Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 44,470, for Abner Keyes, New Hampshire
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(8-1776) 

Service                                       Number
N.H.     Keyes, Abner                S. 44,470

Contents
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16331
New Hampshire 
Abner Keyes

[of] Hancock in the state of New Ha[mpshire] who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Long of the New Hamp line, for the term of One Year 

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 20 of April 1818 

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 of Sep ‘18, and sent to Joshua Darling Esq
Henniker New Hamp 

Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819. - - - - - - -132. 00 
Semi-anl. all’ce ending 4 Mar 1820.  - - 48.00
16 mo. 15/30  -  -  -  -[total]  $180.00
                          
 {Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.} 

Continued
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To the Honorable Joshua Darling one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the first District in Hillsborough County New Hampshire
I Abner Keyes of Hancock in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire Certify and say that I enlisted into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, as a private Soldier, in the Continental establishment in August 1776 for the time of one year and served said year in Capt Clements Company in Col. Long's Regiment of the New Hampshire line, and was regularly dismissed at Stillwater in New York at the expiration of said year.  I further testify that I am in reduced circumstances in life so as to need the assistance of my County for support
April 20. 1818 [signed] Abner Keyes


State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss.   April 20 1818
Then personally appeared appeared the above named Abner Keyes and made oath  that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is just and true before me
[signed] Joshua Darling } One of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common pleas for the first District in Hillsborough County New Hampshire
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss.}  I Joshua Darling Judge of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Abner Keyes served in the Revolutionary Army on the Continental establishment against the common enemy more than nine months at one period of continued service, and I further certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said applicant is in reduced circumstances in life and stands in need of assistance from his County for support.  Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 20th day of April A.D. 1818
[signed] Joshua Darling

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss.}  I Moses Eastman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the first District in Hillsborough County New Hampshire do certify that the Hon Joshua Darling is a Judge of said Court, that the above is his signature and that the seal hereto affixed is the seal of said Court
[signed]  Moses Eastman  Clerk

Abner Keyes' Affidavit
as application for Pension
N. H.
Private
Col. Long's Regt.
New Hampshire Line
1775  1 year
Admitted
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[illegible]  210 
Abner Keyes 
14331 
Continued 







Joshua Darling
Henniker
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To the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting at Hopkinton within and for the County of Hillsborough and the State of New-Hampshire. 

July  1820 
Abner Keyes aged 81 years resident in Hancock in said County, comes into Court, and, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, passed on the 1st day of May, 1820, brings with him, and his proper person, exhibits to said Court a Schedule by him subscribed, containing his whole estate, and income, (his necessary clothing and bedding excepted) as follows: 

One bond dated 25th of March 1800 given by William Keyes for his support valued at $00.00 as the obligor is unable to perform the condition of said bond, 
Cash saved a former pension 20.00
[signed] Abner Keyes 

And the said Abner Keyes in pursuance as aforesaid, produceth to said Court the following oath, by him duly taken and subscribed, viz:
I Abner Keyes do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled ""An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
[signed] Abner Keyes
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And the said Abner Keyes doth here in Court further declare on oath, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows, viz. that he enlisted in August 1776 and served in Capt. Timothy Clements Company and in Col Longs Regiment in the New Hampshire line one year and was honorably discharged at Still-Water

That the date of his original declaration in order to obtain a pension is 20th of April 1818 And the number of his pension certificate is 14331  That his occupation is that of a  Farmer
That the number and names of his family residing with him, and their ages and capacities to contribute to their support, are as follows, viz. he is not able to labor at all
[signed] Abner Keyes

Wherefore he prays the opinion of the said Court as to the value of the property contained in the said Schedule and that the same together with a copy of the premises be duly certified, to the Secretary of War.  Sworn and declared before the Hon. J Darling & J. K. Smith Justices of said Court the 11th day of July 1820
[signed] M Eastman Clerk

Hillsborough SS ⎬ Court of Common Pleas July 11th 1820 The aforesaid Schedule and oath, and the above declaration, duly subscribed and sworn by the said Keyes having been by him exhibited in person and presented to the Court, and the same being seen and considered:
It is the opinion of said Court, that the value of the property, contained in said Schedule is $20 that said Bond is of no value the obligor not being able to perform the condition thereof
Wherefore the Court order that a copy of the premises with the proceedings thereon, be duly certified, to the Secretary of War.
Attest, [signed] M Eastman  Clerk.

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Hillsborough ss.}  I M Eastman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said County of Hillsborough being a Court of record, do certify, That the foregoing schedule and oath and the declaration annexed, with the proceedings and opinion of the Court thereon, are truly copied from the records and files of said Court.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 11th day of July 1820
[signed] M Eastman  Clerk.
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In reply to your request of [blank], received for a statement of the military history of Abner Keyes a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

S. file 44,470 

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment: Aug 76 [illegible] 

Length of Service: 1 year 

Rank: Pol + [illegible] 

Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered: 
Captain: Timothy Clement 
Colonel: Long 
State: N.H.

Battles engaged in, [check mark] 
Residence of solider at enlistment [check mark]
Date of application for pension, Apl 20, 1818
Age at date of application, 79yrs 

Remarks: [illegible] “ [illegible] 17 1820 
Melvin for [illegible] 1775 or Carter or Cartee Gilman 

Very respectfully, 
33. 217 301, 390, 486, 508, 512
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Files Mch 1820
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44470
INVALID.
Revy
File No.44470
Abner Keyes
Priv. Rev War
Act: 18 March 1818
Index:  Vol. 3, Page 269
[in brackets]  Arrangement of 1870.

[right side of page]
1907 May 16 - History to Mrs. F. A. St. Clair - C
1912 Nov 11.  Henry S. Keyes [?] no bounty land claim & no title to pension or B.L.  AW
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U. S. PENSION OFFICE
[O?]
NOV 9 1912
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November 11, 1912.
Mr. Henry S. Keyes,
4 Centre Street,
Cambridge, Mass.

Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 7"" and received the 9" instant, you are advised that a careful search fails to show a claim for bounty land on file for the Revolutionary War services of Abner Keyes (Kyes, Kies or Kize) of Hollis, New Hampshire.
The records of Revolutionary War bounty lands are incomplete, the same having been destroyed when the British burned Washington in 1814,
There is no provision of law which would entitle the descendants of soldiers of the Revolution to pension or bounty land.
Very respectfully,
J L Davenport
Commissioner.

Did not give history of service, he did  not want to know any thing except his title
see letter
he did
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HENRY S. KEYES
PRESIDENT AND MANAGER
405 SYMES BLDG.

Rev. War Section.
[ incomplete:THOM.
JOHN
VERY
REV. P.
REV. J.
JAMES
E. M. CRA]

National Christian Sanitarium Asan.
FOR TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS
4 Centre St  Cambridge Mass Nov 7-12
Mr J.L. Davenport
Dear sir:
I wish to inquire if Abner Keyes (Keyes-Kies-Kize) of Hollis N.H. enrolled in the Continental Army received the 100 acres of land due him from the government of if
there be any back pay due him-
Respectfully,
Henry S. Keyes

[along left margin]
Matt. 25:35-40.
For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me; sick, and ye visited me, I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee f or athirst, and gave thee drink. And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?  or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee
sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
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O. W. & N. DIV.
MAY 4 1907
FILES
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O. W. & N
Washington, D.C.
To the Com of Pensions
Dear Sir - at your earliest convenience will you please forward me the Rev. war record of Abner Keyes sometimes spelled Kies - Kyes etc. born in N.H. - 1738- Married Mary Shedd of Billerica Mass. He died at the home of his son Abner at Hancock N.H. 1819 or 1820 - he was in Rev War & drew a pension - lived at Hollis - also Rumney; Billerica & died in Hancock.
Also  Rev. War record of Wm Gordon born March 13 1753 of Exeter N.H. - Married
[end of page]
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Hannah Ladd March 1784 in Exeter N. H.  Also
the record of his father James Gordon Born July 3 1725, married Elizabeth Gilman, also of Exeter
N. H. - also record of Cartee or Carter Gilman father of Elizabeth, same town.  
James Gordon was in Capt. Daniel Gordon's regiment in Sept 1776- I think Carter Gilman & Wm Gordon were in same regiment - Wm Gordon & Carter Gilman were both reported
missing 1778 - Col Nathan Hales' Reg - they were left at Hubbardtown
I am anxious to join a new Chapter
in "D.A.R." to be formed
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next Tuesday and if you can let me have the
information before then I shall be greatly obliged to you sir
Very truly-
Mary E Keyes St Clair
(Mrs F.A.)
1319-T-St. N.W.
Washington D.C.

[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
A
MAY 3 1907
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This certifies that we the subscribers have been for a series of years acquainted with the circumstances of Mr Abner Keyes and are of the opinion that he stands in need of help from his country that he may obtain a comfortable support 
Hancock Apl 13, 1818
[signed] Thacher Bradford  Joseph Symon  Selectmen of Hancock
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Lt. Wm Taggart
Affidavit in proof
of Abner Keye's
Service
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I William Taggart of lawful age testify and say that Abner Keyes of Hancock was a soldier in Col Long's Regiment  in the Revolutionary War, in New Hampshire Line.  I knew him to have enlisted into Capt Clements Company in the regiment aforesaid in the month of August 1776 I think for one year and knew him until the month of July 1777 when we retreated from Ticonderoga and have no doubt but he served out his enlistment - the said Keyes served as a Sergeant in said Company.  I held a Commission and did the duty of an Ensign in the Same Line of Troops
July 3. 1819. [signed] Wm Taggart

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough SS }  July 3. 1819
Then personally appeared William Taggard who is a very credible, and disinterested Witness and made Solemn oath, that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth for which it was taken
Before me Joshua Darling, } one of the associate Justices of the CC Pleas for the first District Hillsborough County New Hampshire & Justice of the Peace of the quorum  within & for the County aforesaid
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I Archelaus Towne of Hillsborough in the County of Hills[borough] and State of N. Hampshire of lawfull age do testify and say that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary army (so called) in the continental establishment one whole year at the same inlistment, in the year 1776- and 1777- and that Mr Abner Keyes now a citizen of Hancock in said State, was a soldier with me the whole term.   Rrgt commanded at that time by Col Long - Compy by Capt Clemment-
April 17th 1818 [signed] Archelaus Towne

Hillsborough ss. April 17th 1818 - Personally appeared the above named Archelaus Towne and made solemn oath that the above declaration by him subscribed contained the truth and the whole truth relative to the cause for which it was taken, before me
[signed] Calvin Stevens  J peace
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The within named Archelaus Towne, who herein testified as to the service of Abner Keyes, the applicant - has deceased since the taking his deposition - But from information, from many of the most respectable Citizens in the Town of Hillsborugh where he lived as well as from the Magistrate before whom it was taken [.]  The said Towne at the Caption was a highly credible and disinterested witness. It is therefore presented that the evidence will be considered duly authenticated in favor of said Keye's service without the usual certificate accompanying this affidavit - being accompanied with William Taggards affidavit who was a commissioned  Officer in the same Line of troops though not of the same Regiment
July 27, 1819.  [signed] Joshua Darling