Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,104, for Elisha Steer, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
R
SERVICE
ever-
CONTENTS
Steer, Elisha
Lois
cesses
Deed
NUMBER
R 10.104
Page 2

granter 1797
Anne the Date
was Born Apr 28
1791
Mary Steer was Born September
41792
Elisha Stanis Born May
John Steer was Born December
11495
Sunday and Surring
Steer was Born March
the 17 1897
Sarah Steer was Born in
1799 Ruther
Born June 25 1802
Richard Ster was born
November 18, 1800
Felix Star was Born January
24 1804
Page 3

ing of the nations.
And there shall be no more shall be
ery man according as his work
hand and
of the Lamb shall be in it, and his beginning and the end, the first
fact that his
heads.
that
And there shall be no night
there, and they need no candle,
of the sun; for the
to the city.
4 For without are caps, and
they shall reign for ever and
, and whoremongers and
Ever.
murderers, and idolaters, and who
6 And he said unto me, These
soever loveth and maketh a lie.
sayings are faithful and true. And
161 Jesus are fast mine angel,
the Lord God of the holy prophets
to testify unto you these things in
sent his angel to shew unto his serthe
churches. I am the root and
vants the things which must shortthe
offering of David, and the
ly be done.
bright and morning a
Behold, I come quickly bless-
17 And the Spirit and the bride
ed is he that keepeth the sayings,
say, Come. And let him that hearof
the prophecy of this book.
eth, say, Come. And let him that
is athirst, come. And whosoever
and heard them. And, when I had
will, let him take the water of life
heard and seen, I fell down to worfreely
.
ship before the feet of the angel
18 For I testify unto every man
which showed me these things.
that heareth the words of the pro-
┃ Then faith he unto me. See
phecy of this book, If any man shall
thou do is not: for I am thy fellowand
unto these things, God shall
servant, and of thy brethren the
and unto him the plagues that are
written in this book:
prophets as of them which keep
it laying his book. Worship
Lod.
19 And if any man shall take
away from the words of the book
to An aith unto me, Seal
of this prophecy, God shall take
not the layings of the prophecy of
away his part out of the book of
this book: for the time is at hand.
life, and out of the holy city, and
He that is unjust, let him be
from the things which are written
unjust still: and he which is filthy,
in this book
let him be filthy still; and he that
┃ He which testifieth these
is righteous, let him be righteous
things saith, Surely I come quickly
. Amen. Even so, come, Lord
and he that is holy, let him Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus
12 And behold, I come quickly; Christ be with you all. Amen.
FINIS.
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
of the 7th of July 1838 entitled an act granting half
pay and pensions to certain widows
State of Massachusetts
Hampden County
On this 18th day of November in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for
the County of Hampden Lois then a resident of
Southwick in the said County of Hampden aged
Seventy years who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth on her oath make the following
laration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838
entitled ""An act granting half pay and pension
to certain Widow," That she is the widow of Elisha
Steer who was a private in the Army of the
Revolution that she knew of his going into
the army which was before her marriage with
him, but she had no personal knowledge of
his services while in the army and she has
no documentary evidence of said service
She further declares that she was married to
the said Elisha Here on the 7th day of December
in the year one thousand seven hundred and Ninety
that his husband the aforesaid Elisha then deed
Page 5

on the 24th day of August ten hundred
thirty one that she was not married to him
prior to his having the service but the
marriage took place previous to the first of
January Seventeen hundred ninety four in
at the time above stated house
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year
above written before Now B Morris Judge of Court
1
And the said Court after investigating the matter
after putting the interrogatories resured in the
are hereby declare their opinion, that the
above named Elisha Steer was a Revolutionary
when a man is as is above stated. that ┃ the
said Lois She was married to said Elisha
on the 9th day of Nov. 1790 & that said Cletha
New died on the 27th day of August in
the year eighteen hundred & thirty one
and that he has not nine intermarie
with any and
Justin William Clerk of said
Probate Court
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of wide in the matter of the
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & seal of office at
thenchill this sixth day of Novr
S
Justin Willard
Clara
application
Page 6

Lydia Enos of Southwick in the County of Hampton
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being first duly
sworn according to law do testify and say that I am
Sister of his her and was present when she was
married to Elisha Steen and knows that it was some
time in the fall of the year seventeen hundred
and ninety and that the marriage took place in
Smithfield in the State of Rhodeisland
I do further testify that the said Elisha Stew died
in the summer of Eighteen hundred thirty
Hampden ss
in End
Sworn and subscribed this second day of Number
1838 Before me Amasa Holcomb Justice of the Peace
Elisha Steer of Southwick in the County of Hampden
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being first duly
sworn do testify and say that my Father Elisha
ter died the 24th day of August 1831 and
that my mother his Heir his not time been
arried
Elisha the
Hampden November 2d 1858 Sworn and subscribed
before me and I do hereby certify that Elisha
Ster and Lydia one, who are well known
to me and persons of Respectability and entitled
to ender
Anna Hohomberle of the Peace
Page 7

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss I John Ingersoll Clerk
Judicial Courts of the common with for the County
of Hampden do certify that Amasa Halcomblin
whose signatures are office to the within
Certificate was at the date thereof one of the Justices
of the Peace within our said County duly Courts
.
and sailing under the authority of this Court
month and that full faith ared
ought to be given to his act & attestations done
in that capacity that I am acquainted with
hand writing of the said Amos Malcomb & believe
his signature to said certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed the seal of
the Court of Common Pleas of Springfield on
this sixth day of November A.D. 1830
John Ingersoll Elisha
Page 8

I Lydia Enos of Southwick in the County
of Hampden and Commonweath of Massachusetts
aged sixty three years after having been duly sworn
do testify and say that I am a Sister of Lois Steer
Widow of Elisha Steer, that she was his second wife
and that Anna Stew who is first mentioned on
the Family record is not a daughter of Lois
thee but
first wife
was the day
ter of Elisha Steer by his
-
The record of his Steers children
begin with Abel Stew who was her oldest child
her
Lydia
of Enos
mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden
Southwick July 1st 1839. Then personally
appeared before me the above named Lydia
Enos who subscribed the foregoing Deposition
by making her mark and made solemn
both to the truth of the statements therein
contained and I do hereby certify that the
said Lydia Enos who is well known to me is a person
of good character and entitled to credit
Amasa Holcomb Justice of the peace
Page 9

Ham
Commonwealth of Manachusetts
orden
2
Justice Willam Clerk
the Probate Court within & for said
County do hereby certify
that
Aman Holcom Esq. before in
the within Deportion of Lydia
has purports to have been vinful
is a Justice of the Peace within
the said County that
of
believe his equal subscribed to
the within certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my
hand & affixed the
seal of said Court at the full
this second day of July 1839
Justin Willard
Page 10

July 31, [18]52
additional evidence of
Lois Steer widow of
Elisha Steer of Massachusetts
Revolutionary service.
Oliver Phelps
attorney
Washington,
D.C.
Page 11

I Lois Steer of Southwick in the County of Hampden and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Eighty four years the twenty third day of May 1852, depose and say that I am the
widow of Elisha Steer late of said Southwick, deceased, that we
were married in Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island and I
believe in the year seventeen hundred and ninty by Benjamin Sheldon a Justice of the Peace, that at the time of our marriage
we resided in said Smithfield, that we removed from the State of
Rhode Island to said Southwick in or about the year seventeen
hundred and ninety five, and that my said husband died at
said Southwick on the twenty fourth day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty one and I am informed and verily believe there is no record of said Marriage. I further depose and say that my
said husband previous to our marriage was a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, but the length of time he served or the officers names under whom he served I do not remember nor am I able to procure, any record evidence of such service and believe there is none and
also depose and say that I still remain
the widow of the said Elisha Steer.
Lois Steer
State of Massachusetts
Hampden County ⎬Ss. On this fourteenth day of June 1852
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace
within and for said County the above named Lois Steer and
made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above
deposition by her subscribed, and I also certify that I have
personally acquainted with the above named deponent
for more than fifty years past, and that she is a reputable
and credible person
Joseph M. Forward Justice of the Peace
Page 12

I Lydia Enos of Southwick in the County of Hampton and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy six years depose
and say that I am the sister of the widow Lois Steen of said Southwick
that we were the daughter of Stephen Aldrich, who resided in
Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island from my rest
lection until about sixty years since when he removed to
Southwick Massachusetts, that I was well acquainted with
Elisha Stew late of Southwick deceased, from the time I was a
small girl to the time of his decease that he was married to my
Sister Lois Aldrich at my fathers house in said Smithfield by
Benjamin Sheldon a Justice of the Peace about the year seven
to
hundred and ninety, and that I was present at the wedding
and saw them married that from the time of their marriage
to the time of his decease, about twenty years since, they lived
together as husband and wife and that she still remains his widow
Lydia E
State of Massachusetts
Hampden County
On this fourteenth day of June AD 1852 before me the
subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said
County, Personally appeared the above named Lydia
me and made oath in due form of law, to the
truth of the foregoing deposition by her subscribed, and I
also certify that the above named deponent is to me
personally known and has been for more than fifty years
and that she a reputable and credible person
Jos M. Forward Justice of the Peace
Page 13

I, Anna Steer of Southwick in the County of Hampden and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged sixty three years depose
and say that I am the daughter of Elisha Steer late of said
Southwick deceased, by his first wife, that a number of
years previous to my fathers decease I looked over a great number
of his old papers which at that time were supposed to be of no
value, and burned them up-- that among other papers so distroyed
was a paper or papers relative to his being a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and I believe it was his discharge from the service,
it was signed by an officer. I objected to destroying it as it might
enable him to get a pension or other [illegible] his answer was that he should
not draw a Pension as he never should swear that he had
not got any property
Ann Steer
State of Massachusetts
Hampden County on this fourteenth day of June 1852
Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for
said County, Personally appeared the above named Anna
Steer and made oath in due form of law to the truth of
the foregoing deposition by her subscribed, and I also certify
that the above named deponent is to me personally known
and that she is a reputable and credible person
Joseph M. Forward Justice of the Peace
Page 14

6
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPDEN, SS. J Moore Clerk protempore
, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampden,
do certify, that Jos. M Forward
Esquire, whose signature is affixed
to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within
and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full
faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am
acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Jos. In Forward
his signature to said certificate is genuine.
and believe
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of
Common Pleas for said Commonwealth,
this Eighteenth
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and any
G K Monis
Clerk.
Kirteen
Page 15

Feb. 7th 1852
Louis Steer, widow
of Elisha Then
Revolutionary service
of
-
Oliver Phelps Jr.
Washington City
D
Page 16

State of
County
V
Witness
Massachusetts
Hampden
On this 31 day of January A.D. 1852 personally ap
hand before me Louis Steer of the County and State afore
said aged Eighty three years who being first duly sworn
according to law doth on her oath make the follow
ing declaration to obtain the benefit of the provision
of Act of Congress passed 7th July 1838.
That she is the widow of Elisha Steer who died in
August 24th 1831 who was a Private in the Revolu
tionary War who enlisted in Captain Benjamin Whipples
Company for nine (9) months under Col. Toppenis and
Genl Ezekiel Cornells regiment, also enlisted in
Stephen Winson's Company to serve in Providence Rhode
Island, as will more fully appear in my Declara
tion and certificate filed before the Pension Office in
1839 - She further declares that she was married to
the said Elisha then on the 9th day of November
1790, and that she further swears she is now a
widow and has never received an annuity of
Pension due her in right of her said husband
deceased
sister
B W Farnam
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year
above written before me
Jos. M. Forward Justice of the Peace
Page 17

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SS. I Geo B Morris Clerk protempore
Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of
Hampden, do certify, that Joseph Forward
Esquire, whose signature is
affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices
of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this
Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations
done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said
Joseph M Forward and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the
Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth,
this second
day of February
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
Rob Morris Clerk
partin
Page 18

3146
Lois
Stees
Massachusetts
1508
act 7 July 38
Page 19

Joseph Place of Glocester in the County of Providence
and State of Rhode Island aged Eighty one years be
ing firstly engaged according to law do testify
and say that I was a soldier of the revolution and
am now a pensioner of the United States under the
act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. I further
say that I was well acquainted with Elisha Sture
formerly of said Glocester now deceased, the said
Steer and myself were near neighbours to one
another. In the year 1777 the said Elisha Steer and
myself served one month in Providence R.I.
in the Company commanded by Captain Bena
Jah Whipple, we will both drafted for said for
vice and served as aforesaid, I cannot recollect
the month it was however in the fall of said year
then Winson was the Lieutenant of said company
In the year 1778 said line and myself enlisted into
Captain William Whipples company for nine months
we enlisted in the month of May or June in said
last mentioned year, we were enlisted by Captain
William Waterman to serve in said Whipples com
pany we marched to East Greenwich where we were
stationed but a short time not more than a month
when we were ordered to Tiverton on the other side
of the Bay - we remained at said Tiverton, and
on the Island of Rhode Island until our time
expired, which was on the sixteenth of the succeed
ing March said Whipples company belonged to
Colonel Lement Ezekiel Cornell of
Scituate was the General welwell on the Island
aforesaid at the time of the engagement near Butts
Hill and were both engaged in said Battle
the said Elisha Steen married for his second
wife Lois Aldrich the daughter of Stephen Aldrich
of Smithfield in said County. They were made
at the house of said Stephen Aldred in said Smith
field by John Sayles Esqr of said Smithfield
I was present at the time of the marriage but
cannot recollect with sufficient accuracy to
Page 20

State the precise time of the marriagethe
said Elisha Steere moved from this part of
the County some forty years ago, since
which time I do not recollect to have sum
him
Attest J. S. Tourtellot
his
Joseph Place
mark
State of Rhode Island &c
Rovidence Glocester October 11th 1838 Then
Personally appeared the aforenamed Joseph Place
who subscribed the aforegoing deposition by man
King his mark and made solemn oath to the
truth of the statements therein contained before me
and I certify that the said Joseph Place whois
well known to me is a credible person and that
his statements are entitled to credit-
-
Abram Baker Julius peace
I David Kelley of Burrillville in the County of
Providence and State of Rhode Island aged
Eighty five years being firstly engaged accor
ding to law, do testify and say that I was a
soldier of the revolution and am now a
pensioner of the United States under the act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832. I further say
that I was well acquainted with Elisha Ster
formerly of Glocester in said County-
In the year 1776 I was stationed at Bristol R.
one month the later part of November & forepart
of December) in Capt. Timothy Wilmarth's Coun
pany in Col. Chad Browns regiment, the said Eli
the Steer the said Elisha Steele belonged in
said Regiment at this time and served one month
at Bristol as aforesaid. I believe that Steele at
this time belonged to Captain Benajah Whipples
Company we were called down to Bristol at
this time on an alarm ondising said
Page 21

month while we were stationed at Bristol there was
thirty five were drawn out of said regiment to
hop wood on Mount Hope and the said ten
and myself were drawn for that servicemy
duty at this time was to measure the wood &
draw the provision for the hoppers
Succollect to have seen said Elisha are on
the Island of Rhode Island in Sullivans expe
dition in the month of August a few days before
the Battle near Butts Hill, my time expired a
five days before the Battle when I left the Island
and came home-- the said Store did not belong
to the same company with me at the time
Attest J. T. Sounteller
David
Kelley
mark
State of Rhode Island and Providence Stan
tations Providence (Rocester October 11th 1838
Then personally appeared before me the afore
named David Kelley who signed the aforegoing
deposition by making his mark and made
solemn oath to the truth of the statements therein
contained, and I certify that the said David
Kelley who is well known to me is a credible
person and that his statements are entitled
to credit
Abram Baker Justice Peace
Page 22

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Town Clerks Office Glouster
October 11th 1838.
I Clovis H. Bowen Town Clerk of said town of
Glocester in the County of Providence & State aforesaid
do hereby certify, that I have carefully examined the
Reced of Marriages in this Office, & do not find the
marriage of Elisha Steen to Lois Aldrich therein recorded
I further certify from my own knowledge that a
great many marriages have been solomnized in said
town of which is record has been made
Clovis H. Bowen Town Clerk
Providence Ss. In Glouster Oct. 11. 1835
Then Clovis H. Bowen Town Clerk as aforesaid, personally
appeared, & was duly engaged to the truth of the foregoing
certificate by him subscribed before me
Job Amstron J.C.C. Pleas
Page 23

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence &c.
I, John W. Smith Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the County
of Presidence in said State, being a Court of record,
do hereby certify that Job Armstrong Esquire
before whom one of the annexed affidavit was
sworn is one of the Justices of our said Court
of
Common Pleas that Abram Baker
Esquire before whom the other the annexed
affidavits were sworn is a Justice of the Peace
for the town of Glocester in said County
that by law said Job and Abram respectively
, are authorized and qualified to administer
oaths and take depositions:-- and that their
respective signature aforewritten are genuine
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of our said Court, at the
City of Providence, this twelfth day
of Octition in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred & thirty
eight "
John W. Smith Clerk
Page 24

Lois Steer
Mass
Jany 5
---
Oliver Phelps
Washington D.C
Page 25

Know all men by these presents that I Lois Steer
twent
An
by
widow of Elisha Steer a Revolutionary soldier,
of
Southwick in the State of Massachusetts, do hereby constitute
and appoint Oliver Phelps Esq of Washing
ton Dist. of Columbia my true and lawful attorney
for me and in my name to prosecute a claim for
Pension supposed to be due me from the Government
of the United States, on account of the service of my
late husband she then in the Revolutionary war,
and by virtue of my widowhood aforesaid, and for that
purpose to examine a declaration made by me and
other papers forwarded to the Pension Office at said
Washington in support of an application for such
pension made by me sometime in the year 1838 or
1839, which application has since lain suspended,
and also to receive any amount due me as pension
in the relation aforesaid & receipt for the same, and pre
ally to do all things necessary to the successful prosecution
of said claim the same as I myself could do
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this
ty ninth day of December A.D. 1851
and in presence of
Lois steer
asa Holmb
On this 29th day of December A.D. 1851
of Hampton personally appeared Lois her and ack
nowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be her act & deed
Before me Amasa Holcomb Justice of the Peace
County
Page 26

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMDEN SS. I George B. Morris Clerk protempore
of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of
Hampden, do certify, that Amasa Holcomb
Esquire, whose signature is
affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices
of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this
Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations
done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said
Amasa Holcomb and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the
Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth,
this twenty ninth day of December
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
George B. Morris, Clerk
pro tempore
Page 27

Amended Declaration of Mrs
Steer widow of Elisha their late of Southwick
deed, in order to obtain the benefit of the act
of Congress of the 7th of July 1838 entitled and
granting half pay and pensions to assume Widow
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden
1
On this second day of July in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
personally appeared before the Court of Probate
for the County of Hampden Lois Steer a resident
of Southwick in the said County of Hampden
aged seventy 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 provision made by the act of
Congress passed July 7 1838 entitled an
granting half pay and pensions to certain
widow. That she is the widow of Elisha Ster
who was a private in the army of the Revolution
that she knew of his going into the army which
was before her marriage with him. That according to
the testimony of David Kelly he served the
month in Bristol R.I. in the latter part of
November and forepart of December 1776 in Cap
Benajah Whipples Company in Col Chad Browns
Page 28

Regiment. That he was called down to Bristol
at that time on an alarm. That sometime during
that time he was one of thirty five that were drawn
from said Regiment to chop wood on mount the
That according to the testimony of Joseph Place
he was drafted in the fall of 1777 and served one
month in Providence R.I. in the company of Be
najah Whipple and Stephen Windsor was Lieten
ant. That in May or June 1778 he enlisted for
nine months to serve in Capt William Whippas
company in Col Crarys Regiment Ezekiel Cornel
of situate was the General, that he marched to East
Greenwich when he was stationed but a short him
not more than a months when he was ordered to
Twenton on the other side of the day. He remained
at said Swenton and on the land of Rhode Island
untill his time expired, which was on the sixteenth
of the succeeding March; that he was on the Island
at the time of the Battle was Butts hill and engaged
in said battle. She further declares that she has no
documentary evidence of said service. She further
declares that she was married to the said Elisha
Steer on the ninth day of November in the year
one thousand seven hundred and ninety. That her
husband the aforesaid Elisha Ster died on the
24th day of August eighteen hundred thirty one
That she was not married to him prior to
the same
his having but the marriage took place pre
Page 29

1
vious to the first of January seventeen
hundred ninety four, viz, at the him about
stated
to her the
mark
Sworn and subscribed on the day and
year above written
Maris Judge of said Court
I
Justice William Carter of said Probate
Court do hereby certify that the
foregoing contain the annual
proceedings of said Court in
the matter of the amended
sideration of hers then to applies
for a Pension
In testimony thing I have hereunto
set my hand & seal of said Court
at thringfield this second day of
July in the year of our Lord
been thousand eight hundred
and thirty
Willard
Page 30

3146
Lois Steer
Massachusetts

June 10
[illegible]
Massachusetts
[inverted]
FREE
J.L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Steer
Southwick Massachusetts
June 5
Page 31

Massachusetts
Southwick June 4th 1839
Your letter of May 14th directed to Joseph
M. Forward Esquire relative to the case of Mrs.
Lois Steer widow of Elisha Steer deceased has just
been put into my hands. As I wrote Mrs Steers
declaration and was the magistrate before whom
some of the Depositions were taken, Mr their has
requested me to write to you on the subject.
In your letter you say the claimant should set
forth in her declaration the tours of service for
which she claims a Pension"
Apr. She has no
personal knowledge of the Military services of her deceased husband. She know, that he went professedly
to join the army but this is all, and she thought
she could not make oath to services of which she
had no knowledge. She has instructed me to say
that she asks for pay, only for the service proved
by the Depositions taken in Rhodeisland. If it is
necessary for her to describe that service in her declaration, it will be necessary to return the depositions referred to, or a copy of the service described
in them, as no copies were taken here, and the
can refer to nothing but the discription then given
Perhaps this part of the Rule issued by the War Department
was not exactly understood at the time of writing her
declaration. She is willing to say under oath that
Page 32

she believes the depositions sent to the war depart
ment with her declaration writen the truth, but
she does not see hows that she can say more,
the remainder of your letter reads thus "If there he
a family record of her marriage or of the births of
her children, it should be exhibited, and if there
by none she should state the fact under oath
There is a record in a family bible of the births of
her children but it contains one of her Marriage
the following is a copy
Abel Steer was Born April 28 1791
Mary Steer was Born September 4 1792
Elisha Steer Inner was Born May 4 1794
John Steer was Born December 1775
solemley and Surrey Steer was Born March the 17th 1797
Sarah Steer was Born Febuary 9 1779
Ruth Steer was Born June 25 1802
Richard Steer was Born November 4 1800
Flin Steer was Born January 24 1804
I Lois Steer widow of Elisha Steer decd, depose and
that the family record of which the above is a copy
gives the correct times of the births of my children
and that there is no other record within my knowledge.
and further that I believe that the depositions taken
at Rhodeisland and sent to the war Department
with my declaration contain the truth
Lois Steer
Hampden S. Southwick June 4th 1839 Personally
Page 33

appeared Lois Steer and made solemn oath to the 
truth of the foregoing certificate by her subscribed 
before me, and I do hereby certify that
She retains a fair character and is entitled to
fullest credit
Amasa Holcomb Justice of the peace
I have been acquainted with the family
forty years, most of the children are settled
immediate neighborhood, and the oldest ones were
my schoolmates, The widow and her children are
every way respectable
Yours Respectfully
Amasa Holcomb
Honorable J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
If there is still a defect in any of the papers
relative to the particulars referred to in your
letter will you have the goodness to point it
out at as early a day as convenient
Page 34

I, Ludice Enos of Southwick in the County
of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
depose and say that I am sister to Lois
Steer, and was acquainted with the first wife
of Elisha Steer late of Southwick deceased.
she died in consequence of her confinement
by the birth of Anna the oldest child of
said Elisha Steer - Anna was but a few
days old when her mother died
Lydia Enos X her mark
Hampden ss October 21st 1839 then Lydia
Enos personally appeared and made solemn
oath to the truth of the above Deposition
by her subscribed before me and I do
hereby certify that the said Lydia Emes
is a person of good character and entitled
to credit.
Amasa Holcomb Justice of the peace
Page 35

Southwick October 22nd 1839
Sir
I received your letter relative to the
case of Mrs Lois Steer you say record
proof should be exhibited showing when the
first wife of the claimants husband died, No such
record can be found. There is however proof
of the fact, and the Deposition of Mrs Enos
relates to that point,
you further say that the affidavit of the
town Clerk of Smithfild should be exhibited
showing what proof of the marriage of the
claimant the records afford.
The following explanation I think will be
satisfactory. The town of Gloucester has been
divided into three towns, a part of it is
still called Gloucester a part, Smithfield and
apart I believe Burrelsville-The marriage
is said to have taken place in that part
that is now called Smithfield but it was
Gloucester untill long after the marriage took
place, therefore no records are to be found
in Smithfield but those of a comparatively
recent date, that is, untill since it become
a town. The affidavit of the Town Clerk
of Glouster [sic] is among the papers in the
Page 36

of the claimant at the War Department.
I do not recollect precisely what it contains
as I had nothing to do with proving the evidence
I have no interest either in the Pension being
granted or withheld but from my knowledge
of the parties I have no doubt but the facts are
as stated by the Claimant and Mrs Enos
Yours very Respectfully
Amara Holcomb
JL Edwards
Commissioner of Pension
Page 37

Southwick July 7th 1839
Dear Sir
I received sometime since the papers
returned to me from the war Department relating
to the claim of Mrs Steer for a Pension. I now
return them to the war Department with the
amended Declaration of Mr Steer. Also the
family Record with the Deposition of Mrs Enos
explaining it. The first name on the record
does not belong to Mrs Steers family. I thought it
necessary to show this fact, otherwise the copy sent
to the war Department some time since would not
appear correct. It is as it professes to be a correct
copy of the record of the births of her children
The Record is dated in Granby. In explanation of
this it is only necessary to say that that part of
Southwick in which Mr steer lives was a part
Granby Connecticut and untill the alteration of the
State in 1804,
Yours very Respectfully
Amasa Holcomb
Page 38

Southwick Massachusetts
January 14th 1854
Dear Sir
About fifteen years ago Widow
Lois Steer of this town applied for a
Pension for services of her deceased
husband, Elisha the in the army 
of the revolution. The evidence was
then considered insufficient. The papers 
are now in the Pension Office at 
Washington. She has lately been
informed that Elisha Steer's name
is in the Muster rolls in Boston
She wishes me to request you
to send the papers, or if there is
objection to that then to send from
the papers such extracts as will show
the Regiment and Company
which Mr. Steer was said to have served
and also his officers. All that is
wanted is some guide to the Secretary at
Boston where to look for the name. No
copies were kept of the papers and
Page 39

I know not whether the witnesses
are now living as they belonged in
Rhode island which was E. Steers native 
place
Yours very Respectfully
Amasa Holcomb
Page 40

Southwick November 20th 1854
Sir
I received your letter of November 2nd informing me
that the rolls of Captain William
Whipple of Colonel Tophams Regiment
in 1778 do not bear the name of Elisha Steer
and that it is not found on the rolls 
of any company of that Regiment for
that year and that there must be some
mistake in the testimony of Joseph illegible]
Mrs. Steer has requested me to write to
ask whether there is evidence at the War
Department from the rolls of Mr Steer
service for any other year. It would seem
that if the service was actually rendered
a mistake of the witness as to
the company ought not to bar the same.
If it is consistent with your rules (as
believe it is) will you have the goodness to
inform me whether such evidence is known to
exist. If it does not Mrs Sheer wishes the
papers in her case returned of consistent
with your practice
She has an impression
Page 41

that he served also in a Captain
Mays Company she can however have no
personal knowledge of his service at all
I know nothing about the character of
the witnesses who testified of the service of
Mr. Steer. I would seem strange if Mr. [illegible]
was entirely mistaken respecting Mr. Steers service.
Yours very Respectfully
Amasa Holcomb
JL Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of pensions
Page 42

Southwick Mass. Nov. 8. 1838
Sir enclosed I forward to your Department
Lois Steers papers relative to a Pension
should the evidence be sufficient and a
Pension Certificate be granted her, phan
forward it to me at this place
Yours Respectfully
Jos. M. Forward
Page 43

Place, Witness
[17]77 fall Benjamin Whipple Providence-1 month
[17]78 May William Whipple Topham-Tiverton, etc.-9 [months]
Kelly -
[17]76 Deceased Benjamin Whipple Bristol-1 [month]
Page 44

Lois
Steer
widow of Elisha
Mass
J. M. Forman May 14 184
A Holcombe
June 11 1844
same
Aug 29 1889
Same
Nov 2 1839
Same
Nov 26 1839
Oliver Phelps Jr May 25th
Same Oct 8 1852
A. Holcomb 19th Jany 1854
10104
Act July 7 1838
Page 45

Lois Steen
of Elisha
Massachusetts
-
Suspended
Subt 14th May 1839
J. M. Forward
let 11 June 19 A.
Holcomb
let to 29 May 19
to do. Nov. 2, 1839
to Holcomb Nov. 26, 1839
Set O. Phelps Jr May 25 - 1852
Act 7 July 1838
Page 46

'-
Act of July
March 3, 1873.
10.104
---
Lois Steer
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
1
Flore
---
18
18
18
Recognized.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for
18
Contract.