Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,184, for John Potter, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE                                                  NUMBER

Green Mt. Boys      Potter, John               S. 14184
R.I.
Vt.                                                             carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[Left side]

July 8th 1834 transfd [transferred]
New York from 4 branch
1834-& notice sent to Joseph Peck-New Lisbon, Otsego Co-N.Y. on the 13th same

Date of Seal
Not as [illegible]

[Right side]

New York 
[{Vermont} crossed out]
John 18930
John Potter
of Bennington Co. in the State of Vermo [paper torn off]  was a Pr in the Company com [commanded] by Captain Goff of the Regt comm [commanded] by Col Warnes in the Vermont Militia.

12 Mo 14 ds Pr $41.50

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 21 dollars 55 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of Nov 1833 and Sent to P Danforth Pownel. Vt

___________________________________________________

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833.  103
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34   20.
[section sign] Revolutionary Claim
Act of June 7, 1832]

Recorded by J. F. {illegible] C
Book E   Vol. 3  Page 84
Page 3

Declaration

STATE OF VERMONT, 
                     [SECTION SIGN] SS.
County of Bennington.

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

On this 27th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. the Court of Probate for the District of Bennington, now sitting, John Potter as resident of Pownal in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont aged 77 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.  
[{That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as stated,} crossed out] that in the month of August 1775 at Pownal in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont he volunteered for the term of three months under Capt David Goff Lieut Nathaniel Seelye & Ensign Daniel Welch that during the said three months he never was required to go from the said town on any expedition but held himself in readiness to march at anytime when called on that in the latter part of November or in the month of December 1775 he volunteered at Pownal aforesaid as a private in a Company under the Command of Capt Samuel Knight in Col Seth Warners Regiment Daniel Welch was an Ensign in said Company under whom he enlisted to go on an expedition to Canada does not recollect the term for which he engaged that he marched for Canada a few weeks after said enlistment and arrived at Montreall [Montreal] soon after the news of the Death of General Montgomery that he remained at Montreall [Montreal] a few weeks and then marched to Quebeck does not recollect the precise time he arrived there, that he remained at Quebeck or rather on the plains of Abraham at Wolfs Cove and other places in the region of Quebeck until the spring opened when he returned to the states thinks he got back to Pownal sometime in June 1776 Col Warner was in this Expedition says that
Page 4

Col. Benedict Arnold and he thinks a Genl Officer by the name of Worustir was there at the same time,  that in the spring or forepart of summer he volunteered under the said Nathaniel Seelye to go to Fort Tiondiroga [Ticonderoga] and marched for that place immediately where he staid [stayed] a short time then evacuated the Fort and retreated before the army of Burgoyn and returned to Pownal and was dismissed he can not remember the exact time he volunteered or when he was dismissed but think she served about 6 weeks that soon after his return he went to Rhode Island and during the same fall he was drafted for one month under Capt Benjamin Gorton of the Militia of the State of Rhode Island in the town of West Greenwich the name of the Lieut was Joseph James that he marched from the place of enlistment to Greenwich Newtown from thence to Tiverton lying East of Newport where he remained his term of service expired and was dismissed that in March 1778 he returned to Pownal Vt, that in the month of September following he was drafted for one month in the Militia and marched to Rutland Vt under Capt Joseph Briggs that he served his time of engagement and was dismissed at Rutland Vt
That he has no Documentary evidence
Page 5

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.

In answer to the interrogatories propounded by the Court the applicant declares ,
1st  That he was born at Coventry R.I. Oct 16 1755
2d.  That he has no record of his age

3d.  That he lived in Pownal when called into service, & has lived nearly the whole time said town of Pownal
4th.  That he was a volunteer except in two instances as above stated

5th.  That among the regular officers who were with the troops where he served, re recollects none except those above stated

6th.  That he never  received a written discharge

7th.  That he is known to the Rev Edward Green residing in Pownal and Benjamin Gardner Esq residing in Pownal who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.

Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  John Potter

We, Edward Green a Clergyman residing in the town of Pownal and Benjamin Gardner Esq residing in Pownal hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Potter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 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.  Edward Green Benj-Gardner

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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  And the court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Edward Green who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Pownal and that Benjamin Gardner Esq who has also signed the same, is a resident of the town of Pownal and iis a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  

Silvanus Danforth Judge of Probate

[seal attached on left]

I William Haswell, Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Bennington, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Potter for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, the 27th day of August A,D, 1832
Wm Haswell

in June 1776 Col Warner was in this expedition says that
Page 6

State of Vermont
                        [section sign]
Bennington Probate district

On this 10th day of September AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable

Silvanus Danforth Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Bennington now sitting John Potter the within named Declarant who being duly sworn deposeth [deposed] and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection I served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades.  For one year and fourteen days, I served as a private and for such service I claim a  pension

John Potter

The above sworn to in open Court the day and year written before

S. Danforth Judge

I William Haswell Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Bennington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings on the amended declaration of the within made on the 27th day of August 1832 in the matter of the application of John Potter
In testimony where I have hereunto set my Seal of office this 10th day of September
[seal affixed]  Wm Haswell   
                    
 [Below written to the left side of the seal]

John Potter 9577
Declaration
Page 7

David Welch
Deposition for 
(John Potter)

Fees 50 c.
HR.
Page 8

[seal affixed at the top]

State of Vermont

To all to whom these presents shall come.  Greeting

I hereby certify, that Joseph Myers Just., whose signature appears to the foregoing Deposition, was at the date thereof & still is a Justice of the in & for the County of Bennington, duly qualified as such, & that his signature above, I believe to be genuine.

In testimony whereof I Henry Robinson Clerk of the County Court, in & for the County of Bennington, have hereunto subscribed my name & have affixed the Seal of our Said Court, at March on this 10th day of September A.D. 1832 I of the Independence of the United States the Fifth Seventh
Henry Robinson Clerk,
Page 9

I Daniel Welch of Pownal in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont of lawful age depose and says that at said Pownal in the month of July or August 1775 John Potter of said Pownal volunteered or enlisted as a minute man for the term of 3 months but I have no recollection that those who enlisted at that time were called on for duty.  Soon after the expiration of said 3 months, I think in the month of November or in December same year I know the said John Potter enlisted in a company commanded by Captain Samuel Wright Col Seth Warners Regt in which of Company I was an Ensign I enlisted the said Potter myself the term for which he enlisted I do not distinctly recollect the enlistment was to go on an expedition to Canada the said Potter marched from Pownal a few weeks after said enlistment we arrived at Montreal soon after the was of the Death of General Montgomery the said Potter continued in the said Regt until the later part of the month of May or the first of June when he was honorably discharged he was during said time an active faithful soldier I further say that the said Potter soon after his return from said expedition volunteered as a Private to go to Ticondarogo [Ticonderoga] and from then to brown Point and after the Battle of Hubbarton [Hubbardton] we retreated back to
Page 10

marched with me to said Ticondarogo [Ticonderoga] and from there to brown Point and after the Battle at Hubbarton [Hubbardton] we retreated back to Bennington the precise time we returned I can not say but it was about 3 weeks before the Battle of Bennington which was on the 16th day f August 1777.  The last term of service above mentioned was about 6 weeks I further say I am the Identical Daniel Wwelch who is now on the Pension list of the United States and I draw the pay of an Ensign

David Welch

State of Vermont Bennington County js Pownal 22 of June AD 1832  Then David Welch personally appeared before me Joseph Myers he a Justice of Peace within and for said County of Bennington and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed was true according to his best recollection

Joseph Myers Jr Justice of Peace

I certify that Daniel Welch the subscriber to the above deposition a person to me well known is a credible person

Joseph Myers Jr. Justice of Peace
Page 11

I Ephraim Seelye of Williamstown in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts of lawful age depose and say that sometime in the month of November or the forepart of December AD 1775 John Potter of Pownal Vermont Enlisted as a private Soldier in a Company commanded by Capt Samuel Wright in Col Seth Warners Regt to go on an expedition to Canada and about the same time I served an appointment of Lieutenant in Capt Abner Seelye Company in said Warners Regt We started for Canada in a few weeks after and arrived at Quebec in January or the forepart of February following according to my best recollection where we remain until Spring when we returned to the States during the time we were together in said Regt the said Potter was frequently in the  guard which I commanded and was a prompt faithfully good soldier I was not discharged until long afterward but according to my best recollection the said Potter was discharged about the first of June, but I can not say certain as he did not belong to the same company in which I served.  
Ephraim Seelye

State of Vermont
                         [section sign]
Burlington County js

Pownal 23 June AD 1832 Then Ephraim Seelye personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Bennington and made Solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true according to his best recollection

Joseph Myers Jr Justice of Peace
Page 12

I certify that Ephraim Seelye the subscriber to the within deposition to me well known is a credible person
J Myers Jr     Justice of Peace

[below written on the right hand side of the paper]  E Seelye Deposition for (John Potter)
Fees 50 C
HR. 

State of Vermont To all to whom these Presents shall come or may concern      Greeting

I hereby certify that Joseph Myers Just. Esqr whose signature appears to the foregoing that the date thereof & still i a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Bennington duly qualified by Law to act as such, & that I believe his signature to be genuine.

[seal to the left]  

In testimony whereof I Henry Robinson Clerk of the County Court in & for the County aforesd [aforesaid] have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal aforeSaid Court, this 10th day of September AD. 1832 of the Independence of the United States Fifty Seventh
Henry Robinson Clerk
Page 13

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.

County of Otsego      
                               ss.

On this Seventeenth day of June 1834 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Otsego personally appeared John Potter who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Samuel Wright in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Seth Warner in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Vermont from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future.  The following are his reasons for removing from Vermont to the town of Laurens New York to spend the remnant of his days (he being 77 years of age) with his children

Sworn and subscribed to, before me, 
                                             [section sign]
the day and year aforesaid.  John Potter

Solomon Davis Justice Peace

[hand pointing right] The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.  The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
[hand pointing right] The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's identity.  He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit.  The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed. 


Otsego County Js
On the 17th day of June 1834 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the said County of Stesgo Joseph Peck and made oath that he is personally acquainted with John Potter whose name appears to the above affidavit and knows him to be the person described in said affidavit
Sworn & Subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid                       [section sign]
Solomon Davis Justice Peace
Joseph Peck
Page 14

I hereby certify that I Joseph Peck the person who signed  & made oath to the within affidavit of identity of John Potter is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity
Solomon Davis Justice peace


State of New York
                         [section sign]
Otsego County Js

I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the County of Otsego do hereby certify that Solomon Davis Esqr before whom the within affidavit of John Potter & Joseph Peck purport to have been sworn  was on the day of the date of the said two affidavits a Justice of the Peace in & for said County And further that his name subscribed to the said affidavits to the above Certificate of credibility and is his genuine handwriting signatures  Witness my hand & seal of Office this 20th day of June 1834
Horace Lathrop Clerk
By J. W. Richardson Depy
Page 15

May 17, 1933

XXXXXXXX

BA-J/REL  an
John Potter - S. 14184

Myrtle Matterson
119 S. Broad Street
Norwich, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is mad to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of a number of soldiers of Vermont with surnames
Goff, Matteson and Potter.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers of that war.

A search of the records has been made and no claims for pension or bounty land found based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Daniel, David and William Goff, Caleb Matteson (variously spelled), Amos and William Potter and Abial Tripp, of Vermont, or of any soldiers with names Caleb, Ezra, Oliver, Nathan and Anthony Goff, Abel and Henry Matteson, Oliver Potter, and Samuel Luther.

The record of one John Potter, of Pownal, Vermont, has been found and is given below as recorded in pension claim, S. 14184, based
upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

John Potter was born October 16, 1755, in Coventry, Rhode Island.  

While residing in Pownal, Vermont, he volunteered in July or August, 1775, and served three months as a private in Captain David Coff's Vermont Company; he enlisted about December 1, 1775, served not as a private in Captain Samuel Wright's Company, Colonel Seth Warner's Vermont Regiment, went on an expedition to Canada, and was discharged about June 1, 1770; he again enlisted the" fore part" of the summer of 1777, and served about six weeks in Captain Nathaniel Seeley's Vermont Company, and marched to Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

[written to the right side of the page]

Sol found W book m pages 188 & 218

Could not identify Capts David Goff & Nathaniel Seely [Seelye]
Page 16

Soon after the expiration of the last named service, John Potter went to Rhode Island, and in the same fall enlisted in West Greenwich, that state, and served one month as a private in Captain Benjamin Gorton's Rhode Island Company.

In March, 1778, he returned to Pownal, Vermont, and in September following, enlisted and served one months in Captain Joseph Briggs' Vermont Company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1832, while residing in Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont, where,
he stated, he had lived nearly the whole time since the Revolution.

In 1834, he had moved to Laurens, Otsego County, New York, to spend the remnant of his days with his children. The names of his children and that of his wife are not stated and there are no further family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, John Potter (S.14184), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, citing all of the following data:

John Potter, Certificate No. 18930, issued November 2, 1833, rate $41.55 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency.

There is no claim for pension on file on account of the service of the above named Captain David Goff.

Very truly yours



A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 17

9577
John Potter





S. Danforth
Vermont
Page 18

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

1.  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 i the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

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

V.  * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, 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?
[crossed out]

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 19

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?  Yes

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, ans has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such bproof can not be had?

XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  Yes

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

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated  as the regulations direct?  See Quere 16
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

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 20

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 usd of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a 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 claimant's 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 papers 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.
Page 21

                                                                MYRTLE MATTERSON
Exclusive Agency                                           [{Private Hospital }crossed out]        Hospital Open to 
Lynco Muscle Building                                 119 So. Broad Street                   Acceptable Convalescents     
Arch Cushion                                                  NORWICH, N.Y.                            Telephone 336W
Lynco Crutch Arm Cushion
                                                                            May 13, 1933

Pension Bureau
To Whom This May Concern

Dear Sirs:

Have you any records of Revolutionary times of names of family and dates taken from the state of Vermont of the following:
I  1.  Caleb Goff                                  6.  Nathan Goff
   2.  Daniel Goff                                 7.  Anthony Goff
   3.  Egra Goff                                    8.  William Goff
   4.  Oliver Goff
   5.  David Goff

Were any of these sent as Freeholders into new York State and when?

II.  01.Abel Matteson, Pownal, Vt. entered Rev service Oct. 27, 1781
     02.Henry Matteson entered service Mar. 2, 1778 in Capt Isaac Clark Co
 o zor     3.Caleb-Matteson entered service 1778
              (All above of Pownal, Vt.) 1 cl

III  1.  John Potter Oct. 27, 1781- Served 4 days. one only of Pownal
ozor  2.  Amos Potter Ocr. 20, 1781 Served 11 days                          8 clues
ozor  3.  William Potter Oct. 15, 1781 " 9 days
                                                                                                (over)
Page 22

These all served, as I have this,, in Pownal Alarm C. under Capt Benjamin Bates.  Marched to Castleton in Alarm Oct. 1781.

4.  Capt. Oliver Potter whose Company marched to Canada in 21775.

IV Abial Tripp of Pownal, Vt ozor 1 cl
V  Samuel luther of Soubury [Sudbury] , Vt.
Thank you very kindly for any information you may give me regarding above

Yours truly
Myrtle Matteson
Page 23

[Left side]

1933-May 17-Heist to Myrtle Matterson
E GeS

[Right side]
Rev War   14184
INVALID.

File No. 14,184
John Potter
Pvt. Rev. War

Act:  June 7th 1832

Index:-Vol. 1,  Page 300

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 24

New Lisbon  N.Y.
               [section sign]                Free
June 24th

[Written sideways]

John Potter 
applies to be transferred from Vermont to New York.
June, 30. 1834

J.. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

M Newart
Page 25

New Lisbon (Otsego Co) June 24th 1834

Sir

I herewith enclose to you the application of John Potter duly executed in order to transfer from the Pension Roll of Vermont to that of New York

Respectfully yours
John Potter
for Joseph Peck

J. L. Edward Esq
Com. of Pensions
Page 26

Oct 22
Vt
vitd

Free

From S. Danforth Pownal Vt

J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions
Washington City

Admit
12 mos & 14 D'
Page 27

Vermont Bennington       Pownal 17th Oct 1833
County

J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Rensions Enclosed are the pensioners papers of John Potter  Please to cause and examination and report in the case as soon as practicable and if the claim is allowed forward the certificate to me at this place and oblige your
Very obedient Servant
S. Danforth