Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8840, for Jedediah Leighton, New Hampshire
Page 1

SERVICE
N.H.

Leighton, Jedediah

NUMBER
S 8840

Carded
Page 2

10635
New Hampshire
Jedediah Leighton
of Strafford in the State of N.H.
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Drown of the Regt. commanded
by Col Peabody in the New Hamp
line for 7 months and 4 days

Inserted in the Roll of New Hampshire
at the rate of 23 Dollars 78 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of April 1833 and sent A Pearce
Dover New Hampshire

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833   $47.56
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept   11.89
                                                        $59.45

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk
Book E   Vol. 1st   Page 100
Page 3

Jedediah Leighton
N. Hampshire

Private 7 Mos & 4 day


12,216

23.30
    .45
23.75

A Pierce
Dover
N H
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Jedediah Leighton
Co. of Strafford in the State of N.H.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before the Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 76

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[information is in a table]

Period.  In 1775 [illegible]
Duration of Service. 2 Months
Rank. As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Cap. [illegible]. Col Poor

Period.  NH Line July 1 177[last number illegible]
Duration of Service. 5 months 4 days (per Roll of service)
Rank. As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Cap. Drown Col Peabody

5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Cambridge Mass [appears to be crossed out]
Barrington Strafford N Hampshire

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  traditionary and 4 witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

George Taylor Examining Clerk.
Page 5

12.216
Jedediah Leighton


[illegible word in middle of page]
Page 6

DECLARATION IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS PASSED JULY 7, 1832.

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
COUNTY OF STRAFFORD SS. Superior COURT of [illegible]
August TERM, 1832

ON this twenty second day of August 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the Superior Court of [illegible] now in session at Gilford within and for said County of Strafford, Jedediah Leighton a resident of Strafford in said County of Strafford and State of New-Hampshire, 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. That he enlisted in the army of the United States, in the year 1775 and served as follows: two months at Cambridge Massachusetts in the New Hampshire Militia, New Hampshire line in [illegible] Regiment commanded by Col Poor, same company commanded by Capt. John Drew, that I served said two months, and left the service in January 1776 [illegible smudged] in Barrington in said bounty when I enlisted, and marched through part New Hampshire & part Massachusetts to [illegible] Cambridge
That I again enlisted in the army of the United States in the New Hampshire Militia, New Hampshire line and belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col. Peabody, and belonged to the company commanded by Capt. Peter Drown, that I enlisted in July 1778, and was in the battle on Rhode Island, and served six months during my last enlistment, and left the service in January 1779- That I resident in said Barrington when I last enlisted, and marched through part of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and part of Rhode Island to [illegible]

 He hereby reliquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an Annuity, except the present, and he declares his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Jedediah Leighton

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, in open Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.

ATTEST A. Peirce, CLERK.

I, Andrew Peirce Clerk of the Superior Court of [illegible] for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Jedediah Leighton for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this 22 day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

ATTEST A. Peirce, CLERK
Page 7

J Leighton
Page 8

I Robert Demeritt of the town of Strafford in the County of Strafford and state of New Hampshire of the age of seventy-two years do disclose and say that I enlisted under Captain Peter Drown in a Militia Company for six months and I marched from Barrington to Rhode Island and there I joined the Army commanded by General Sulivan under Colonel Stephen Pebody and I was in Battle in august one thousand seven hundred and seventy Eight in the State of Rhode Island. I still remained under the Command of Colonel Pebody till my time expired and I further say that Jedediah Leighton of Strafford enlisted in the same Company with me and marched on with me and Continued with me in the same Company and the same [illegible] the whole time of six months.
Strafford August 11th 1832 Robert Demerett
Strafford August 11th [crossed out]
State of New Hampshire the 11th day of August 1832
County of Strafford    there the above named Robert Demeritt personally appeared and made sworn oath that the above written affidavit by him submitted in fact & him before me
Job Otis Justice Peace
I Certify that I am acquainted with the above Robert Demeritt and he is a man of truth & veracity & entitled to full belief-
Job Otis Justice Peace
Page 9

I Timothy Waterhouse of Barrington in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire husband [illegible] of lawful age testify and say that I was a private in a Milita company formed in the town of Barrington by enlistment in November one thousand seven hundred and seventy five Commanded by Captain John Drew that Jedediah Leighton by Strafford in said County of Strafford enlisted in said company at the same time on which I enlisted that the said Leighton in the company Commanded by the said Captain Drew marched through Exeter Kingston and Haverhill and joined the army at Cambridge and that the said Jedediah Leighton as a private in said Company continued in the army at Cambridge two full months and that I went to Cambridge with the said Leighton and returned from there home with him
Timothy Waterhouse

State of New Hampshire
Strafford SS On the 18th day of July 1832 Timothy Waterhouse personally came and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true
Wm. Winkley Justice Peace

I do hereby certify that the above named Timothy Waterhouse is a Gentleman of Good standing and as to truth and veracity is entitled to full belief

Wm Winkley Justice Peace
Page 10

State of New Hampshire

Strafford SS

I Andrew Peirce, Clerk of the Superior Court of [illegible], for said County, do hereby Certify, that Job Otis & William Winkley, Esquires, whose signatures are affixed to the annexed affidavits, are Justices of the Peace for said County, and the Signatures purporting to be theirs I have no doubt are genuine - 
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, 21st day of September, Anno Domini 1832,
A Peirce, Clerk

[seal affixed left of signature, illegible but appears to be separate paper pasted on]
Page 11

[on left hand page]
19th Mar. 22. [illegible] to Miss Laighton AW

[on right hand page]

8840
INVALID.
File No. 8840
Jedediah Leighton
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index: Vol. [illegible], Page 22

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev War handwritten in upper left corner
Page 12

Please furnish history of Jedediah Leighton of N.H.

L.G. Laighton

data taken from card
AW
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jedediah Leighton which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period of periods of the war when he served?  yes

V.  Has he mentioned with precision the length of his services, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  yes

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  yes
Page 14

2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.  If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  yes

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  yes

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For --- year ---- months, and ---- days, I served as a ---- For ---- months and ---- days, I served as a ---- ; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 15

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase "about three or  four months" is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case by clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In the case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official  character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must  be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 

    In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the  certificate of the member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 16

Eber Hall
Affidavitt



J Leighton
Page 17

I Ebenezer Hall of Strafford (formerly Barrington) County of Strafford State of New Hampshire seventy six years of age depose and say that I was well acquainted with Jedediah Leighton and well recollect that in the year 1775 he was a soldier under the command of Captain John Drew then stationed at Cambridge in the State of Mass and in the last of his service with said Company I enlisted in the same Company for a short term a half month and he and myself was dischared and returned home together in company with him

Strafford August 11th 1832
Ebenezer Hall + mark
Attest Job Otis
James Demeritt

State of New Hampshire 
County of Strafford

The 11th day of August 1832 then personally appeared the above name Eber Hall and made solemn oath that the above written affidavitt by him subscribed is just and true before me
Job Otis Justice Peace

I certify that I am acquainted with the above named Ebenezer Hall & he is a man of truth and veracity & entitled to full belief.
Job Otis Justice Peace
Page 18

Ebenezer Nutter
Affidavit


Jedeah Leighton
Page 19

I Ebenezer Nutter of the Town of [illegible] in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire of the age of Seventy five years do depose and say that I enlisted under Cpl Peter Drown in a militia company for six months and I marched from Irvington to Rhode Island and thence I joined the army commanded by General Sullivan under Colonel Stephen Peabody and I was in the Battle of Rhode Island and I still remained under the command of Colonel Peabody till my time expired. and I further say that Jedediah Leighton of Strafford [illegible] the same compy with me and continued with me six months in said compy

Strafford August 11th 1832   Ebenezer Nutter

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford

the Eleventh day of August one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two
then personally appeared the above named Ebenezer Nutter and made solemn oath that the above written affidavit by him subscribed in just and true

Before me
Job Otis Justice Peace

I certify that I am acquainted with the above named Ebenezer Nutter and he is a person of truth & veracity & entitled to full belief
Job Otis Justice Peace