Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5226, William Boyd, Conn. Vt.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE     Conn.
Vt.

Boyd, William
Jennet

NUMBER     W. 5226

CONTENTS
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8386
10501 New York
William Boyd of Saratoga in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Shaffen of the Regt. commanded by Col. Allen in the Vermont line for 6 mos & 8 days

Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 20 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Apl 1853 and sent to [illegible] Ballston Spa

Arrears to the 4th of M. 33 $41.76
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 33 10.44
$52.20

Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by G. Stiles Clerk.
Book Vol. 4 Page 15
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Declaration, in order to obtain the act of Congress,
DATE OF NEW YORK, ss.
SARATOGA COUNTY,
On this Fourth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two in the year of our Lord personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas of the county of Saratoga and State of New-York, now sitting, William Boyd a resident of Ballston in the county of Saratoga, and State of New-York, aged Seventy four 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. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

He was born in the Parish of Church Hill in Perthshire in Scotland in the Kingdom of Great Britain in the year 1758. He has no record of his age in America, as he came to this Country in the year 1775 but he has been long known to the Rev. Reuben Sears of Ballston aforesaid
where he has resided forty two years & now resides, also to Alexander Stewart, Samuel Titus, John Miller, Nathaniel Booth, Uriah Gregory & many others who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.

In the month of July 1780 he was laboring as a hired man for Noel Potter of Clarendon in the State of Vermont when Capt. John Spafford of Teinmouth called for men to garrison the fort at Pittsford by Otter creek, & act as scouts, in consequence of a man having been killed & scalped near the fort. He, the said Boyd & Seven others from the said town of Clarendon
volunteered under said Capt Potter & served at the said fort Eight days when he was  dismissed by Col. Ebenezer Allen & returned home. After remaining at home a few days, on the last of July 1780 aforesaid, or the first of August of the same year, the Government of Vermont called for men again to Garrison said fort to be raised for four months, the quota of men to be furnished by the said town of Clarendon was seventeen all of whom volunteered for that term of time & entered the service under Lieut. David Powers of the same town & marched to the said fort at Pittsford where he & his associates continued in service under
Col. Ebenezer Allen aforesaid for the said term of four months & were discharged at said fort by the said Colonel Allen, the last of November or the first of December in the same year upon their discharge the said Col. Allen thanked them for their service & shook hands with them, every one of them. He the Said Boyd remember the names of several of
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same town & marched to the said fort at Pittsford where he & his associates continued in service under Ebenezer Allen aforesaid for the said term of four months & were discharged at said Fort by said Colonel Allen, the last of November or the first of December in the same year upon their discharge the said Col. Allen thanked them for their service shook hands with them, every one of them. He said Boyd remembers the names of several of the
Seventeen persons who volunteered from said town aforesaid, John Smith was the Sergeant, the said Noel Potter was Corporal, Moses Powers brother of Lieut Powers, John Arnold, Amos Ives, Augustus Spencer, Curtis Smith & Richard Chately were among the privates. The the said Boyd then returned home to the said town of Clarendon where he remained until January 1781 when he went to the town of Chatham on the east side of the Connecticut river in the State of Connecticut, while residing there an order came from the government of Connecticut to the town of Chatham to raise eight men for two months as a part of the levies to garrison the fort at Stamford in Connecticut, for the purpose of relieving the Continentals who had kept the said fort through the winter of 1780 & 1781

The order came, & the draft was made in February 1781 for the said Eight men, when a
man by the name of Daniel Parks was drafted as one of them, the said Daniel Parks not
being able to leave home in consequence of the situation of his family, he the said Boyd
took his place & on the first day of March went to Stamford where he was mustered into service by Col. Canfield & marched to the fort where he was immediately ordered on duty to relieve a continental sentry. The continentals (the said Boyd thinks less than a company immediately left the fort at Stamford & took the field, he & his associates remained on duty at the said fort for two months under the command of Capt. Ebenezer Couch of the Connecticut Militia
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The order came, & the draft was made in February 1781 for the said Eight men, when a
man by the name of Daniel Parks was drafted as one of them, the said Daniel Parks not
being able to leave home in consequence of the situation of his family, he the said Boyd
took his place & on the first day of March went to Stamford where he was mustered into service by Col. Canfield & marched to the fort where he was immediately ordered on duty to relieve a continental sentry. The continentals (the said Boyd thinks less than a company immediately left the fort at Stamford & took the field, he & his associates remained on duty at the said fort for two months under the command of Capt. Ebenezer Couch of the Connecticut Militia & were discharged there on or about the first day of May in the year 1781 by Col. Canfield aforesaid the said two months men being then relieved by nine months men, who took possession of the fort, & the said Boyd returned home of the said Eight two months men, who were mustered at Stamford the said Boyd, William Goodrich, Amos Boman, Thomas Fuller & Samuel Hollibut passed muster, & the three others did not pass muster being boys under size

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state.
William X Botd his mark [signature]

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first aforesaid
Thomas Palmer Clerk
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We, Reuben Sears a clergyman, residing in the town of Ballston county of Saratoga, State of New York, and Benslee Peters residing in the town of Ballston county of Saratoga, State of New York, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Boyd who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 74 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.
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. in open Court
Reuben Sears
Benslee Peters [signature]
Thomas Palmer Clerk

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Reuben Sears who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Ballston
county of Saratoga, State of New-York, and that Bernslee Peters also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Ballston is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Thomas Palmer clerk of the court of Common Pleas in & for the Court of Saratoga
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Boyd, for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 4 day of September 1832-
Thomas Palmer Clerk

1. Where, and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
6. To a soldier -- Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what
To an officer -- Did you ever receive a commission; and, if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present  neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
---
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William Boyd
for a Pension
admd
6 mo 8 days pri
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State of New York
Saratoga County ss
Personally appeared in open Court before the of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga aforesaid now sitting. William Boyd of Ballston in said County
aged Seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose & say to the question in the objections by the Secretary of War, to wit

Has be given the names of the officers under whom he served in conformity with the Regulations? He answers & says In July 1780 he served 8 days under Captain John
Spafford of timmoth at Pittsford Fort as stated in his declaration he does not recollect any other officer and in the service of four months. In July aforesaid the latter part he served under Lieutenant David Powers as Pittsford as stated in his declaration he can state no further than he has already stated in his declaration

And that in 1781 he served two months under the officer named in his declaration except he did not recollect at the time of making his application to wit Lieuntenant Bostwick, Captain - Frisby belong to the Regiment & Jonah Baldwin was quarter Master Hubbard was adjutant of the said Regiment

To the question, If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the and testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? The answers & says that he has no documentary evidence of any part of his services stated in his declaration presented & hereto annexed, and that he knows of no person now living who can testify to the same,
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To the 3d question in the Interrogatories required by the Secretary of War

Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? answers and says in Clarendon
in the State of Vermont as stated in his declaration & that In January 1781. I went to Connecticut State in the Town of Chatham in the County of ____ where he continued to live
until 1783 from there he moved to Ballston in the then County of Albany (now Saratoga) & State of New York where he continued to live until 1803 or 4 when he moved to Duanes Burgh in the then County of Albany now Schencedy, where he lived about four years, and then moved back to Ballston in the County of Saratoga & State of New York where he has continued to live ever since & where he now lives

To the 5th question, state the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and
the general circumstances of your service. He answers & says that he can answer no further than he has already answered in his declaration except that at Pittsford Fort in 1780. there were two companies of Vermont nine months men commanded by Captain Hutchinson & one company aforesaid was command by Captain _____ there were continental troops stationed when he served by Captain Sawyer our company was not attached to any other company or Regiment but did duty separately as stated in his declaration the general circumstances of his services are also stated there
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question
(6)  To the question, Did you ever receive a Discharge from the services and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  He answers and says that he received no written Discharge from the Service.

               his
William   X  Boyd
              mark

subscribed & sworn to this 26th day of December 1832 In open court
Wm. S. Goodrich, Depty Clerk.
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State of New York
County of Saratoga ⎬ ss: 
Be it known that before me Augustus Baker Saratoga County Judge, in and for the County aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Jennet Boyd a resident of Ballston in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aforesaid aged Eighty years; who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath
make the following declaration, in order to receive the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed the 29th day of July 1848 Entitled an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of Officers and soldier of the Revolutionary Army

That she is the widow of William Boyd late of Ballston in Saratoga County and State of New York, That according to the best of her knowledge, information or belief her said husband William Boyd, during the period of the Revolutionary War, resided in the State of Connecticut, where he resided when he entered into the service of the United States, and served as a private of Infantry as stated in his declaration for a Pension in
der the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832

She further declares that her late husband the said William Boyd was at the time of his death a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of seventy dollars and __ Cents per annum; and died on the 17th day of January in the year 1834,

And she further declares that she was married to the said William Boyd on the 10th day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety-five; (1795) and that her name
before marriage was Jennet Fraser and her place of residence Ballston in the County of Saratoga & State of New York 

And she further declares that she has not intermarried but continues to be, the widow of the said William Boyd deceased and now resides in Ballston in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aforesaid
Jennet x Boyd her mark [signature]
Witness
A. Bockes
Wm Odell

Saratoga County ss The above affidavit was subscribed and sworn before me this
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twenty fourth day of July 1850
A. Bockes
Sar co Judge

State of New York
County of Saratoga ⎬ ss: And I the within named County Judge hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the applicant within named (Jennet Boyd) is unable to
appear in court an account of bodily infirmities, incident to old age and further certify that said applicant Janet Boyd is unable to write because she never learned to write
A. Bockes
Sar. Co. Judge
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Know all men by these presents that I Jennet Boyd of Ballston in the County of Saratoga and State of New York Widow of William Boyd late of Ballston deceased Do hereby constitute and appoint Edward W Lee of Ballston in the County and State aforesaid my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to make application to the Commissioner of pensions of the United States or any other officer or officers having power of granting pensions to the surviving widows of Revolutionary Soldiers of the United States for such amount of pension as she may be entitled to receive on account of the revolutionary services rendered the United States by her late husband the said William Boyd, deceased. and in my name to do all things lawful to obtain the same and attorneys one or more under him for the purposes aforesaid to make and again at pleasure to revoke, Ratifying and by these presents confirming what my said Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the premises by virtue of these presents

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of September 1850
Sealed & delivered in presence of David Maxwell

Jennet X Boyd her mark [signature]

State of New York
Saratoga County
Be it known that on this 20th day of September 1850 before the Subscriber David Maxwell a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer Oaths
and take acknowledgments personally appeared Jennet Boyd above named and acknowledged that she Executed the foregoing Power of Attorney as her act and deed

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year above mentioned
David Maxwell Justice of the Peace
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Saratoga County ss
I certify that the above named Jennet Boyd is unable to write her name because she never learned to write.
David Maxwell Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Saratoga County of
Be it known that before me David Maxwell a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Mary Davis a resident of Ballston in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aged eighty seven years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath depose and say: That she is personally acquainted with Jennet Boyd of Ballston County of Saratoga and State of New York and has been for more than sixty years past. That the said Janet Boyd lived in the family with this deponent before her marriage that this deponent attended the marriage of the said Jennet Boyd, with William Boyd (now deceased) at the town of
Ballston in the County and State aforesaid on or about the tenth day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety five. and that her name before marriage was Jennet Fraser and her place of residence in Ballston in the County of Saratoga & State of New York 

This deponent further says that the said Jennet Boyd has not intermarried but continues to be the widow of the said William Boyd deceased and now resides in Ballston in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aforesaid. This deponent further says that the said Jennet Boyd was married at her mothers house in Ballston aforesaid but does not remember the name of the person who performed the marriage ceremony
Mary Davis [signature]

Subscribed and sworn before me this 20th day of September 1850
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York,
Saratoga County Clerk's Office.  SS.

I, JAMES W. HORTON, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF SARATOGA, do hereby certify, That David Maxwell whose name is subscribed to the annexed INSTRUMENT, is a Justice of the Peace of the County of Saratoga, dwelling in said county, duly qualified. And that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said justice 
and verily believe that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine. And that said instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the laws of the state of New York.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my name, and affixed the Seal of said County, this 21 day of Oct in the year 1850,
James W. Horton CLERK.
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State of New York
Saratoga County
Be it Known that before me David Maxwell a Justice of the Peace in and for the County
aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Moses Williams of the Ballston Spa in said County aged sixty five years who being duly sworn according to law
doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Alexander Stewart and Mary Davis both
resident of the town of Ballston in said County of Saratoga and that he has been acquainted with them for more than forty years last [illegible]  that they are good & respectable citizens of said town and that they as credible Witnesses as any person in said town
in said to
Moses Williams [signature]

Subscribed and sworn before me this 20th day of Jan 1857. 
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Saratoga County ss  Be it known that before me David Maxwell a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appears Isaac Hiller a resident of the town of Ballston in said county who being duly affirmed according to law doth depose and say.  That there was no public record of marriages kept by law in said town of Ballston or in the county of Saratoga until within the last ten years.  That there was a church record kept in said town which record has been examined by this deponent and that there are no entries on said record  between the years 1792 and 1800.
Isaac Hiller

Subscribed and affirmed before me this 19th day of February 1851
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Saratoga County
Be it known that before me David Maxwell a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Christia Peters a resident of Ballston in the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy five years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that she is personally acquainted with Jennet Boyd of Ballston in said County and has been for the last sixty years and upwards, that this deponent was married on the 8th day of February 1798 and that previous thereto this deponent was brides maid at the wedding of
William and Jennet Boyd, but on what particular day the Wedding took place this deponent has
now forgotten.
Christia X Peters her mark [signature]

Subscribed and sworn before me this 19th day of February 1851

David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York
Saratoga County ⎬ 
Be it known that before me David MaXwell a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Alexander Stewart of Ballston in said County aged Eighty Eight years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is personally acquainted with Jennet Boyd a resident of said town and
has been for the last Eighty years and that the said Jennet Boyd came to this country from Scotland in company with this deponents fathers family. That the said Jennet Boyd was about three years old when she came to this country as aforesaid. That this deponent was present at the time of her marriage with William Boyd. That the said Marriage took place some time in the month of December in the year seventeen hundred and ninety five That her name before  marriage was Jennet Fraser. This deponent further says that he has been a resident of said town of Ballston from the year 1776 to the present time
Alexander X Stewart his mark [signature]

Subscribed and sworn before me this 19th day of February 1851
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Saratoga County ⎬ 
I hereby certify that after the foregoing deposition was signed, the above named Alexander
Stewart informed me that his mother and the mother of the said Jennet Boyd were sisters
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace
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FAMILY RECORD.
MARRIAGES.    --- MARRIAGES.
William Boyd was Born August 12th 1760 at Church hill in North Shire Scotland

Jennet Frasure was Born of September 15th 1770 at Strespay Scotland

Sd William & Jennet was Married December 10th AD 1795 in Ballston

Jennet B Frasure was Born September 4th 1803 in Dewanesburg
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State of New York
Saratoga County
Be it known that before me David Maxwell a Justice of the Peace in and for the County
aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Jennet B Frasure
a resident of the town of Ballston in said County aged forty seven years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say. That the record hereunto annexed was taken from the family Bible of William and Jennet Boyd, now in the possession of said Jennet Boyd, That this deponent has known said Record for about forty years, and that it is the only Family Record of the said William and Jennet Boyd and the whole of said Record
Jennet B Frasure

Subscribed and sworn before me this 19th  day of February 1851
David Maxwell
Justice of the Peace  

State of New York
Saratoga County
Clerks office
I James W. Horton Clerk of the County of Saratoga do hereby certify that David Maxwell Esq whose name is subscribed to the above and attached affidavits was at the date of said affidavits a Justice of the Peace of the County of Saratoga dwelling in the said County &
duly qualified, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said David Maxwell & verily believe that his signatures to the above affidavits are genuine

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & affixed the seal of said County this 20 day of February 1854
James Horton Clerk
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[left side]
10501
William Boyd
Ballston
Saratoga Co. N.Y.

no agent

[right side]
10501
Wm Boyd

6131617
12 Sep 1830
28 Nov

Claimt
Ballston
NY
p.102
Page 24

10501
BRIEF in the case of William Boyd - Ballston Co of Saratoga in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 74 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
July in 1780
last of July or first Aug 1780
1 March 1781

Duration of Service.
Years Months Days.
8 days
4 months
2 months

Rank.
As a private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Capt. John Shafford Col. E. Allen
Lt. D. Powers Col. E. Allen ,Sgt J. Smith, Corpl N. Potter
Capt E. Couch Col. Canfield

5. In what battles was he engaged? [none shown]
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Clarendon, 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
W Fawcett
Examining Clerk.
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Jennet Boyd
wid of William
Act July 29-1848
New York

Edw'd W. Lee Ballston Saratoga NY
Jan 20 - 1851
Page 26

No 811-
Jennet Boyd, widow of William
NY
Act 29 July 1848
Married 1795
Hus died 1836

Adm 6 mo 8 days pri
$20.88 per annum
Cong 4 March 1818

Albany Roll

E. W. Lee
Ballston Spa
NY
Page 27

Ballston Spa 20 Feb. 1851
Enclosed in additional evidence in the case of Jennet Boyd (widow of William) an applicant for a Pension under the act of 29th July 1848

When the other papers are forwarded to the Department in this case I understood that the were no other living Witnesses to the Marriage of Jennet Boyd except Mary
Davis, had I have known it affidavits could have he sent at that time

Respectfully yours
E. W. Lee

Hon. J.E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 28

Revy WIDOW, & c.
File No.5 226 
Jennet Boyd
Widow
William Boyd
Privt Rev War
---
Act: July 29" 1848 
Index:--Vol. A , Page 72 
Arrangement of 1870.