Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 13,857, Moses Drown, Mass.
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(8-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Massachusetts Drown, Moses R13857
Gray, Louisa
Former widow
This soldier died in 1812
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Revolutionary
Pension Claim
Act of July [7] 1838 
Louisa Gray
widow of
Moses Drown
[straight line]
[illegible] Original
the paid papers for
(B)
Lucker & Blazd
[illegible]
[squiggly diagonal line]
Augt [August] 4, 186[?]
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DECLARATION FOR WIDOWS PENSION.
STATE OF Vermont
District of Orleans ss.
At a Probate Court holder at Brownington
in said district
On this fifth day of July A. D. 1860 personally appeared before me Judge of the Probate Court of the County of Orleans in the State of Vermont Louisa Gray a resident of Brownington in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont aged eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed 7th July 1838. 23 Aug 1842 and 3d March ^ 1843, 17 June 1844 and 2nd Feb 1848 granting pensions to the widows of soldiers that were in the war of the revolution.^   That she formerly was the widow of Moses Drown decd [deceased] who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
She further declares, that she was married to the said Moses Drown, in Rochester N.H. on the forth [fourth] day of February A.D. 18^12 at Eaten N.H. ^ and that she is now a Widow
as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs hereunto annexed. She further states that he since married, Joseph Gray who has since died at Sheffield Vermont, March 15th 1826.
Revoking and countermanding all former authority that may have been given, I hereby constitute and appoint Damon E. Cheney
of Orange Massachusetts my lawful attorney  to prosecute said claim and to receive the Certificate when issued: to give all necessary receipts and discharges therefor [therefore]: to appoint an attorney or attorneys under him for said purpose; and to do all things in the premises which are or may be necessary as I might if personally present.
Louis her x mark Gray
[illegible round black seal]

We, Elizabeth Gray and Lydia Drown
residents of Brownington in the State of Vermont upon our oaths declare that the
foregoing declaration and Power of Attorney, was sworn to, acknowledged and subscribed by Louisa Gray in our presence: and that we know from our personal acquaintance that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and for man by the widow of Moses Drown, decd and that she subsequently married Joseph Gray, who has since deceased in Sheffield in March 1826, and that she is now and has remained a widow ever since, and that the aforesaid Eliza Gray was
present and attended the funeral of the aforesaid Joseph Gray, at Shiffield
as aforesaid. We further swear that we are disinterested in this claim 
Elisabeth her x mark Gray
Lydia Drown

Witness to the signature
of Elisabeth Gray
Marshall Carpenter,
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to, and the Power of Attorney acknowledged before me on
the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Marshall Carpenter, Judge of Probate

State of Vermont
District of Orleans, ss

I hereby certify that the foregoing proceedings were had at Brownington in said district at a special session of the Probate Court holden on the 5th day of July A.D. 1866 as is herein and
above set forth, and that Marshall Carpenter is the Judge of Probate within and for the aforesaid district, and that his signature is
time and genuine-
In testimony whereof I hereunto six the seal of
said Court, and subscribe my name at Irasburg in said district this 6 day of July A.D. 1860
Thos. [Thomas] Jameson Register
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
13857  REJECTED 
P.O. Louisa Gray
Widow of Moses Drown
This widow claimed a pension on a/c of a Moses Drown who was pensioned under act, 1818 on Maine roll - See admitted file no 47,316 - her husband [Application filed] died 181[8] of course  the [illegible] claimed by her was fraudulent [Alleges:] as the genuine Moses Drown was alive as late as 1825- [Re-enlisted:]
See Rejected bounty {Attorney:] land 232746 on 18[55] and [illegible] The pensioner Moses Drown Recognized. S47316. Contract. Cert of Dis. Searched for ______, 18
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Pension office August 18, 1860.  The third auditor will please certify the date to which within named pensioner was paid; and, if the arrears one at the time of his death have been paid, he will please send the vouchers.

Very respectfully, 
Geo C. Whiting
Commissioner 


Geddes
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To Auditors Office
August 20/60

Sir,
   Moses Drown Oct 1818 Maine roll appears to have been paid to Mar 4, 1825.

Very Respectfully 
your obt. serve

A. J. Atkinson
Auditor


Geo C. Whiting Esq
Comms of Pensions
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Orange Sept 3, 1860

Messr Tucker & Lloyd

Gents,
   Yours of 29th ult is secd [second] with warrant in favor of Sally Dodge.
   I now want you to send me a copy of his declaration or when where and how long and what officers he served under his son tells me he served three or four tours of service and the act of 1818 required 9 months of one tour of service in the Continental Service to entitle him he applied for a pension and set forth nine months and it proved that he was but 8 months at his longest tour.
   These are five tours of service on file in the Secretary's office or five different Thos Dodges some of this service was rendered by our Thomas write me what town he alleges to have entered from and his officers
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names also if he set forth more that one town if not the reasons why are noted before (because it was militia service) you doubtless will have the certificate issued before this reaches you which is the best way and please send it on and we will get an increase if possible which I think we can beyond a question because he served 18 mos. or tow years in all.
   You ask me if I am satisfied that Louisa Gray husband is the Mosses Drown who service in the Revolution, in answer I will say that I as much believe he is the identical soldier as I believe I am in existence or as much as I believe that Sally Dodge is the widow of Tho. Dodge. I have every reason to believe it.  I found the old Lady Gray feeling very bad saying Buzzell had procured the county land and pension and run away with it, the whole family were of the opinion.  It has been the report
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in the family and people that were acquainted with the family that he was in the Revolutionary War. Mr. & Mrs. Bickford of Westmore, look at their affidavits they are both very worthy people and would not make a statement unless they knew it to be so.

I have regarded the claim as a very just and good one shall be much disappointed if we fail of success.  What does the Commissioner see in it which causes a doubt let me know the whole thing by the return of mail.  I do not think it can be traced to no other person than the husband of our claimant.  I am going to the bank tomorrow will get a check and at the same time send my affidavit in the Sarah Willard claim.
 I have not seen Mrs. Branchdor yet, shall as soon as you get the [illegible] and Moservy warants [warrants]
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I sent power of attorney in the Bathsheba Fisher person and land claim have a decision at once if possible.

I am anxious to have a report in the Cottle claims for the reason that if warrants are secured on that kind of a battle I can prove some on none gain extension engagement where the question of the parties being in the engagement would not be raised let me hear from you by return mail in the Louis Gray and Fisher pension claims. 

Resp yours
D. D. Cheny
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The Hon Geo. C. Whiting Commissioner of Pensions will please recognize Mess Tucker & Lloyd of Washington D. C. as attorneys under me to prosecute the Pension and bounty land claims of Louisa Gray, and to receive the certificate when issued.

Damon E. Cheney
Orange August 3rd 1860

Attest
Geo. A. Maynard
Plotino Cheney
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Pension Claims
Louisa Gray
widow of
Moses Drown

Evidenced of identity
marriage & death
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State of Vermont
Orleans County ⎬Ss.
On this fourth day of July A.D. 1860 personally appeared
Elizabeth Gray, a resident of Brownington, in the County and
State aforesaid, aged sixty four years, being duly sworn depose and
say that she was well acquainted with Moses Drown, in his
lifetime when living in Eaton New Hampshire and that she has heard him
for a few years previous to his death often speak of being
a soldier in the revolution, that he related his service and
speak of his hardships and privations and that he mentioned
the time as entering the service when he was young but she
does not recollect the name of any officers under whom he served,
and that he had the general reputation of being a soldier
in said war. She further swears that she has no interest
in any claim to which this may be applied as evidence
Elizabeth Gray X her mark
Orleans ss
On the day and year above written personally appeared Elizabeth Gray, to me well known, as a credible
person, and in whose statements entire confidence may
be reposed, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit
by her subscribed is true,
Robert Alexander, Jr. Justice of Peace
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State of Vermont
Orleans County Ss.
I, N.W. Bingham Clerk of Orleans County Court which is a Court of records hereby Certify that Robert Alexander whose genuine signature
appears to the foregoing certificate was at the date
thereof a Justice of the Peace within and for said
OrleansCounty duly commissioned and sworn and
that as such officer as aforesaid he was at the
date thereof fully authorized by the laws of
this state to take acknowledgments and administer
oaths
Witness my hand and
official seal at Irasburgh in
said Orleans County the fifth
day of July A.D. 1863
N.W. Bingham
Clerk
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State of Vermont
County of Orleans
On this fifth day of July A.D. 1860 personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County in the
State aforesaid, William Bickford aged 72 years and Lydia
Bickford aged 72 years, residents of Westmore, in said County,
being duly sworn, deposeth and say that they were formerly residents of Porter Maine, formerly Massachusetts that
they were natives of said town. That they were from early
childhood personally acquainted with Moses Drown, and
his wife Louisa, the aforesaid Moses married his wife Louisa
Allard in Porter Maine, and that they lived within forty rods of our
father’s house of which one of your affiants Wm Bickford, was a
member, and within a short distance of the residence of the said
Lydia wife of the aforesaid William that the above named Moses
and Louisa Drown live at the place above stated from our
earliest remembrance untill about the year 1810 or 11, when
the moved to Easton New Hampshire a short distance from Porter Maine
and that soon after some about the year 1812 to 15, the aforesaid
Moses Drown died, and that his widow Louisa with her children
some of which were but two or three years younger than your
affiants moved to Sheffield Vermont and the widow of the
The aforesaid, Louisa ,there married Joseph Gray, and that
your affiants continued to live in Porter Maine untill the year
A.D. 1821 and that they then moved to Westmore Vermont, their
present place of residence, and that they resumed their intimacy
with Louisa Gray, the former widow of Moses Drown, and her
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children, and that they often visited each others families untill about
the year A.D. 1826. when the before named Joseph Gray died he then
living in Sheffield, and leaving the before mentioned Louisa again
a widow, and that previous to his death some of the children
of the aforesaid Moses Drown and Louisa, moved to Brownington Vermont their place of residence being about two miles from ours, and that for a part of the time since the decease of Joseph
Gray, the late husband of the aforesaid Louisa, that she has resided
with her children in Sheffield and the remainder of the time
in Brownington with her son Job Drown, where she at
this time resides she now being a very aged and infirm person
That your first named affiant states that the aforesaid
Moses Drown prior to his residence in Porter, was a resident
of Wells, Massachusetts now Maine, that he used to know of the aforesaid
Moses having relatives visit him from Wells and that he
used to visit them also,
That both of your affiants William and Lydia Bickford both
state that the aforesaid Moses Drown, was a soldier in
the war of the Revolution, and that he had the general reputation of so being engaged, by his acquaintance and Townsmen
that they often heard him speak of his service, and that
they should judge that he was in service for the most of the
time during the war. That your affiant the first named
William Bickford, had an uncle who was also in the revolution
by the name of Joseph Pearl, who he thinks was a comrad [sic in
the service at the same time and in the same place but
is not certain, that the aforesaid Joseph Pearl and Moses
Brown, both lived within a few rods of his fathers house and
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that some times they used to work for his father, and that when they
were togeather [sic] they used to relate stories and mention events that
used to transpire while in service that they would speak of their hardship 
and privations, and a great many other things that were interesting
and some large stories all of which would divest the mind of a person that were of the ages of your affiant, but it being of so long
ago that your affiant cannot recollect the names of any officers
under which the aforesaid Moses Brown stated to have served
That your affiants further state that the aforesaid Moses Brown and Louisa lived togeather as man and wife from their earliest recollection untill the death of the aforesaid Moses, and the fact of their having been
legally married was never called in question by their Townsmen or acquaintances, and that they had children that were supposed and treated as legitimate, the oldest has long since deceased
which if now living would be as old as sixty nine, this they
alledge [sic] to know from the fact that they were children togeather and that there could not have been more than two
or three years difference between the age of the oldest child
of the aforesaid Moses and Louisa Brown and the ages of your
Affiant, and that the aforesaid Louisa Gray, the former
widow of Moses Drown, has remained a widow ever since
the death of her late husband Joseph Gray deceased who died 
in Sheffield in or about the year A.D. 1826. They also swear
that they have no interest in the claim to which this
may be applied as evidence
William Bickford
Lydia Bickford X her mark
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On the day and year above written, personally appeared
William Bickford and Lydia Bickford both to me well
know, as credible and respectable witnesses, and in whose
statements entire confidence may be reposed, and made
oath that the foregoing affidavit by them subscribed is
true,
Before me
Levi F Hayward Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Orleans County ss
I, N. W. Bingham Clerk of Orleans
County Court which is a Court of
record do hereby certify that
Levi F. Haywood whose genuine signature appears
to the foregoing certificate was at the
date thereof a Justices of the Peace within
and for said Orleans County duly commissioned
and sworn and that as such officer as
aforesaid he was at the date thereof fully
authorized by the laws of this State to lake
acknowledgments and administer oaths
Witness my hand and
official seal at [illegible]
in said County this
fifth day of July A D
1820-
N. W. Bingham Clerk
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Orange August 3rd 1860
Gents
Yours of 31 July at hand.
I wrote you the last day of June or 1st 
July, to forward to me at Montpelier Vermont 
a copy of the evidence in the B.L. Claim of
Sally Dodge and Louisa Gray - That I should
know what evidence to make that would not
conflict with that already on file by Bickford and Buzell. I have filed the claim of Sally Dodge as she is living now she cannot [illegible] at the longest for the reason 
that it might save the claim of file before
she died. Bickford and Buzzell are in prison and
I made new papers, as the old ones on file they
might have a predjudice against them-
Thomas Dodge, applied for a pension
under 1818, examine his claim and write
me that he alledges [sic], will you not-
Louisa Gray Marriage and death of her
husband cannot be proved by record evidence
the affidavits are all the evidence or the best
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I can find. let me hear from them as soon
as you can examine the claims, please do so
At once for they will both die soon- I cannot
write more now can hear the
Car while [whistle] must be mailed now-
Will write again soon the particulars
both good claims. Put them through
soon as possible, I have written in
such haste there I do not suppose
you can read my letter-
Yours, etc.
D.E.C.

Left with me by Mr. Lloyd 
August 15. 1830
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Caleb Allard 
Per your [illegible] [illegible] Saw him October 18.
saw William Bickford same day 
Left with [illegible] Mr. Lloyd
 August 18, 1860 by C.W.
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Orange Massachusetts July 28th 1860
Messrs  Tucker and Lloyd
Gents,
Why in Gods name
do you not write me in regard to the Sally
Dodge and Louisa Gray Claims, I suppose
you think they are not good because Buzzell
and Bickford are in Prison on forged claims
I investigated the claims thoroughly and
know they are both good.
I was at great expence and trouble to prepare
the claims, and if I do not hear from you
by the first mail I shall file the other
papers for she will die soon at the largest
Very Respectfully
D.E. Cheney
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Case of
Louisa Gray
formerly widow
of Moses Drown
Vermont
Acts July 7. 1838
And
March 3. 1855
Brief for Commissioner
Last fall I visited in person this applicant-
I also visited the sons of the said Moses Drown after [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] and [illegible] [illegible] in [illegible], Mr. [illegible] [illegible] Carly resides in [illegible] Vermont. I am satisfied she is the widow of the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]-that this claim [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] is [illegible] Pension. If she filed [illegible] to a [illegible] punishment for county court [illegible] [illegible] she was [illegible]-[illegible] [illegible] have [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] your last [illegible].
G.C. [illegible]
Page 24

Pension Office,
August 21. 1860.
Sir
there is an application for pension and land
now pending before this office, under act of July 7
1838, and March 3, 1855, purporting to have been made
by Louisa Gray, of Sheffield, Caledonia County, Vermont
formerly widow of Moses Drown, which I have reason
to suspect fraudulent
This claimant declares that her husband served in
the revolutionary war in Scammon's regiment, Wheelrights company and entered the service from the town of
Wells, New Hampshire. (See her Declaration ({for land} marked
A.) She also swears that she was married in 1790 to
said Drown, that he died in 1812 at Eaton, New Hampshire.
that
she was again married (to Gray) in 1815, and that her
second husband died in 1826. This declaration and the
affidavits accompanying it, (viz. those of Sophrona
Downing, L. Downing, Polly Otis, all of Sheffield
Vermont, William Bickford of Westmore, Orleans County, Vermont.
Caleb Allard of Brownington, same County, and Stephen
Drown, of Irasburg, same County,) appear to have been
verified before J. C. Buswell, who has since absconded
on account of prosecutions instituted by the Pension Office
for his attempts to defraud the government in other pension
claims. The papers for bounty land were presented to this
Bureau by C.C. Tucker, of this City
Page 25

Accompanying her application for pension (see papers
marked B.) is another affidavit of William Bickford (who
is now in prison* for frauds upon the Pension Office) one of
Lydia Bickford, of Westmore, and one of Elizabeth
Gray of Brownington.
Certificates of the Secretary of State of Massachussetts are filed (see papers marked C.) showing service of
Moses Drown of over two years in Wheelwrights Company
Scammon's regiment, besides two other tours. It will be
perceived that the claimant and her witnesses fully
identify her husband as the soldier who performed this
service, particularly that in Scammon's regiment under
Wheelwright, and so completely is this done that if the
service were in fact performed by another man there is no
room to doubt intentional perjury
Now it so happens that the real soldier was pensioned by this office under act of March 18. 1818, and lived in Wells in 1820, as is conclusively
shown by his papers (marked D.) and was paid
as late as March 4, 1825. That he was the soldier who
performed the service now attempted to be appropriated by
this claimant whose husband died in 1812, is shown conclusively by his Discharge filed by him, and other facts
clearly proved in his application
The papers adduced in support of the pension claim of
Mrs Gray were prepared in July 1860 (the bounty land claim
was presented in 1836) and appear to have been filed by
Tucker and Lloyd upon a power of Attorney given them by
D. E. Cheney, of Orange, Massachusetts. Upon informing
Mr. Lloyd of the probability of fraud in this application, he
*this is a mistake-it is Ebenezer Bickford who was indicted, etc.
G.C. Whiting
Page 26

submitted two letters from Cheney, the tenor of which, it
will be seen, is unfavorable both to the claim and to his
Agency in it. These letters are marked E.
[two paragraphs are crossed out]
Your Obedient Servant
Robert
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting,
Commissioner of Pensions
There is no trouble about Stephen Drown. And The
cases of Sally Dodge and Bathsheba Fisher, have
not been fully examined-- G.C.W.
Page 27

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston
July 7, 1860
I 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 Department, it appears that the
name of Moses Drown is borne on a return of
8 months men in Captain Jesse Dorman's company
Colonel James Scammon's regiment. Also in Continental roll
dated Cambridge October 17, 1775, as private from
Wells. Also in pay roll of Captain David Wheelwrights company, Coonel Francis regiment, from
January 22, to March 22, 1776. Service two months
as a private. Also in continental army
books in Captain Francis’ Company, Colonel Tupper’s
regiment, from February 22, 1777, to February 22
1780, when he was discharged. Service
As private from Wells, 36 months

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Oliver Warner
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 28

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES.
made by the widow
of the party who rendered the service.
State of Vermont
County of Orleans
Town of Brownington
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in
his office of the service of Moses Drown
in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Wells
in the County
of York
and State of Massachusetts
He enlisted from the Town of Wells as is supposed
in the County of
York
and State of Massachusetts 
in the year
17 not known, is supposed to have served in the Company commanded by Captain or 
Colonel or Major Frink or Franc or some similar name
Regiment not known
and he served as follows, viz.: -- The most
of the time during the war as is believed,
I am now 89 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the facts more fully those the above
I pray that the certificate may be sent to Damon E Cheney Orange Massachusetts
this 4th day of July A.D. 1860
Louisa Gray X her mark
Robert Alexander
Before me
Robert Alexander, Jr. Justice of the Peace
Here describe, as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank, etc., of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all
other particulars known.
Page 29

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston
January
30th 1856.
I 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 Department, it appears that the
name of Moses Brown is borne on return
of 8 months men in Captain Jesse Dorman's
Company Colonel James Scammon's Regiment, name
borne on Continental roll dated Cambridge
October 27. 1775, as private from Wells.
also on pay roll in Continental Army
Books in Captain Francis Company
Colonel Benjamin
Tupper's Regiment. from February 22. 1777 to February 22. 1780. 36 months
as private from Wells. When he was
discharged.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
F.D. Witt
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 30

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston
January 24th 1856
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 Department, it appears that the
name of Moses Drown is borne on pay
Roll of Captain Daniel Wheelwright's Company
Colonel Ebenezer Francis Regiment from January
22. 1777 to March 22. 1777 2 months 
as private
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Frances D. Witt
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 31

I Louisa Gray of the County of Caledonia
and State of Vermont do solemnly swear that
that she was formerly the widow of Moses Drown
who was a soldier of the Massachusetts troops in
the war of the Revolution. That to the best of my
knowledge and belief my said husband entered
service at the town of Wells State of Massachusetts
and served under Captain Damon or Dimon, Drew
and
Wheelwright and Colonel Scammon
Louisa Gray X her mark
Attest
J.C. Buswell
Lyman Downing
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of
January 1856. J C Buswell Notary Public
J. C. Bushel Barton Vermont
26:112