Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29681, Thomas Butts, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE                                 NUMBER
Mass.         Butts, Thomas      S.29681

CONTENTS
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[illegible] 1.884
Massachusetts

Thomas Butts
of Bristol in the State of Massa.
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Reed of the Regt. commanded
by Hathaway in the Massa.
line for 2 years
R J. M[illegible]

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 80 - Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Nov
1833 and Sent A Bassett
Taunton Massachusetts

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 54) 40.00
$240.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 42

[handwritten on opposite page]
78
Bristol
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Thomas Butts
27021
Bristol County

Mass-
Private 2 years
Capt Reed's Compy Col Hathaway's
Regt R I

A Bassett Es.
Taunton
M[illegible]

[unidentifiable dark object in upper right corner of page]
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol Ss  

On this Fifth day of July - 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon, Hodijah Baylies Judge of the Court of Probate  
now sitting at Dighton within and for said County of [crossed out print: Plymouth,] Bristol, Thomas Butts - a resident of Troy in said County of [crossed out print: Plymouth] ^Bristol  and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Six 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. That is to say, that
he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated.  [rest of page is handwritten] To wit; that in the latter part of November AD 1776 and [1st - written in left margin] about the time that the British troops took possession of the Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island (he, at that time being a resident in that part of the Town of Freetown in said County, which has since been incorporated, & now is known by the name of Troy,) he was called out with the company of Militia, in which company he was enrolled as a private soldier, by Capt. Oliver Reed who commanded said company, and marched by Capt. Reed to Howlands Ferry, so called, in Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island, that he and the company were there stationed and engaged in guarding the mainland from the invasions of the British troops untill about the first of January AD. 1777, when he and the company were then discharged by Capt. Reed.
from further duty, at that time. The discharge was a verbal and not a written one. - The regiment to which the company belonged in which he was enrolled, was under Col. John Hathaway and Isaac Hathaway was the
adjutant of the same. - The British troops during the principal part, if not the whole of this period were in the possession of the Town of Newport & the Island of Rhode Island. - That there were not any Continental troops at
Tiverton or in the vicinity thereof at that time. That there were other troops
(besides Capt. Reeds company) at Tiverton, stationed along and upon the shore of
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the mainland, above and below said Ferry, who were engaged in guarding the shore
of the mainland. - Which he does not recollect of any other company (although
he is not positively certain that such was the fact) being stationed at said Ferry, whilst
Capt. Reeds company was there. - That he cannot fix the day when this service
commenced or terminated with any greater precision than he has before
herein stated; [underlined text] but is positively certain, that he served as aforesaid under Capt.
Reed, one Month at least and he believes longer. [end underlined text- in the right margin next to this is written: 1. Mo.] - He rendered this
service as a Private soldier of the State of Massachusetts - Evidence [crossed out text]
[crossed out text] will be found of this service in the annexed deposition of Benjamin
Durfee, who is the only person now living, to the knowledge of the said Butts, by whom
he can prove this term of his service. -

2d. And the said Thomas Butts upon his oath aforesd. further declares, that the next
day after he was discharged or dismissed by Capt. Reed as aforesd., and about the
first day of January AD. 1777, at said Tiverton, and before returning to his home
which was then in that part of sd. Freetown, which is now called Troy, he enlisted
as a private soldier in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Joseph
Burt in Col. John Hathaway's Regiment for the period of Three months. -
That immediately after he thus enlisted he joined Capt. Burts company at a place
called the Gut in said Tiverton, which is a short distance from Howland's Ferry
aforesd. - That after thus joining the company at the Gut, so called, [underlined text] he was there
stationed and there served under Capt. Burt with the company, as a private soldier
for and during the period of three months, [end underlined text- in the right margin next to this is written: 3. Mo.] which expired on or about the
first day of April AD. 1777, when he and the company were there verbally
discharged by Capt. Burt; and that he the sd. Butts did not receive a writen
discharge, nor did any of the company. - That the company whilst there
stationed was guarding the shores of the mainland from the invasion of the
British troops, who were then in possession of the Town of Newport & the island
of Rhode Island. - That there was a company which belonged to Col. Hathaway's
^Regiment which was stationed in this period, at Fogland Ferry, so called, which is about
three miles below the Gut. - Annother company which belonged to Col. Hathaway's
regiment was stationed near the Gut, and commanded by Capt. Manassa
Kempton - Robert Earl was at that time Capt. Kempton's lieutenant. -
Annother part of Col. Hathaway's regiment, as the sd. Butts thinks & believes, was
then stationed at sd. Howland's Ferry - Isaac Hathaway was at that time
Col. Hathaway's adjutant. - The names of the other field officers he does
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not recollect. - He does not recollect of any continental troops being
stationed at or in the vicinity of the Gut, during any part of this period -
He does recollect, that there was a company of Artillery stationed a short
distance from the Gut which company he thinks and believes was
commanded by Capt. Sawyer. - That this service was rendered by the
sd. Butts as a soldier for the State of Massachusetts - That he cannot
positively ^declare on what day of the month this service commenced or ended, but
thinks and believes that it commenced and ended at the times before herein
stated - [underlined text] He knows however and is positively certain that he served as
a private soldier at the Gut aforesd. under Capt. Burt ^for a [illegible] the term of Three
months & was then verbally discharged by Capt Burt. [end underlined text] - Evidence of
this service will be found in the annexed affidavit signed by John
Lawrence who served with sd. Butts under Capt. Burt, and who is the only
person now living & known to the sd. Butts by whom he can prove this service
Said Lawrence is a respectable clergiman in sd. Freetown. -

3d. And the said Butts, upon his oath aforesd., further declares, that immediately
after he was discharged by Capt. Burt as aforesaid, he went from said Tiverton to said
Troy which was then a part of said Freetown, [crossed out text] ^said Tiverton [crossed out text] being adjoining that part of said Freetown
which has since been incorporated by the name of Troy, and which was then, (as well
as now,) his place of residence; where he again enlisted in a company of Infantry
under the command of Joseph Durfee, who was afterwards and before the
close of the Revolution, promoted to a Major and then to a Lieut. Collonel, -
That said Butts enlisted, [crossed out text] as aforesaid about the first of April AD. 1777. - The company
under the command of said Durfee belonged to Col. John Hathaway's regiment
That immediately after he then enlisted he and the company under the command
of said Durfee, commenced duty at Fall River, so called, which was
then in and a part of the Town of Freetown, but now is in and a part of
sd. Town ^of Troy. - That the said Butts and the company were there stationed
from that time, untill sometime in the month of December AD. 1777
when the Bay, which is called Mount Hope Bay, being then frozen up; the
company were discharged, verbally, by the said Durfee. -Said Durfee did
[illegible]
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not give any one, to the knowledge, of the said Butts, who belonged to his company
a writen discharge. - The ^sd. company and the said Butts, during this period
were constantly engaged in guarding the shores of said Bay, and the
shores of Taunton Great River (both of which bordered upon that part of sd.
Freetown which is now Troy) from invasions from the British Troops, as
the British troops were then in possession of the Town of Newport and the
Island of Rhode Island. - That there was not, that he recollects, any other
company stationed at Fall River, in this period. - There were however he
reccollects, other troops stationed before Fall River, in Tiverton R. I. one
company of which was commanded by Capt. Richard Durfee. - Troops
were also stationed above Fall River, that belonged to Col. Hathaways
Regiment, one [crossed out: of which] company of which troops, were commanded as he
thinks and believes by Capt. Benjamin Reed. - That during this period the
British troops landed at Fall River, for the purpose as was supposed of
burning the mills and the village, when an engagement took place, between
the enemy & the company under the command of said Joseph Durfee, in which
the said Butts took part, and a number of the enemy were killed & left.
on the battle ground,. - The enemy were, after a hard contest driven
back & they retreated to the Island of Rhode Island. - Said Butts cannot
positively state the day of the month when this ^period of service commenced ^or ended; but knows that
it commenced & ended about the times above mentioned. - [underlined text] He knows
however and is certain that he served as a private as aforesaid under
Capt. Joseph Durfee Seven months at least and he has no doubt, some
time longer in the year 1777. [end underlined text- in the right margin of the page is written: 7. mo. -] - He does not recollect of any continental
troops being stationed at or in the vicinity of Fall River in this period.
That he rendered this service as a soldier of the State of Massachusetts. -
Evidence of this service will be found in the affidavits, signed by
Benjamin Durfee, Thomas Davis and George Reed all of whom were
soldiers in said Durfee's company with the said Butts. -

4th and the said Butts, upon his oath aforesaid, further declares
that in the early part of the month of March AD. 1778. - his place of residence
then being in that part of Freetown, which is now Troy, he again
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enlisted at said Fall River, in a Company of Infantry commanded by
Capt. Oliver Reed, in Col. John Hathaway's Regiment; that immediately
after he thus enlisted; he and the company under the command of Capt.
Reed entered upon duty at said Fall River, where they were stationed
and continued upon constant duty untill about the middle of
December in that year, when & where they were discharged by
Capt. Reed. - The said Butts, ^did not secure (and [crossed out text] none of the company to his knowledge,
received) a writen a discharge. - The reason of the company's
then being discharged, was because the Bay, called Mount Hope Bay,
and the river (called Taunton Great River) were frozen over, so that
the enemy could not land by water. - That the company under the
command of Capt. Reed were constantly engaged in guarding the shores
of said Bay and river from the invasions of the British troops, as they
were then in the possession of the Town of Newport & the Island of Rhode
Island. - That there was not, that he reccollects, any other company stationed
at Fall River, during this period. - There were however, as ^he well reccollects
many troops stationed above Fall River, on Taunton Great River, and
many troops below Fall River on the shore of the Bay in Tiverton ^R. I. -
But who commanded the companies or Regiments above or below Fall
River he does not reccollect. - He does not reccollect that there were
any Continental troops during this period or any part thereof, stationed
at Fall River or ^in the vicinity thereof. - He reccollects that a great
many troops in the month of August of that year marched through
Fall River, on their way to the Island of Rhode Island, about the time
of Sullivan's expedition, so called. - He reccollects that Joseph
Durfee under whom he served the year previous went from Fall
River upon Rhode Island as a Major of the Regiment under Col.
Josiah Whitney - He also reccollects the fight at Butts & Quaker
hill on the Island [crossed out text] in the summer of this period, as he heard
the cannon &c. of the armies, he being ^there stationed but about seven
miles from where the Battle was fought. - Said Butts cannot
state positively the day of the month when this [crossed out text] period of
his service commenced or ended, but is confident that it commenced
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[illegible]
as the early part of March 1778 and did not terminate before the
middle of December in that year. - [underlined text] He is however positively
certain, that he served as a private soldier under Capt. Oliver
Reed, Nine months at least in the year 1778. [end underlined text- in the right margin of the page next to this is written: 9. mo.] - This service he 
rendered as a soldier of the State of Massachusetts. - Evidence of
this service will be found in the annexed affidavits, signed by
Thomas Davis and George Read. -

5th And the said Thomas Butts, upon his oath aforesaid, further declares
that as early as the first part of March AD. 1779 at said Fall River, which
was then a part of said Freetown, but now a part of said Troy; said
Freetown then being his place of residence, he again enlisted in a
company of Infantry and as a private soldier in the same, which
company was commanded by Capt. Oliver Reed, before herein
named, and belonged to and was a part of Col. John Hathaway's
Regiment. - That immediately after he thus enlisted, he, together
with the company under Capt. Reed, entered upon duty at said
Fall River, and ^there continued contsantly engaged in the service of
guarding the shores of the Mount Hope Bay aforesaid and Taunton
Great River aforesaid from the invasions of the enemy, untill about
the middle of November following in that year, when ^he and the
company were then [crossed out text] ^at said Fall River discharged by Capt. Reed. - This
discharge was a verbal and not a writen one. - The reason of the sd.
Butts, and the company to which he belonged, being there discharged, was
because the British troops in the latter part of the month of October preceeding
said November, evacuated the Town of Newport and the Island of
Rhode Island, and no further apprehension of an immediate invasion
was feared from them. - And beside this, the said Butts whilst under
Joseph Durfee in the 1777, and also whilst under the said Reed in 1778
and 1779 enlisted specially, for the purpose of guarding the shores
of the mainland, from the invasions which were apprehended from
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the British troops, that had the possession of the Island of Rhode
Island - The said Butts declares that during this period, to wit, from
the first of March to the middle of November AD. 1779. - there was
not any continental troops stationed at or in the vicinity of
Fall River. - That there was not any other company stationed
at Fall River during this period; but in Tiverton R.I. a little
below Fall River, there were many troops stationed guarding
the mainland from invasions, and also some companies of ^Militia
^were stationed a short distance (a part of this period) above said
Fall River. - He reccollects that Capt. Richard Durfee was
stationed below Fall River a part of this period with a company
& a Capt. Lawrence (he thinks but is not certain his given name was
Benjamin) was also stationed near Fall River, with his company
during a part of this period. - He has now forgotten the names
of Capt. Reed's subaltern officers. - Nor can he state positively the
day of the month when this service commenced or ended, but is
confident however that it commenced about the first of March AD.
1779 & terminated about the middle of November then next
[underlined text] following - He knows however & is positively certain that he
served under Capt. Oliver Reed as a Private as aforesaid in the
year 1779. - Eight months at least and he thinks & believes longer. [end underlined text- in the left margin of the page next to this is written: 7. mo. -]
He rendered this service as a Soldier for the State of Massachusetts
Evidence of this period of his service will be found in the annexed
affidavits, signed by Thomas Davis and George Reed who
served with the said Butts as stated in their affidavits. -

And the said Thomas Butts upon his oath aforesaid further
declares, that during the Revolution war he was called ^out upon
several alarms and rendered sundry services as a soldier at
other periods, that those herein before mentioned, but for which
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he has not claimed or received any compensation, and which he shall
not herein particularly mention and describe, as [underlined text] the foregoing
periods of service which are herein particularly mentioned and
described, amount at least to Twenty Eight months of service.
in the war of the Revolution [end underlined text] -

And the said Thomas Butts, in order more fully to answer the Interrogatories
propounded by the Secretary of War, further says that he supposes
he was born in that part of Freetown aforesaid, which in 1803 was incorporated
& is now known by the name of Troy, he having ^been so told by his
^parents and he having there lived ^with his parents at the time of his earliest reccollection. -
That he was born on the 29th day of May AD. 1757. - That he has
examined ^the records and also employed the Clerk of the Town of Freetown, where his name
and ^the time of his birth should have been recorded ^to examine the records, but cannot find that the time
of his birth is recorded upon the records of births in that town. - Nor
does he reccollect of his father's having kept any family record of the
births and names of his children. - He does not know however but that
his father did keep a family record; said Butts says, if he did, he
does not remember it; as his father and his parents died [crossed out text] many
[crossed out text] ^years since. - He has [crossed out: but little] ^no doubt that his statement
as above, as to the time of his birth, is correct, not only from the fact
that he was so told in his early youth, but from his reccollection of
certain events, which are now matters of history, and which he could
not have reccollected, if the [crossed out text] time of his birth, had been [crossed out text]
{crossed out: but a little] but a few years later than the time before stated -
That the place of his residence, at the several periods when he was called
into the service was in that part of the Town of Freetown, which in the
year 1803 was incorporated, and now is known by the name of the town of
Troy, and where he has always resided since the Revolutionary War -
That he cannot state any more particularly, how he was called into
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the service, or the names of his or of other officers, or the circumstances
of his service, or the manner in which he was discharged, than
is before herein stated in this declaration - He was not a
Substitute - The names of the persons who can testify to his
veracity and in part to his services as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war
are the same who have subscribed the annexed affidavits; and
in addition to these he has no doubt but that the Rev. Philip Hathaway
and Elnathan P. Hathaway both residents in said Freetown which
is adjoining said Troy and not far from that part of said Troy where the
said Butts resides, can testify to his [crossed out: veracity] character for veracity
and their belief, that he rendered the aforementioned services as a
Soldier of the revolution. -
[signature] Thomas Butts

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate

(See [illegible] last Page but [illegible])
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29681
Revy INVALID.
File No. 29,681
Thomas Butts
[illegible] Rev War

Act: June 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 98.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Deposition of
Benjamin Durfee
for
Thomas Butts
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I Thomas Davis of Troy in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, being in the Seventy ninth year of my age, do
Testify and say, that I have known and been acquainted with
Thomas Butts who is now a resident in said Troy, from his
earliest youth to the present time, - That we lived and
were brought up, in the same neighborhood. - That I
know that Thomas Butts [crossed out text} ^served in a company of [crossed out text]
[crossed out text] Infantry from some time in the Spring ^of 1777 to the time
when Mount Hope Bay, so called, was frozen up, which
was some time in December AD. 1777, - That he [crossed out text] ^served in a
company commanded by Joseph Durfee, who was afterwards,
and some time during the Revolution, promoted to a Major
and then a Lieutenant Collonel - That said Butts, whilst
under said Durfee, was a private ^soldier and was stationed at Fall
River, so called, which was then a part of the Town of Freetown
but ^is now a part of said Troy - That said Butts was ^constantly engaged
in guarding the shore of Mount Hope Bay, so called, and Taunton
Great River, so called, from the invasion of the British Troops,
who were then in possession of the Island of Rhode Island -
That I saw said Butts daily when he was in said Durfee's
company and whilst he was engaged in this service - [underlined text] Said
Butts [crossed out: was] ^served under said Durfee and ^was engaged as aforesaid in
1777-, Seven months at least, and I think and believe longer. [end underlined text]
And I Thomas Davis ^do further testify and say that Thomas
Butts, from the early part of the spring in the year 1778., to some
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time in the month of December of the same year, was a
private soldier ^and served in a company of [crossed out text] ^Infantry,
[crossed out text] commanded by Capt. Oliver Reed. - That I was, also a
private ^soldier during that time in the same company under Capt.
Reed. - That said Butts, was stationed, with the sd. Reeds
company at said Fall River, during that period, and engaged
in guarding the shore of Mount Hope Bay and Taunton
Great River from the invasion of the British Troops, as the
British were then in the possession of the Island of Rhode
Island. - [underlined text] Said Butts was engaged in this service ^and served under Capt.
Reed in the year 1778. nine months at least if not longer. [end underlined text]

^And I Thomas Davis do further testify and say, that said Butts from
some time in the early part of the spring in 1779., to some
time in November 1779., was a private soldier ^and served in a company
of [crossed out text] Infantry commanded by Capt. Oliver
Reed - That I, also, was a private soldier during that time in the
same company with the said Butts under Capt. Reed - That
said Butts was stationed, with the company at said Fall River ^and served during
that period, and ^was engaged in guarding the shore of Mount Hope Bay
and Taunton Great River, from the invasion of the British Troops,
as the British were nearly the whole of this period in the possession
of the Island of Rhode Island. - [underlined text] said Butts was engaged in this
service ^and served under Capt. Reed in the year 1779. - Eight months at least
& I think and believe longer. - Thomas Davis
Bristol Ss. June 17th 1833. - Then personally appeared ^before me Thomas Davis who subscribed
the above affidavit & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statements by him
made - I further certify that sd. Thomas Davis is a credible person & entitled to
full credit -
Elnathan B. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace -
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I George Read of Troy in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, being in the Seventy fourth year of my age, do
testify and say that I have known and been acquainted with
Thomas Butts, of said Troy, and always lived in the same Town
and neighborhood with him from the time of my earliest
youth to the present time. - That said Thomas Butts, was a
private soldier, with me, in a company of Infantry, from
some in the Spring of the year 1777. to some time in the month
of December of the same year, and under the command of Joseph
Durfee, who was afterwards promoted to a Major and then a Lieut.
Collonel, before the close of the Revolutionary war. - That said
Butts, ^served with the company, whilst under the command of the said
Durfee, ^and was stationed at Fall River ^so called, which was then in and a part
of the Town of Freetown, but is now in and a part of the Town of
sd. Troy - That said Butts was engaged in guarding the shores of Mount
Hope Bay, so called, and Taunton Great River, so called, from the
invasions of the British troops, as the British were then in the
possession of the Island of Rhode Island. - [underlined text] Said Butts [crossed out: was] ^served under
the [crossed out text] said Durfee and ^was engaged as aforesaid in 1777. Seven
months at least, if not longer. [end underlined text] -

And I George Read do further testify and say, that said Thomas Butts
from ^some time in the early part of the spring in the year 1778 to some time, I think
about the middle of December of that year, was a private soldier ^and served as such in 
a company of Infantry commanded by ^my cousin Capt. Oliver Reed - That I
was also a private soldier during that time in the same company
under Capt. Reed - That said Butts was stationed with the company
^and served under Capt. Reed, during that period, at Fall River aforesaid, and ^was engaged
in guarding the shore of Mount Hope Bay & Taunton Great River from
(over)
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invasions of the British troops, they then being in possession of the
Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island - [underlined text] Said
Butts ^served and was engaged in this service, under Capt Reed in the
year 1778., nine months at least and I think + believe longer - [end underlined text]

And I said George Read do ^further testify and say, that sd. Butts, from
some time in the early part of the Spring in the year 1779., to some
time in the month of November of the same year, [crossed out text] served as
private soldier, with me, in a company of Infantry, commanded
by Capt. Oliver Reed. - That said Butts, with the company,
during that period, was stationed at said Fall River and
engaged in guarding the shore of said Mount Hope Bay and Taunton
Great River from the invasions of the British troops, as they were then
during the principal part of that period, in the possession of the
Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island - [underlined text] Said
Butts ^served and was engaged in this service under Capt. Reed in the year
1779, - Eight months at least, and I believe longer. [end underlined text] -
George Read

Bristol Ss. June 17th 1833. - Then personally appeared before me George
Read who subscribed the foregoing affidavit and made oath to the
truth of the foregoing statement by him - I certify that said
Read is a credible person & that the statement by him made
is entitled to full credit - Elnathan B. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace.
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I John Lawrence of Freetown in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, Clerk, being in the Seventy first year of my age, do testify
and say that I served as a private soldier in a company of Infantry,
in the War of the Revolution, commanded by Capt. Joseph Burt
in Col. John Hathaway's Regiment, for and during the term of Three
months; that said Company during said term was stationed at
or near The Gut, so called, which is about a mile below, Howland's
Ferry, so called, in Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island,
that this period and term of service (I think and believe) commenced
about the first of January AD. 1777 and terminated about
the first of April of the same ^year ([crossed out: as I think and believe]) - I cannot be
positively certain of the month or the day of the month when this
^service commenced or terminated, but know it was for the term of
three months - That Capt. Burt's company was engaged in guarding
the mainland from invasions; the British troops then
being in the possession of the Island of Rhode Island. -
I further testify and say that Thomas Butts, then a resident of
that part of said Town of Freetown which has since been incorporated
as the Town of Troy and ^in which the said Butts now resides
was a private soldier in Capt. Burt's company and served
with me during said term of three months. - That at the
expiration of said Term Capt. Burt discharged his company
at said Tiverton, verbally, - That I did not ^receive and presume
there was not any one in the company that received a writen discharge.
That said Butts who served with me as aforesaid, is the same
person whom I have this day seen & for whom I am now
testifying and with whom I have been acquainted ever since
[crossed out text] we served together as above described -
John Lawrence

Bristol Ss. Sept. 24th 1832 Then personally appeared John Lawrence
who subscribed the above declaration and made oath to the
truth of the same -
Before me. Elnathan B. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace

Bristol Ss. Sept. 24th 1832, I certify that I am well acquainted with the said John
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Lawrence, and that his character for truth is good and that the foregoing
statement by him subscribed is entitled to full credit -
Elnathan B. Hathaway, Just. of the Peace -
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I, Benjamin Durfee of Troy in the County
of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say
that I have been well acquainted with Thomas
Butts of Troy aforesaid from his childhood
to the present time, - that I was with said Butts
during much of the Revolutionary War, that I
knew him to be soldier in the company commanded
by Capt Oliver Reed, stationed at Howland's
Ferry in Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island,
at the time the British troops took possession
of Newport in November in the year seventeen
hundred and seventy six - that he was on duty
as aforesaid about one month -- that he was
stationed as a guard at Fall River in the state of Massachusetts
in the spring, summer and autumn of
seventeen hundred and seventy seven, in the
company commanded, as near as I can now recollect,
by Capt. Joseph Durfee - and that according to the
best of my recollection, he served in said guard,
in the Massachusetts state service about six
or seven months
And further the deponent saith not-
Benjamin Durfee
Bristol Ss. September 27th 1832 - Personally appeared
The above named Benjamin Durfee ^a disinterested and credible person - and made
oath, that the foregoing statement, by him made
and subscribed is just and true
Before me James Ford, Justice of the Peace
Page 22

[unknown dark shape at upper left side of page; to the right of it is a faint circular outline]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol Ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of
the Court of Probate in afor said County
of Bristol, do hereby certify that Elnathan B.
Hathaway and James Ford are Justices of
the Peace in afor said County of Bristol
and that the Signatures to the foregoing
certificate purporting to be theirs are
genuine - - In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of said Court this
Sixth day of July Eighteen hundred
and Thirty Three -
Anselm Bassett