Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,904, for Jesse Safford, Massachusetts
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Vt
CONTENTS
Safford, Jesse
Abigail
NUMBER
W. 24,904
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5087
Buffalo New York
Jesse Safford
of Pembroke in the State of New York
who was a Lt & Capt in the
commanded
by Captain
of the Regt commanded
by Col Brown
in the Massachusetts
line for 6 months Lieutenant and
18 months Captain
Inscribed on the Roll of Buffalo N York
at the rate of 440 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Recorded by
Book D
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of Febry 1833
and sent to Hon Pd Tracy
Ho. Rep.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 - $660.00
Semian allowance ending 4 Mar 33 220.00
$1880.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832 ⎬
Recorded by Jno Cromwell Clerk
Book D Vol. 10 Page 192
---
 Name reported to agent for pension? 26 June 1833
Se letter to Wm B Rochester Buffalo of same date
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Reported
New York Albany 546
Abigail Safford
widow of Jesse Safford
who was a Lieut & Captain
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
450 Dollars & 22
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
24th day of June 1843
and sent to H.W. Soper
Batavia, N. York
Act of March 3, 1843.
in Book A
Vol. 1.
Page 113.
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[check mark] 741
Widow Abigail Safford's
Declaration and
Proof to obtain benefit
of Act of 7 July 1838
Mar 1783
died 1834
Allen Capt. 19 mo 16 ds 390.66
Lieut.    4" 14 " 59.56
$450.22
Please Direct- [illegible] returns
to
John D. Safford
East Pembroke
 [illegible] 
N.Y.
Hon. H Putnam
H.R.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows -
State of New York
Genesee County Ss.
On this twenty second day of August
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before John Chatfield Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid Abigail Safford a resident of the town of Pembroke in the County aforesaid aged Seventy five years who being first 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 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Jesse Safford late of Said town of Pembroke who was a Lieutenant and Captain in the Revolutionary Army- That he drew a pension for his services in the Revolutionary
Army of Four hundred and forty dollars
her year under the act of 7th June 1832, and the proof of whose services together with two original commission as Captain and one commission as Lieutenant are on file in the War Department.
She further declares that she was married to the said Jesse Safford on the third day of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, that she was married to him in the town of Woodstock in the State of Vermont by the Rev George Daman that her Maiden name was Abigail Daman and the said George Daman was her father and an ordained Minister of the congregational Church in the said town of Woodstock - that her husband the aforesaid Jesse Safford
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died in said town of Pembroke on the second day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty four, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz, at the time above stated
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Abigail Safford
John Chatfield
Judge of Genesee County Court

State of New York
Genesee County ss; And I further certify that the said Abigail Safford who thus appeared before me is a credible person, and from her old age and infirmity is unable to appear before a court of record
Dated August 22d 1838
John Chatfield
Judge of Genesee County and
State of New York
Genesee County of Robert Durham and John D
Safford residents of the town of Pembroke in said County being duly sworn depose and say that they were acquainted with Jesse Safford late of the town of Pembroke in said County deceased, that the said Jesse Safford was a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of 7th June 1832 and drew four hundred and forty dollars per year, that he died on the second day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty four at the said town of
Pembroke, and these deponent further
say that they are acquainted with Abigail
Safford of said town of Pembroke and that
she is the widow of the said Jesse Safford
that the said Abigail Safford has never
married since the death of her husband the
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said Jesse Safford but has ever since remained
and now remains a widow
John D Safford
Robert Durham
Sworn and subscribed
this 22d day of August 1858 John D. Safford
before me John Chatfield
Judge of Genesee County Court
and I further certify that the said Robert Durham and John D. Safford are credible witnesses
Judge of Green County Courts
State of New York
Genesee County ss.⎬ Eleanor Safford a resident
of the town of Pembroke in said County being
duly sworn deposeth and saith that the
knew the Rev George Daman who was an ordained
Minister of the Congregational Church
in the town of Woodstock in the State of Vermont
in his life time. and that the said George
Daman died on the first day of December in
the year seventeen hundred and ninety six -
Eleanor Safford
Sworn and subscribed this 22 day of August
1838 before me
John Chatfield
Judge of Genesee County Courts
and I further certify that the said Eleanor
Safford is a credible witness-
John Chatfield
Judge of Genesee County Court
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State of New York
Genesee County ss.
I do hereby certify that John Chatfield
before whom the within Declaration and
affidavits were taken was at the time
of taking the same a Judge of same
County Court and duly authorized to take
the same and that the signatures to the certificates of taking the same and of
credibility and his hand writing
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 22d day of August 1838
[illegible] Clerk of
said County
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832-
State of New York
Genesee County  ss.⎬ 
On this sixteenth day of October 1832
personally appeared in open court, before the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at the town of
Batavia in said County (the said Court being a
Court of record and having a Seal) Jesse Safford
a resident of the town of Pembroke in the County of
Genesee and State of New York aged Seventy Seven
years the 9th day of February last, 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
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served as herein
stated-
I enlisted as a private about the first of May 1775 in
the town of Hardwick in the State of Massachusetts
in a company commanded by Capt Samuel Billings
for eight months. They were called state troop
We immediately marched to Roxbury near Boston
and there joined the Regiment under the command
of Col Larned. The remained in and about
Roxbury during that campaign when my term
of enlistment having expired I was discharged
and returned home. In the year 1776 about the
last of December I again enlisted in a company under the
command of Capt Store as near as I can
recollect, in a Regiment commanded by Col
Sparrowhawk, in Genl Warners Brigade, for
three months. We marched immediately for the
State of New Jersey and arrived at Bonbrook [Bound Brook] Soon after Princeton Battle as near as I can recollect. I remained with the army during the
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winter and returned home in the spring, my Father
having previously removed to the town of Woodstock
in the State of Vermont. On the 15th day of July 1777
received a second Lieutenants Commission signed
by Thomas Chittenden, President of the Legislative
Council of the State of Vermont, to continue
in force till the 15th day of January then next
at that time resided in the town of Woodstock
aforesaid. The company was to be commanded
by Capt Ebenezer Woods and was styled a company
of Rangers. I had orders to enlist soldiers
and was finished with County money to pay
them, enlisted about thirty and took them
across the Green Mountain to Manchester and
joined the Regiment under the command of
Lieut Col Samuel Herrick. The Captain had
not yet taken the command. Soon after Bennington battle our Regiment moved from Manchester to Pawlet. Shortly after Genl Lincoln
arrived with Col Brown and the Berkshire
Militia. Genl Burgoyne having evacuated Ticonderoga
with the main body of his army
had marched to Saratoga leaving the rear of
his army in possession of the fort and the country
adjacent thereto Genl Lincoln resolved to make
an attack on Ticonderoga, Mount Independence, and mount Defiance at the same time
Col Browns and Herricks Regiment were
selected for the enterprise and were to be under the
command of Col Brown. The detachment
that the
including my company went through the
woods, crossed Lake Champlain at a place called
the Narrows a few miles north of
Skenesborough, (now Whitehall) we were several
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days in getting through the woods. As we passed the foot of Mount Defiance Capt Ebenezer Allen with his company left us and ascended the mountain, be made an attack on the fort and soon became master of it. In the meantime Col Brown with the remainder of the detachment including me, company went on and soon came to open land.
this was about break of day. We very soon
found a detachment of British troops stationed
round an encampment. We made an attack
upon them and after several shots were fired
they surrendered. Major Wait with the principal
part of the men including my company went
forward towards the French lines (so called near Ticonderoga, about three fourths of a mile from the Landing we came to what was called The Mills, at the outlet of Lake George where was a number of houses, mills, tents &c. I was directed by Maj. Wait to stop here take charge of the prisoners and secure the plunder, While engaged in this duty we were immediately fired upon from a block house standing on the opposite side of the stream which we had not noticed untill [until] the balls came among us.
Just at that time I recieved [recieved] information that there was a vessel lying at the landing having on board a number of field pieces 
I took some of my men went down to the
landing drew the vessel along side of the wharve [wharf] got out one of the cannon with a quantity of ammunition and returned with
it to our former stand. The officer commanding the enemy on discovering that
we had cannon came out of the house  
and surrendered with his men. We were
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several days in that place preparing to make
an attack on Diamond Island, In the mean
time we were joined by Col Brown and Herrick
with the rest of the troops. We procured boats
went aboard and went up the Lake with
the intention of landing on the Island. We
could not find a convenient place to land
as the shore was rocky. In the mean time
we discovered the enemy ranged on the hill
prepared for battle. They immediately fired
upon us and it being found impracticable  
to land at that place Col Herrick Judge
it prudent to abandon the enterprise we
immediately retreated and returned to the east
side of the Lake. Here the Col. ordered the boats to be dunk upon which we returned to our head quarters at Pawlet. We remained at
Pawlet engaged in frequent scouting parties
during the remainder of the season. On the 15th of January 1778 my commission having expired I left the army and returned home, making a service in this campaign of six months-
On the first day of May 1778 I received a
Captains commission to take charge of a
company to be raised out of Col Joel March
and Col Samuel Fletcher Regiment, said
Commission was signed by the Governor of
Vermont and was to continue in force untill [until] the last day of December then next, immediately entered upon the duties of the commission and enlisted a number of men out
of Marsh's regiment and was soon joined
by Lieutenant Crook with what men he
had enlisted out of Fletchers regiment when ┃
my company became organised [organized]
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3
We immediately marched across the Green
Mountain to Rutland where we established
our head quarter, Capt Gideon Brownson
of Warners Regiment was our Commandant the first part of the campaign when
her left us and Major Whitcomb took the command. We were engaged during the time
we remained there in scouting parties through
the adjoining country as usual. I remained
at the head of my company till my commission
expired which was on the last day
of December 1778 making a service in this
campaign of Eight months
On the third day of February 1780 I recieved [received] a captains commission signed by the Governor of Vermont to take the command of a company of Rangers to be raised out of Col Marsh and Col Fletcher Regiments. I immediately set about enlisting men and as soon as I could collect a company, I repaired to Pittsford which was at that time the headquarters of the Northern Department, May Ebenezer Allen
was the commandant about the first
of June as near as I can recollect I received
orders from the Governor to move my company
over to the last side of the mountain
to Royalton for the purpose of building a
fort to protect that country against the
depredations of the British and Indians-
It was determined to build the fort at
Bethel, I accordingly with my Company
commenced the building of it and after
it was completed remained in the charge
of it till about the first of December in that
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year when my company was dismissed I was
not however discharged at that time as I was
under the necessity of going to a distant part of the State in order to obtain money to pay my troops, I was engaged in that business till some time in the latter part of December or first of January next after when I was discharged and went home making a service this campaign of Eleven months, according to the best
of my recollection. I never obtained any written
discharge on any of my commissions. The two
first expired by their own limitation. On the
last I was discharged when the services
of that campaign were completed about
the first of January 1781, by several commissions are now in my possession and are herewith attached
which is all the proof I am prepared to make
I have no other record of my age than
an account book which was originally taken
from my Father's family record, according to
that record I was born at the town of
Hardwick in the County of Worcester and
State of Massachusetts on the ninth day of February 1755. In the year 1777 I removed to the town of Woodstock in the State of Vermont where I resided till the year 1841, when I removed to the town of Pawlett in the State of Vermont where I resided in the year 1816 when I removed to the town of Pembroke in the County of Genesee where I now reside.
Rev. Hugh Wallis and Major Orris Boughton
have lived neighbors to me for about six years
and can testify to my character and their
belief of my services-
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I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declare that my name
is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Jesse Safford
Sworn and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid 
in open Court. Timothy Fitch Clerk
We Hugh Wallis a clergyman residing in the town of Pembroke in the County of Genesee and State of New York and Henry Main Jun [Junior] of the same place hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Jesse
Safford who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven
years of age; and 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.-
Hugh Wallis
Henry Main Jr.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
in open Court
Timothy Fitch Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
for the investigation of the matter and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the
above named applicant was a revolutionary solder
and served as he states and the Court further certifies
that it appears to them that Hugh Wallis who has
signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman residing
in the town of Pembroke in the said County and that
Henry Main Jr who has signed the same is a resident
of the said town of Kent and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit
Isaac Wilson
William Mitchell
Robert C Earll Jr
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Timothy Fitch Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas of the County of Genesee do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of Jesse Safford for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of my office
this 16th day of October in the year 1832
Timothy Fitch Clerk
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Jesse Safford
New York
Hon P L Tracey
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Paid at the Treasury under the act of
April 6th 1838 from 4th September
1840 1 March 1841. Agent notifd [notified]
April 20th 1842

New York 1378
Abigail Safford
widow of Jesse Safford decd [deceased]
was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832
and who died on 2 Augt 1834
of Genesee in the State of N. York
Who was a Lt. & capt. in the compy commanded by Captain of the regt commanded by Col Brown in the Massts [Massachusetts] line for Capt 19 m 16 ds
Lt 4 m 16 ds
Inscribed on the roll of Albany NY
at the rate of 50 Dollars 22 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of Decr 1838, & sent to Hon H Putnam, H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 38 $1125.55
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '39 225.11
---
$1350.66
Act July 7,
1838.
Recorded by D. McCurdy
Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 100
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State of Vermont
Treasurer's Office
Montpelier Oct. 19. 1838
Henry F. James
I Henry F James Treasurer of said State
do hereby certify that there is a paper
on file in this office purporting to be
"Pay Roll of Capt Jesse Saffords Company
of Militia for their servis [service] in the late
alarm and what this allowed for travel from their respective Homes to Camp"
I further certify that the name of
Capt. Jesse Safford as Captain appears
upon said Roll with an allowance
for four days service annexed, and
that said Roll appears to have been
[illegible] approved and ordered to be paid
and duly paid by the Treasurer on
the 25th day of June 1781.
I further certify that there is
another paper on file in this office
purporting to be a "Pay Roll of Capt Jesse
Saffords Company of Provenshial [Provincial] Troops From the date of their several enlistments untill [until] discharged Boath [both] days include commissioning the 1st May and ending the 30th Novr [November] 1778," and that upon said
Roll the name of "Jesse Safford" as Captain appears with an allowance for
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seven months and four days service annexed.
 
I further certify that there is 
another paper on file in this office
purporting to be a" Pay Roll of Capt
Jesse Saffords Company of Rangers Maj.
Ebenezer Allen detachment Raised for
the Defence [defense] of the State of Vermont
Commissioning January ye 18 and 
ending ye of December AD 1780 Both
Days included."
I further certify that the name of
"Jesse Safford" as Captain appears upon
said Roll with an allowance for ten
with and twelve days annexed.
and I further certify that of the two
last mentioned rolls, one was examined
approved and ordered to be paid by
Thomas Chittenden the Governor of Vermont
and the other by a bond appointed
for that purpose, and that all of
said Rolls were duly paid
by the Treasurer
Attest Henry F. James Treasure