremiah Adams one of the Judges in and for said county Martha Preston aged 79 years a resident in the Township of Troy in said county who being first duly sworn doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 29 July 1842.
This declarant states she is the widow of Levi Preston deceased late a resident of said county who was a revolutionary soldier and pensioner of the United States at the rate of 40 dollars per annum and who died on the first day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty nine (1849)
This declarant further states her maiden name was Martha Watson and that she was married to the said Levi Preston on the 3rd day of May in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety (1790) in the Town of Pittsford and County of Rutland in the State of Vermont by Elisha Rich who was a Baptist Clergyman and from the time of her marriage to the time of the death of the said Levi Preston she lived with him in lawful wedlock & that since his death she has not again married - that she has no record of her marriage either public or private - This declarant further states that from old age and bodily infirmities she is unable to appear in open court.
Sworn and subscribed to on this day and year first above written.
Martha X Her mark Preston
Jere Adams Associate Judge
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Bradford} ss
I hereby certify that by reason of old age and bodily infirmities the above named declarant is unable to appear in open Court and I further certify that satisfactory evidence was advanced before me that the above named Levi Preston died on the 1st day of January in the year 1849 and that the aforesaid Martha Preston still continues his widow.

Jere Adams Associate Judge
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State of Pennsylvania
Bradford County } ss
I Allen McKean Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Bradford & State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that Jere Adams whose name is herein subscribed is one of the Associate Judges of this Court of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid duly commissioned & that the signature herein purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Official Seal at Towanda the 6th day of June A.D. 1851
Allen McKean Prot
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Preston Colburn Single Freeman Valuation $100 Tax .75
Bradford County
I certify the above to be a true copy of the assessed valuation of Colburn Preston of Columbia Township Bradford County Pennsylvania as returned by assessor of said Township in the A.D. 1815 and filed in this office. 
E. M. Farrar Clerk to Commission

State of Pennsylvania}
County of Allegheny} SS

Morris Owen of the city of Pittsburgh County aforesaid aged 35 years - who being first duly sworn doth depose and say that he is acquainted with the family of Levi Preston deceased late of Bradford County in said State of Pennsylvania - That the aforesaid Colburn Preston whose name appears on the list of assessment as above stated in the Township of Columbia Bradford County and state of Pennsylvania in the year Eighteen hundred and fifteen (1815) is the reputed lawful son of Levi and Martha Preston. That the said Levi Preston was a revolutionary pensioner of the United States at the rate of $40 per annum and that he died leaving a widow Martha Preston now surviving him.
Morris Owen
Sworn to and subscribed this 22nd day of Sept AD 1851. I also certify to the credibility of Morris Owen.
And McMaster Clerk
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Allegheny County}
State of Pennsylvania} SS.
I George S. Hays Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Allegheny in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the same being a Court of Law & Record, do by these presents certify that Ande McMasters Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken, and who has thereunto, in his own proper handwriting, subscribed his name was at that time and now is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and authorized by law to administer oaths, affirmations, to all whose acts, as such, due faith and credit are, and of right ought to be given, throughout the United States & elsewhere.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court of Pittsburgh, in the said County this 22nd day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, and of the sovereignty and independence of the United States of America, the seventy sixth.

Attest: George S. Hays Prothonotary
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State of Pennsylvania}
County of Bradford} ss
on this 3rd day of June personally appeared before me N M Carnochan Justice of the Peace in and for said County Colburm Preston aged 59 years on the 29th day of March last passed a resident of Troy Township in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on this oath depose and say that he is the lawful child of Levi Preston late a resident of said county who was a revolutionary soldier and pensioner of the United States at the rate of 40$ per annum and who died in said county on the 1st day of January 1849 leaving a widow Martha now surviving him and to whom his said Father was married as he has often heard him say in the Town of Pittsford in the State of Vermont in the spring of the year Seventeen hundred and ninety by Elisha Rich a Baptist Clergyman who lived neighbor to his said Father some twenty years in Pittsford Vermont & in Troy Township in said county of Bradford and further stated he has heard said Rich say he married his said Father and Mother - This declarant further states two children were born to his said Father and Mother - his wife prior to the year Seventeen hundred and ninety four (1794) of which declarant is the youngest he also states that his age corresponds with the original date on the Family record kept by his Father which was destroyed about the year 1815
Colburn Preston
Sworn to and subscribed on this day and year first above written N M Carnochan Justice of Peace
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State of Pennsylvania}
County of Bradford} SS Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Joseph Hunt age 41 years a resident of Troy Township in Bradford County who being first duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say that he saw the corpse of Levi Preston on the 1st day of January 1849 and knows his death to have occurred on that day both from this personal knowledge and from the inscription upon the Tomb stone in the grave yard on his farm where the body of said Preston was intered bearing date as above stated.
This declarant further states that the aforesaid Levi Preston was a revolutionary soldier and pensioner of the United States and that he died leaving a widow Martha Preston now surviving him
Joseph Hunt
Sworn to and subscribed on this 3rd day of June 1851 before me - I also certify that declarant Joseph Hunt is a credable witness.
N M Carnochan Justice of the Peace
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State of Pennsylvania}
Bradford County} Ss
I Allen McKean Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Bradford & State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that N. M. Carnochan is an acting Justice of the peace for the said County duly commissioned & qualified & that the signatures herein purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office at Towanda this 6th day of June 1851
Allen McKean Protty

[seal affixed at left]

[written vertically] No 1017
Martha Preston
widow of Levi
Pa
July 29 1848

A P Norton
Pittsburg
Pa
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882
Pennsylvania, Pitts
Martha Preston
widow of Levi Preston
who served in the Revolutionary 
Vermont
war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
40 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 1st day of Jany 1849
Certificate of Pension issued the
3rd day of Mar 1851
and sent to
A. P. Norton
Pittsburg
Pa

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
July 29, 1848, page 109 Vol. A.
Page 16

Levi Preston
Pennsylvania

Admit
12 mos
Private
$40.

10698

S. E. Paine Esq
Troy
Pa
Page 17

Brief in the case of Levi Preston
County of Bradford in the State of Pa
(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?
3. How old is he? 68. -
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[four-column table: Period./ Duration of Service./ Rank./ Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Vermont Line In 1775 enlisted/ 9 months/ private/ Cap Wood Col. E. Allen
1777/ 3 months/ private/ Cap Green Col. Porter

5. In what battles was he engaged? At the taking Ticonderoga - battle Bennington battle of Still Water.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rockingham Vermont
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor Examining Clerk.
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To what time has Levi Preston, who was a pensioner on the Pennsylvania Roll under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the rate of $40 per annum been paid?
pd. to 4th Sept. 1848
WB

Pension Office
November 28/51
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No 1017
Martha Preston.
Pa
3rd [illegible] Nov 28/51
July 29, 1898.
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3-871.
Record Division.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions.

Briefed by Geo M. Moore
Feb 1. 1910
Certificate No. __
Claimant __
Soldier Levi Preston.
Service Rev
Additional Service __
No __ claim, State records __, 190_
No claim. combination records __ 190_
Remarks:
N O W. I. W or R. as above
except W F 2689

0-8 Chief Division
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[left side of page]
Apl. 6. 1904. His to
Chas H. Preston
Hathorne, Mass

1910. Feb. 11. Hist. to Miss
Lena C. Preston. A.E.P.

1913 Mch. 14 Hist. to Susan
E. Wheat. V.L.M.

[right side of page]
Widow, &c.
Revy
File No. 2689
Martha Preston
Widow
Levi Preston
Pri. Rev. War

Act: July 29, 1848
Index: - Vol. M.,Page 139.

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Pittsburg Pa Agency
Martha Preston, widow
of Levi, who was a private
Col Allen's Regt Vermont
troops

Act July 29, 1898.
12 mo Private
$40 per annum
Con Jan. 1. 1849. when
her husband died
 
A.P. Norton,
Pittsburg,
Pa
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Pittsburgh Penn Sept 22 1851

Sir
I have the honor herewith to present the application of Martha Preston, widow of Levi Preston of Pa for a Pension under Act 29 July 1848. Embracing her declaration and proof of marriage prior to 1800.
I have the honor to be Sir, with the highest Respect Your Obt. Servt
A. P. Norton

Hon. J. E. Heath
Com of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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[circle stamp] U.S. Pension Office Mar 5 1913

603 West 139 St.,
New York, March 3,/13.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Kindly send me the complete official record of Levi Preston, a Revolutionary soldier. He is said to have received a government grant of land in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, after the war. He, with his family (consisting at that time of
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2

his wife and one child, Colburn) removed to Pennsylvania in 1810. He entered the service from Vermont.
Please, also, send me the record of William Webber, who entered the service from Mass. He is also supposed to have received a government grant of land as he removed to
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3

Bradford Co., Pa., after the Revolutionary War.
I have written to the Adjutant General's Office, War Dept. but have received word that they cannot find the records desired as I cannot set forth the designations of the organizations in which these ancestors served, nor the names of the company in which or regimental officers under whom
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4. [circle stamp upper right] U.S. Pension Office Mar 5 1913

they served. 
But this we know. They served, and a complete record must be among the government records somewhere. So I am writing to the Pension Office as every Revolutionary soldier either received a pension or grant of land.
Hoping that you can supply me with the information asked for as I desire to apply for membership in the "Daughters of the Revolution," I am, Sincerely,
Susan E. Wheat
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[left side of page circle stamp] Record Division Jan 28 1910

[right side of page oval stamp] Dept. of the Interior Secy's Off. Mails & [illegible] Received Jan 26, 1910 to Bur. Pensions

Troy, Pa.
Jan. 25, 1910.
Dept. of Interior
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs: -
Will you please send me the Revolutionary War Record of Levi Preston. I think he enlisted from Vermont, and after the war he settled in Penna.
Respectfully,
(Miss) Lena C. Preston
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Brief in the case of Martha Preston, widow of Levi
Bradford County and State of Pennsylvania
act
July 29, 1848.

Claim, ("original," or "for increase.") Original -
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance
Her husband a pensioner under Act of June 7, 1832
Record proof to show that the parties were married prior to 1800.

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

Name and resident of Agent.
A. P. Norton,
Pittsburg, Pa
Examining Clerk
Ogden Niles
Page 30

In reply to your request of __, received __ for a statement of the military history of Levi Preston a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his and his widow's application for pension on file in this Bureau. W. F. 2689.

[five-column table] Dates of Enlistment or Appointment./ Length of Service./ Rank./ Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered. Captain. Colonel./ State.

April 1775/ 9 mos./ Pri/ Wood Ethan Allen/ Vt.
1777 3 mos./ Pri/ Green Porter

Battles engaged in Ft. Ticonderoga, Bennington, Stillwater

Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted at Rockinham. Vt.

Date of application for pension, Sept. 11, 1832. His claim was allowed

Residence at date of application, Columbia, Bradford Co., Pa

Age at date of application, 68 years. He died in Bradford Co Pa Jan. 1. 1849.

Remarks: Col. mar. at Pittsford, Vt. May 3, 1790. Martha Matson. [marked out: He died in Bradford Co. Pa. Jan. 1, 1849 and] she was allowed pension on an application executed June 3, 1851 while a resident of Troy Township Bradford Co. Pa. aged 79 years. [marked out: They had two children prior to 1794] son Colburn b. Mar. 29. 1792 [marked out: resident of Troy Township in 1851] and another child born prior to 1794 whose name is not stated was referred to.
Very respectfully,