Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,804, for Willard Smith, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Green Mt. Boys
N.C.

Smith, Willard
Mary

NUMBER
R. 9,804

CONTENTS
res also at Plainfield Conn. prior to Rev.
res during Rev. Plainfield N. C., & Bethel Vt.
died at Bethel Windsor Co. Vt, May 19, 1820
Page 2

State of Vermont Hartford District
On this fifth day of March AD 1838, personally appeared before the Honl. the Probate Court for said district, of Hartford, Mary Smith a resident of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged 85 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; that she is the widow of Willard Smith late of Bethel in said District deceased, who was a private of the army of the Revolution, and who in the early part of February 1776 was detached or volunteered as one of the Militia from Plainfield Newhampshire in the company commanded by Capt Curtis the father of the late Genl. Zebina Curtis of Windsor in the state of Vermont, and in the Regiment commanded by Col. Warner and marched to Quebec in lower Canada, and cntinued in the service aforesaid untill the army returned to the United States and he returned home the last of June 1776, having served five months in a seven campaign

In the summer of 1777 he was again detached as private in the Militia from Plainfield Newhampshire in the company as she thinks commanded by Captain Cutler in Col. Jonathan Chase Regiment and in Genl. Starkes command and marched to Bennington in this state and also to Saratoga in the state of New York and in this service was at the taking of Burgoine and was absent in said service three months.

She further declares that her said husband Willard Smith was out two or three times in service besides those mentioned above, once he went to Manchester and Bennington and once to Oter Creek in this state and was gone at these several times in all two months, making in all that he served ten months; She further declares that she was married to the said Willard Smith at Plainfield then Cheshire County N. H. on the first day of December 1786 by Judge Chase of Cornish N. H; and that her husband the aforesaid Willard Smith died on the 19th day of May AD 1820, at Bethel in said County of Windsor; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed. She further says that they removed from Plainfield aforesaid to Bethel Vermont in July 1780 and there lived untill since her husband's death when she removed to Royalton aforesaid and now lives with her son Stafford Smith. Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written
Mary Smith X her mark
Martha Smith

Sworn to before John L. Mareg Judge of Probate for 5s District of Hartford
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I, Oel Billings Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the 5s Court in the matter of the application of Widow Mary Smith for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 5th day of March AD 1838

Oel Billings Register
Page 4

I, Stafford Smith of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged sixty five years, testify and say that I am the reputed son of Willard Smith and Mary Smith formerly of Plainfield N.H. who removed to Bethel Vt. in July in the year 1780 at which time, I the deponent was seven years old. My father lived in Bethel when the Indians burned Royalton in October 1780 and I well remember that my grandfather Stafford, my mother's father, came from Plainfield N.H. to Bethel Vt. three days before the Indians burned Royalton and took my mother Mary Smith and five children and took them to Plainfield NH. to his own residence. The family however returned to Bethel aforesaid soon after the alarm was over when my father Willard Smith  and my mother Mary Smith lived about forty years together. I further testify and say that my father Willard Smith died on the 19th day of May 1820 aged seventy four years old. I further say that my mother Mary Smith aforesaid is now my said fathers widow and has ever been, since his death, and now is living with me. I have frequently heard my father tell of his service in the taking of Burgoine and also of his marching to Quebec and how much he suffered in said last campaign and also of several scouts in which he was active during the war of the Revolution. I have herd him say that on the retreat from Canadian his said father Willard Smith had charge of the sick and did not return home so soon as the well soldiers did, who were in that campaign and further say not
Stafford Smith

State of Vermont Hartford District Royalton March 5, 1838
Sworn, and subscribed by said Stafford Smith the day and year last above written before
Oel Billings Justice Peace and Register of Probate 

I further certify that the above deponent is a credible witness
Oel Billings Register
Page 5

I Benjamin Parkhurt of Royalton
in the County of Windsor and state of Vermont aged 92 years old and now a pensioner of the United States testify and say that I was well acquainted with Willard Smith of Plainfield Vt when he lived in said town and was knowing to his removing to Plainfield in Newhampshire and after that said Willard Smith removed to Bethel in this state about the time and year the Indians burned Royalton which was in the year 1780 and when he removed to Royalton he was married and had several children the oldest I should think was about eight or nine years old whose name was Lemuel and the second child was about seven years old whose name was Stafford Smith who is present at my giving this deposition. They were respectable people and lived together as husband and wife and I have no doubt they were legally married although I was not present at their wedding, but having known said Willard Smith from his boyhood up, I know he would not lived and exhabited with a woman that he was not legally joined in marriage to. I further say that the widow of said Willard Smith is named Mary and Willard and Mary have lived within six miles of me for fifty seven years last past as husband & wife.

I further say that said Willard Smith died I think in the year 1820 but what day & month I cannot remember but I was present at his funeral. I further testify and say that said Mary Smith the wife of said Willard Smith is now alive and living with her son Stafford Smith in Royalton Vt and she has ever remained and now is the widow of said Willard Smith. I further testify and say that in living so nigh said Willard Smith I have often heard him tell of his services in the Army of the Revolution, but cannot say now what was the service he did, but he was always called one of the old soldiers of the Revolution and further say not
Benjn. Parkhurst

over
Page 6

State of Vermont Hartford District Royalton March 5, 1838
Personally appeared Benjamin Parkhurst the signer of the within deposition and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same
Before me Oel Billings Justice Peace and Probate Register

I further certify that the deponent Benjamin Parkhurt aforesaid is of good character for truth and veracity & a credible witness
Oel Billings Register

(written vertically right side)
V3390
Page 7

I James Kelsey of Tunbridge in Orange County
& State of Vermont now in the eighty sixth year of my age do hereby depose and say that I was formerly a resident of Plainfield which is now in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire at which place I was brought up from my childhood there lived through the war of the Revolution and was acquainted with many of the inhabitants at the time and with several of those who took a part in said War from said Plainfield, and of the number as my recollection yet is with whom I was most
acquainted was Major Francis Smith and his brother Joseph Lemuel and Willard Smith with the later most intimately who as my belief is for it was so said at the time was engaged in the Canada service of 1775 & 1776 in a company of volunteers which was commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Curtis but under what regimental command I do not recollect to have been informed by said Smith or anyone else nor can I State with certainty the length of that tour but am strongly impressed with the belief
that it was of from to four to six months duration - That the said Willard Smith who
lived not far from me left home as my
present belief is in the month of Dec.
1775 or January 1776 & returned to his family
in said Plainfield in the month of May
following after an absence of five months
or thereabouts - That I saw and conversed with
Page 8

him soon after his return and that I had
frequent conversations with him afterwards
in relation to the tour of service that he said
he had performed in Canada wherein he stated
to me the sufferings that he underwent
while engaged in that tour and especially
with the small pox [sic] of which his Capt. Curtis, died, at Montreal, on their retreat - That he the said Smith had there that disease himself and with which he came near dying and believed he should have died had he not insisted on being bled to which at length his Doctor consented-
That from the many subsequent conversations
had with said Willard Smith, who married
for his wife, Mary Stafford of said Plainfield,
I am well satisfied he was engaged in the Canada expedition as it was called of 1776 after which my acquaintance with him continued through the war wherein I would further state as my belief that he was afterwards engaged as a private in one or more short tours of service at Saratoga the next year, that is, in 1777 under Col.
Jonathan Chase of Cornish, when many of the inhabitants of said Plainfield turned out and went to reenforce the Continental army at or near the said Saratoga - That I also recollect many other residents of said town who I believe were engaged in that service and of the number so recollected is Capt. Josiah Russel Wm [WILLIAM] Cutter Knights
Butler Benjamin Cutler and Hodges Cutler, but the
Page 9

number of tours and at what dates that they
or any of them were there engaged I have not
the means of stating and therefore would not attempt more fully to state than above stated by me and further this deponent saith not.
James Kelsey

State of Vermont         
 Orange County ss}
Tunbridge in said county this twenty first day of Nov. A.D. 1848 personally appeared James Kelsey and acknowledged the foregoing deposition by him subscribed to contain the truth and nothing but the truth according to his best knowledge and belief.
Before me
Gustavus Rolfe, Justice Peace
I further certify that from a long personal acquaintance with the deponent I am enabled
to say that he is a credible witness
Gustavus Rolfe, Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont

Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier December 27th 1848
I hereby certify that Gustavus Rolfe Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
Page 10

certificate, is and was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Orange in said State, duly constituted and qualified, and that full credence is due to
his official acts and attestations as such Justice of the Peace.
Given under my hand and the seal of this
office this 27th day of December A.D. 1848
Ferrand F. Merrill
Deputy Secretary of State

[sideways] Mary Smith of Vt deceased pending claim Act 4 July 1836
Proof of Willard Smiths [sic] service
James Kelseys [sic] deposition
Page 11

Mary Smith widow of Willard Smith
decd pending claim Act 4 July 36
Proof of service Lemuel Smith
Deposition
Page 12

I Lemuel Smith of Bethel in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont now in the 78th year of my age depose and say that I am a son and the oldest child of the late Willard and Mary Smith who were residents of Plainfield New Hamshire both previous to, and through the Revolutionary War wherein my father the sd [SAID] Willard Smith was an actor and soldier as I have reason to believe for although young at the the [sic] time, can yet well remember that he with others from sd [SAID] Plainfield where I was born started off to go to
Canada in the early part of the war and which as I have always understood was in the winter of 1776 and I do also remember that his return was in the early part of the summer following, in the season of hoeing corn, which in
New Hampshire was usually in the month of June the precise date of his engaging in that tour, which was called the Canada service and of his return from the performance of the same, I have not the means of giving but afterwards always understood by my father that he at that time served for the space of five or six month [sic], his account of which I often heard him relate in his life time and I well recollect to have heard him say that the small pox was prevalent among the party that were engaged in the Canada expedition as it was commonly called, and that he was a sufferer by it himself and that Captain Curtis died with that disease in Canada while in service. continued on the other side
Page 13

And in relation to his sd [SAID] service and sickness at the time I further recollect to have heard him say that his belief was that he should have died had he not in a state of desperation insisted upon being bled which was done, contrary to common treatment in the hospital where he was at the time, Another circumstance in connection with that service I have heard him relate which was the fact of holding General Arnold on the out side [sic] of the line where he was a sentinel for some length of time in a cold winters night because he did not give the countersign and further that I have heard the late Barrilla Davis who
was engage in this same service relate the same incident so that there is not in my mind a single doubt but that the sd [SAID] Willard Smith rendered the five or six months
service in Canada for which my late mother Mary Smith claimed an allowance in her declaration under the act of July 4th 1836, together with subsequent services of her husband in Col. Jonathan Chases [sic] Regiment of New Hampshire Militia in 1777 to Saratoga, commanded by Major Francis Smith in which command there went from Plainfield N.H. to Saratoga Elias Gates, William Cutler, Nathan Gates, Nathaniel Stafford, and my
father Willard Smith, who was brother to sd [SAID] Major Francis Smith, further deponent saith not
Lemuel his x mark Smith
In presence of
Eleazer Berry
Sidney S. Smith -

Bethel Novr [sic] 25th 1848
Then personaly [sic] appeared Lemuel Smith the above deponent and made oath to the foregoing deposition, that it contained the whole truth and nothing but the truth according to his best knowlede [KNOWLEDGE] and belief
Before me
Eleazer Berry) Justice of the Peace
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I hereby certify that I am now and have
been for thirty years last past, personaly [PERSONALLY] acquained [ACQUAINTED]
with the above deponent Lemuel Smith and know him to be a man of undoubted truth and veracity
Bethel Nov. 25th 1848
Eleazar Berry / Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier December 27th 1848
I hereby certify that Eleazer Berry, whose
name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate
is and was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Windsor in said State, duly constituted and qualified, and
that full credence is due to the acts and attestations of such Justices.
Given under my hand and the seal of this office this 27th day of December A.D. 1848
Ferrand F. Merrill
Deputy Secretary of State
Page 15

Proof of the death of Mary Smith
widow of Willard Smith
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We Betsey Smith, Harriet Smith, Charlotte Smith
& Benj [BENJAMIN] Smith of Royalton in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, depose and say
that we were formerly well acquainted with Mary 
Smith widow of Willard Smith late of Royalton deceased that we were present and witnessed 
her death which took place on the 19th day of December AD 1838, that she had as we
understood at the time of her death a pending claim to a pension. That she left six Children by the names of Lemuel Smith Stafford Smith, Benj [BENJAMIN] Smith, Isaac Smith Abel Smith and Richard Smith -

Charlotte Smith
Betsy Smith
Harriet B. Smith
Benjamin Smith

State of Vermont
Windsor Co SS}
Sworn and Subscribed to this first day of September AD 1845.
Before me
Forrest Adams
Justice of the Peace
Page 17

Sir
At the time of the death of our late mother Mary Smith Widow of Willard Smith she had at the Pension Office a Vermont pending claim to a Pension for the services of her late husband under the act of the 4th July 1836 which claim, we her children wish to have for her prosecuted under the Agency of John Bryant Esqr of Meriden N.H. in connexion [CONNECTION] with such other person or
persons as he may choose to associate with him for that purpose
Richard Smith
Benjamin Smith
Sidney S. Smith
son of the late
Col Stafford Smith -
Hon J L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 18

REJECTED
9804
P.O. Mary Smith
Service: [illegible] N.H.
Enlisted: ________, 18
Discharged: ________, 18
Application filed: _______,18

The printed list of 1852 gives cause of Suspension as, "He did not serve six months."

Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.  Cont
Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
Page 19

Mary Smith 
Vermont
Rejected see
let to Hon. H.
Everett April
5, 1838 (cannot be found)
Let. to John Bryant, Esq.
March 19th '47
Let. to Hon. Jacob Collamer
Feb. 17 1849
Let. to same Apl 11 '49

Act July 4, 1836
Page 20

I John Stevens at present a resident of Grantham in the County of Sullivan in the State of New Hampshire depose and say that about the year 1764 I removed from Plainfield in the State Connecticut to Plainfield in the State of New Hampshire where I resided most of the time till within a short time past - Soon after 
my removal to said Plainfield N.H. I became acquainted with one Willard Smith a resident of that town and also with Mary Stafford to whom the said Willard Smith was married as I believe, in the latter part of the year 1768 
the particular time I cannot now state, nor do I remember being present at their marriage, but know that they lived together as man and wife several years previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary War

John Stevens

State of New Hampshire Sullivan SS
Sworn and subscribed on this 14th day of
March 1838 Before me. John Bryant Justice Peace
I further certify that the above deponent is a credible witness
John Bryant J.P.
Page 21

The State of New Hampshire
Sullivan Ss.

I, T. W. Gilmore Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas for said County, do hereby certify, that John
Bryant is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County and that his signature herewith is genuine Given under my hand and seal of the Court this Seventeenth day of March AD. 1838
T. W. Gilmore
Page 22

Town Clerks Office Plainfield N.H. March 27. 1838
I certify that I have examined the ancient
records of this town but find no record evidence of the Marriage of Willard Smith and Mary Stafford
George Bryant, Town Clerk

State of New Hampshire
Sullivan SS} Sworn and subscribed to this 27th day of March 1838
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal at
Plainfield in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire this 27th day of March AD 1838
John Bryant Notary Public
I further certify that the Deponent is a credible witness
John Bryant Notary Public
Page 23

Mary Smith widow of Willard Smith
of Vt decd pending claim under
the Act of July 4 1836

Proof in her case - Hodges 
Cutler Affidavit
Page 24

I Hodges Custer of Plainfield in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, aged 90 years depose and say that I removed with my parents from Plainfield Connecticut to Plainfield in the State of New Hampshire some few years previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary War where I now reside
and have ever since resided with the exception of a short time in the adjoining town of Grantham. That in the time of said War and afterwards I was acquainted with all or nearly all its inhabitants and with those who were engaged in the Revolutionary service of the country from said town and with Willard Smith who was a brother of Francis Smith an acting
Major at the time in Col. Jonathan Chase's Regiment N.H. Militia. That I have seen the deposition of James Kelsey who was formerly a resident of said Plainfield, in relation to the service of said Willard Smith who was reputed to have rendered several tours of Revolutionary service including the one in the Canada expedition of 1776 as it was called, under Capt. Ebenezer Curtis. And I do fully concur in opinion with the said James Kelsey that the said Willard Smith was engaged in Canada in 1776 and at Saratoga in 1777
for I know that he went or that it was said that he went and was engaged in said services - I was also well acquainted with the several persons by him named in his affidavit to wit:
Captain Josiah Russell William Cutler Knights Cutler and Benjamin Cutler. The three latter were all brothers of men and were of the number of those that went to Saratoga
 in Col. Chase's Regiment from said Plainfield in
Page 25

1777. I further depose and say in relation to the services of said Willard Smith, that I well recollect another short tour of what was called scouting service which he together with my brother William Cutler, Daniel Kimball & a man
by the name of Squires performed in 1777 the length of which I am unable to state nor can I state the length of his previous services at Canada in 1776 and at Saratoga in 1777
I have also seen the deposition of Lemuel Smith son of the said Willard Smith in relation to his fathers [sic] services and believe the same to be strictly true
Hodges Cutler

State of New Hampshire
County of Sullivan ss}
Sworn and subscribed to this 25th day of December 1848. Before me
George Bryant Justice of the Peace
I further certify that Hodges Cutler the deponent is a credible witness
George Bryant Justice of the Race
Page 26

State of New-hampshire. [sic]
Office of Secretary of State.
I, Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that George Bryant
is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Sullivan duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the fifth day of January 1847 and will expire on the fifth day of Jany [JANUARY] 1852 and his signature as such, to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 11th day of Jany. [JANUARY] 1849.
Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State.
Page 27

State of New-hampshire. [sic]
Office of Secretary of State.
I. Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Samuel C. Moulton is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Sullivan duly
Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the twenty third day of Decmr. [DECEMBER] 1845 and will expire on the twenty third day of Decmr.  [DECEMBER] 1850 and his signature, as such, to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 11th day of January 1849
Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State.
Page 28

Town Clerks Office
Plainfield N.H. December 26. 1848.
I George Bryant of Plainfield in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire depose and say that I am the Town Clerk of said town. That upon application to me for evidence that Willard Smith the husband of Mary Smith late of Royalton Vt. deceased and a brother of Major Francis Smith was a resident of said
Plainfield both previous to and during the time of the War of the Revolution and that he was several times engaged in the service of the Country during said War. I have searched the records and files of said town in my possession and found evidence that the said Willard Smith and Francis Smith were both residents of said town of Plainfield as early as the year 1768, and that the names of each of them appear on the old Tax Lists of said town for the years 1774, 1775 & 1776 - That the name of the said Willard Smith also occurs on a record of the doings of a meeting of said town holden on the 18th day of November 1778, and as follows: "Voted William Cutler Daniel Kimball and Willard Smith 7£ [British pound] 16 s. [shilling] 0 d [pence] per day for scouting ......30.12.0."
That said note contains the only evidence that I have been enabled to find of the Revolutionary service of the said Willard Smith, there being no rolls of the names of persons who were engaged in service from said town of Plainfield.
George Bryant
State of New Hampshire
County of Sullivan Ss.} Sworn and subscribed
to this 26th day of December 1848 Before me Samuel C Moulton Justice of the Peace
Page 29

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
SECRETARY OF STATE' S OFFICE.
I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the war of the Revolution, which remain in this office, it
appears that the name of Willard Smith
is borne upon the pay Roll of Colo. [COLONEL]
Jona [JONATHAN] Chase's Reg. [REGIMENT] as a private in said Regt. [REGIMENT] with an allowance for fifteen days service, commencing June 27, 1777, And upon a Muster & Pay Roll
of men who marched to Saratoga in Sept 1777, being part of Col Jona [JONATHAN] Chases Regt is borne the name of Willard Smith as a private, with an allowance of thirty two days service, commencing Sept 22d 1777.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said State, this 2d
day of March 1846
Thomas P Treadwell Secretary of State.
Page 30

Washington January 25. 1849
Judge Collamer
Dear Sir I herewith hand you the papers in the
case of Anna Fellows dec'd [DECEASED] under the act of the 7th July 1838 now asserted by her children in her right - They claim for the
service of their father Varney Fellows in the year 1776 1777. 1780 & 1781- As the claim was formerly under the agency of S.W. Porter Esq of Springfield Vt I have obtained from Col Edwards a copy of the last letter written to him in the case which I have with me - And I understand there are proofs on file and among them the testimony of John Haskell as to Varney Fellows [sic] service in 1776 and also that of Roger Barrows in relation to subsequent service of said Fellows- And as I came along to this place I called at Hartford and obtained the certificate of the Comptroller as to the length of Captain Elijah Robinsons [sic] service under whom it is alleged that Varney Fellows served in the years 1776 & 1777 - Should be pleased to have you call up the old papers in Mrs Fellows case and to have 
you present the new proof in reason to obtain the further action of the Commissioner before the adjournment of Congress
Very respectfully yr obt Servt [YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANT]
John Bryant
Page 31


Mary Smith Mary wid [WIDOW] 1768
of Willard died 1820
[17]76. Canada Capt Curtis Col Warner
5 Mo.-- [illegible] 
Mar [17]77 3. [mo.]
Capt Cutter Col Chase
N H Militia

NH Militia Rolls Col Chase's Regt for 20
Willard Smith alarm for Regt Ticonderoga 
June 27th - July 4 1777.  11days
Page 32

Hon J Collamer
Apl 10, '49
Page 33

118
Pension Office
April 10, 1849
Sir
I have the honor to return herewith Mr. Bryants [sic] letter, and in reply to the same to state the evidence in the case of Mary Smith widow of Willard Smith is not sufficient to show that her husband rendered as much as 6 mo service we cannot therefore admit her claim
And before a certificate can issue in the case of
Anna Fellows decd, [DECEASED] same Children must signify the [illegible] their acceptance of
the amount offered and relinquish all
further claim
Hon J. Collamer
Post Master Genl [GENERAL]
Page 34

Pension Office
February 17th 1849
I have the honor to inform you that the
additional evidence furnish [sic] in the case
of Anna Fellows and on of Varney Fellows does not enable us to determine with any degree of accuracy the amount of service served by her husband The certificate of the Comptroller shows that Capt Elijah Robinson was in service [illegible] 1774 and 1777 as well as subsequently but for what period & company he has engaged in for these two years, the Pay- Table does not show. Nor does the testimony of the Witness to which Mr Bryan [BYRANT] refers [illegible] furnish any
satisfactory proof upon this point.

John Haskell States in his affidavit that "he knew applicants [sic] "husband enlisted in 1776 at Tullane [TULANE] for 8 months but
under what officer he does not recollect" and
Rogers Burrow refers to service as [illegible]
which under it be shewn to have been [illegible] is not entered by the Pension law. Neither of these witnesses mentions the name of Capt Robinson or that of any other officer.
over
[sideways] Hon. Jacob Collamer House of Reps [REPRESENTATIVES]
Page 35

When a careful examination of all the evidence
furnished in this ["case" crossed out] the amount is not made out but if a proposition to
accept a pension for 6 months be made it
May probably be [illegible] considered
In the case of Mary Smith widow of Willard Smith the evidence as regards the duration of the several times of service in which it is alleged her husband was engaged is defective. In her declaration Mrs. Smith states that her husband served 5 months in 1776, that he entered upon this tour in the first part of Febry [FEBRUARY], and in 1777 that he served 3 months - No record evidence in the service in
1776 has been addressed, James Kelsey, whose statement is sustained by the affidant [AFFIDAVIT] of Hodges Calter testifies that Smith returned from this tour in the month
of May which should it be admitted could not be allowed for more than 3 months, and it appears from the certificate of the Secretary of State of New Hampshire that all the service credited to Willard Smith on the record in his possession amounts to the 17 days only which is not sufficient if both be allowed to [illegible] Mrs. Smiths [sic] Claim within the presence of the act of 4 July 1836,
We cannot admit this claim upon the
[illegible]
Page 36

House of Representatives
Jan 22. 1849.

Dear Sir

Several years since a declaration for a pension was filed in your office for a pension by Mary Smith Widow of Willard Smith who died at Bethel Windsor County Vermont
On the examination of that declaration and
the proof there presented it seems you are not
satisfied as to the service. I understand that the
proof of the marriage was satisfactory and
two & a half months of the service is shown but of the five or six months claimed to have been served in 1775 -6 in Canada not enough was then shown. I am now furnished with some proof in relation to that which I trust will be satisfactory. It consists of the depositions herewith [illegible], to wit James Kelsey, Hodges Cutler, Samuel Smith & Geo. [BRYANT] Bryant -
Willard Smith I personally well know and also
Page 37

his widow & children. He and they are highly
respectable people, entitled to consideration. She is now dead & this claim is pursued for her
children -
Will you have the goodness to give this an early attention
Respectfully Yours
J Collamer
Col. J. L. Edwards
Comr. [COMMISSIONER] of Pensions-
Page 38


Washington 2 Apr 1838
Sir
I enclose the application of the widow Mary
Smith, for a pension
and am Respectfully ob [OBEDIENT]
H. Everett
J.L. Edwards Esq

Coms [COMMISSIONER] of Pension
Page 39

[checkmark]   Hon Bryant

March 19.  '47
Page 40

405
Pension Office,
March 19  1847.

Sir,

The papers forwarded by you in the case of Mrs Mary Smith, dec'd. have been examined and filed.

The service originally alleged in this case--none of which was established--was 5 months in '76 in Capt. Curtis's company, Col. Waters' reg't. & 2 months in Capt. Cottle's compy, Col. Chase's reg't; and several other tours in that year--officers' names not given.

The certificate of the Sec'y of N.H., if admitted, establishes a service of only 1 mo. 17 days; and as no pension can be granted without a service of at least 6 months is established, the claim cannot be allowed upon the evidence now before the Dept.

John Bryant, Esq'r.
Meriden,
N.H.
Page 41

[upper left corner of page]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAN-51
12-5-41

[upper right corner of page]
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Smith, William GRADE Private LINE Artillery Artificers

WARRANT NUMBER 13769   ACREAGE 100 ISSUED  November 16, 1791
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*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.