Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 284, William S Ashley, Vt.
Page 1

Service
Vt. 

Ashley, Williams S. 
Aurelia

Number
R. 284
B. 4WH 40928-160-55
Page 2

27 933
Declaration of
Wm S Ashley of
Hartland V.T.

[illegible]
Page 3

STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS.

On this 7th day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of [crossed out] for the District of Hartford now sitting, William S. Ashley a resident of the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers,
and served as herein stated. That in the month of June or July 1777 he was drafted as a Soldier under Capt. Strong of Woodstock Vermont and immediately marched with other drafted men through Cavendish, Rutland, Hubbardton, to Ticonderoga N.Y. which was then besieged by Burgoyne army - that he was stationed at Mount Independence and was joined
with the troops under an officer by the name of Alcott (his christian name he cannot remember) who was a Col. or General he cannot say
which. he remained a soldier at that station until the United States troops retreated from Ticonderoga. The British army followed the U.S. troops to Hubbardton where a considerable battle took place in which battle he was engaged with the other troops to which he belonged. soon after said battle, the militia to which he belonged were dismissed and they returned home. they had no written discharges but were dismissed in a body by the officer verbally - he does not recollect precisely how long he served at this time but from his best recollection it was about a month. he further
says that he was engaged in said service as an Indian spy. from the time he returned home from the service at Ticonderoga as above stated to the close of the Revolutionary war constantly, which was a period of about six years according to his best recollection
that during which last period he was enrolled with a company of Militia in said Hartland & under the command of Captain Elias Wells which company belonged to Col. Joel Marsh's Regiment or battalion, that the troops to which he belonged this last period were called minute men & were subject to be called out to hunt
Indians and tories and for other service at a minutes warning and he was frequently called out by order of Col. Marsh for said purposes
during said last period but the particular times he cannot recollect all of them - that some time during the period last mentioned he was ordered by Col. Marsh to go North towards Canada line (in company with one Oliver Willard) for the purpose of discovering the
situation & movements of the Indians as said Col. had received news that the Indians were collecting in that quarter & he was expecting they were preparing to make advances against
the Americans as they afterwards did - he accordingly went with said Willard. he cannot tell the particular year that he went nor how long he was gone - That during the period last mentioned he, with some others, was ordered to go to Barnard fort to do duty under one Capt Cox & accordingly went & was at sd Fort a part of one summer. He cannot recollect what summer it was. That he kept himself constantly equipped & provided with ammunition dur
Page 4

during last period and was frequently ordered out (sometimes in the night) to hunt Indians & tories but cannot [illegible] or at what particular time he was out - sometimes a few days &
sometimes a number of weeks at a time. That he had no documentary evidence of his said service. He knows of no person, whose
testimony he can procure, who can testify to his said service except those whose testimony is to be transmitted with this declaration. That he was born in Westfield in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1757. That he lived in Hartland in the State of Vermont & now lives there [crossed out] when called into service & has lived there ever since & now lives there - that he volunteered into said service - that he never had a written discharge from said
service, that he has no record of his age any where as he knows of that from lapse of time & age he cannot recollect the exact time he served as above stated but from his best recollection & present belief it is about six years and one month -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present,
and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid.}
Edwin Hutchinson Register
William S. Ashley

We, William S. Ballon a Clergyman resident in Hartland VT and John S. Marcy residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William S. Ashley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a solider of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid.}
Edwin Hutchinson Register
William S. Ballon
John S. Marcy

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that William S. Ballon who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Hartland
VT and that John S. Marcy who has also signed the same, is a resident in Hartland VT and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Edwin Hutcherford Register Clerk [crossed out] of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford VT do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the application of William S. Ashley for a Pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this 7th day of August
A.D. 1833
Edwin Hutchinson Register
Page 5

Copy
                 November 20, 1833

Sir: The only actual service which is definitely set forth in your declaration, as proved by the testimony, is one month in Captain Strong's Company in 1777. Your general allegation of six years service as an Indian Spy cannot be recognized as the foundation of a claim for a pension. From the facts stated it is obvious that you never served in that capacity within the Act of 7th June 1832. Indeed it is not known that any corps of that description was maintained in New England during the Revolutionary War. Your claim is therefore rejected. The papers are placed on file. 
To Mr. William S. Ashley, Hartland, Vermont. 

Serv. of one month insufficient, and 6 yrs - as Ind. spy not recog. as [illegble] service under the Act  of June 7, 1832
Page 6

230,072
Act March 3
Dec, 31

Aurelia Ashley wid.
William Ashley pri.

Capt. Strong
Private Vt. Mil'a
Rev'y War

[written vertically]
No. 40928 [info] Sept 13/56

See  app'n made for Pension
Vt. Reg June 32

Ad: 160 ac's Sept 10/56
Dodge
K
F. E. Hassler
Present

22
1
23 [total]
Page 7

Bounty Land
Aurelia Ashley
Widow
Wm. S.   230.072
who was an
applicant for a 
Revolutionary 
Pension in
Vermont
act 1832

filed 31 Dec. 1855
F. E. Hassler
Attorney
Page 8

FORM OF DECLARATION
To be made by the Widow of a deceased person who has not had a land warrant.

State of Vermont
County of Windsor

On this twenty fifth day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, Aurelia Ashley aged seventy three years, a resident of Hartland in the State of Vermont, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of William S. Ashley, deceased, who was a soldier in the company commanded by Captain Strong in the _____ regiment of _____ commanded by ____ in the war* Revolutionary War, that her husband was drafted at Hartland. onor about the twentieth day of June A.D. 1777 for the term of ____ and continued in actual service in said war for the term of _____ and was honorably discharged at _____ on the ____ of ____ A.D.

She further states that she was married to the said William S. Ashley in Sharon Vermont on the ninth day of July A.D. 1818 by one Samuel Bascomb, Minister of the Gospel, and that her name before her said marriage was Aurelia Lathrop, that her said husband died at Hartland on the tenth day of June A.D. 1846 and that she is now a widow.

She furthermore hereby constitutes and appoints F. E. HASSLER, of Washington, D.C., her attorney to receive her Land Warrant when issued. 

Aurelia Ashley

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "act approved March 3, 1855." + I refer to the original papers filed by her said husband as a Revolutionary in the Pension Office for further declaration + also for the filling of the above Blanks. 

Aurelia Ashley

We, Daniel Ashley and Leonard P. Sherwin, residents of Hartland in the State of Vermont upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Aurelia Ashley in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.

Daniel Ashley
Leonard P. Sherwin

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to the credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.

Albert B. Burk Notary Public

NOTES.
* State what war.    
† Volunteered, or was draughted—as the case may be.
‡ This declaration must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of the marriage, of the husband's death, and the present widowhood of the claimant. If there be a public record of the marriage, a duly certified copy of it should be forwarded, if possible. If there be none but a private or family record, such family record, or a certified copy of the same, should be forwarded, with the affidavit of some disinterested persons proving the genuineness of the original and the correctness of the copy. If no public or private record of the marriage exist, or can be procured, that fact should be set forth in the declaration; and in such case, other evidence—such as the testimony of persons who knew the parties in the lifetime of the husband, and knew them to cohabit as husband and wife, and to be so reputed—will be admissable.
> In no case, however, will the mere statement of witnesses that the claimant is the widow of the deceased be taken as evidence of the marriage; but the witnesses must state facts and circumstances from which they derive their knowledge or opinion that she is the widow of the deceased.
Page 9

STATE OF VERMONT, 
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS. }

I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court, of the County of Windsor, in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that Albert B. Burk was, at the date of the paper writing to which this is attached, and still is, a Notary Public in and for said County, duly qualified to administer oaths and take the acknowledgement of deeds, and that his signature Aforegoing is genuine. 
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, at Woodstock, in said County of Windsor, this 27th day of December A.D. 1853.

Norman Williams, Clerk.
Page 10

Copy of Record of Wm. S Ashley
Birth Marriage & Death also of his
said Ashley wifes Birth & Marriage.
William S. Ashley Born at Westfield in
the State of Massachusetts on the 16th day of
September A.D. 1757 -
Aurelia Lathrop Born at Norwich in
the State of Connecticut on the 22d day of
October A.D. 1782
William S. Ashley & Aurelia Lathrop
Married at Sharon in the State of Vermont
by Samuel Bascomb a Minister of the Gospel
on the Ninth day of July A.D. 1818.
William S. Ashley died at Hartland in
the State of Vermont on the Tenth day of
June A.D. 1846. aged Eighty Nine years.
I Daniel Ashley of Hartland in the County of
Windsor & State of Vermont aged Seventy years
 or better testify & say that I reside in the house with Aurelia
Ashley above named & that I have examined the
family Record made & Recorded in the Bible
 and in the family of which I am a member & that the
above is a true Copy of the original Record &
that to my knowledge there never has been a
Public Record made of any of the above & that the same
is correct (meaning the [illegible])
Daniel Ashley
Page 11

I Sarepta H. Whitaker of Hartland in the County of Windsor State of Vermont aged Thirty years on oath testify and say that I now reside with Aurelia Ashley above named and have for the last ten years & having examined the Record in the Family Bible formerly owned by Wm S. Ashley Deceased I hereby testify & say that the foregoing Record is a true Copy as found in the Bible of the Birth, Marriage, & Death above written & that the original record is reputed to be a correct record & further I say not
Sarepta H Whitaker

State of Vermont
Windsor County
At Hartland this 25th day of December A.D. 1855 personally appeared the same Daniel Ashley & Sarepta H. Whitaker and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavits.
Before me Albert B. Burk Notary Public
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the aforenamed Daniel Ashley & Sarepta H. Whitaker & know them to be persons of truth and veracity & I further say that I draw this copy of Record from the Family Bible used by Aurelia Ashley above named & that this is a true Copy of the original record & I further say that I am in no way interested in the prevention of the claim of Aurelia Ashley for a land warrant.
Albert B. Burk Notary Public
Page 12

I Daniel Ashley of Hartland in the county of Windsor & State of Vermont aged Seventy years on oath depose testify & say that I was well acquainted with Wm W. Ashley of Hartland aforesaid having lived with him ever since my birth up to the time of his death & that he died at Hartland aforesaid on the tenth day of June A.D. 1846 I was present & say him die & that his widow Aurelia Ashley has resided in the same house with me ever since & still does reside with me and that she is still the widow of Wm S. Ashley & has never married since his death which took place as above stated & was a widow at the time of making her application for a land warrant. I furthermore say that I was in no way interested in the prosecution of the claim of Aurelia Ashley for a Land Warrant & further I say not.
Daniel Ashley

I Sarepta H. Whitaker of Hartland in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont aged Thirty years on oath depose testify & say that I was present & saw William S. Ashley of Hartland aforesaid die which was on the tenth day of June A.D. 1846 I then resided at his house & have for the most part of the time ever since & I still reside with Aurelia Ashley widow of the said Wm A. Ashley & that she is still his widow & has never married since his decease & I further
Page 13

say that I am in no way interested in the prosecution of a claim of Aurelia Ashley for a land Warrant.
Sarepta H. Whitaker

State of Vermont
Windsor County
At Hartford this 25th day of December 1855 personally appeared Daniel Ashley & Sarepta H. Whitaker & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavits

Before me Albert B. Burk Notary Public    230.072

Thereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Daniel Ashley & Sarepta H. Whitaker & know them to be persons of truth & veracity & I further say that I am in no way interested in the prosecution of the claim of Aurelia Ashley for a Land Warrant either as attorney or in any other way
Albert B. Burk Notary Public
Page 14

In reply to your request or Oct 26, receive--
for a statement of the military history of William S. Ashley, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Wm. S. Ashley R. 284.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. Length of Service. Rank. Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered. State. 

June to July 1777. 1 mo. Private. Captain Strong. Colonel Expedition to Ticonderoga. N.Y. 

Immediately after above. 6 years. Indian Spy. Captain Elias Wells Cox. Colonel Joel Marsh. 

Battles engaged in, Hubbardton. 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hartland, Vt. 
Date of application for pension, Aug. 7, 1833.
Residence at date of application, Hartland, Vt. 
Age at date of application, born Sept. 16, 1757 at Westfield, Mass. 
Remarks: Soldier married at Sharon, Vt., July 9, 1818, Aurelia Lathroh, born Oct. 22, 1782 at Norwich, Conn. He died June 10, 1846 at Hartland where she resided in 1855 with Daniel Ashley at 70 yrs + Serepta H. Whitaker at 30 yrs. - relationship not stated. The widow was allowed land for her husband's service in the Vt. militia. 

Respectfully, 
Commissioner

6-2856
Page 15

July 24, 19 [??] history to 
Burton J.Ashley, Chicago [illegible]
Sept. 27, 1906 Burton J. Ashley, Chicago
Informed not practice of Bureau to
full copies of papers in claim
See let. in W file 23464.
1915 Nov. 2. Hist. to Mrs Clara R. Willard


Ex'r.  INVALID

REJECTED
Willam. S. Ashley
Page 16

[P or L]
40.928
S
Revy [All'd]

284
Vermont
Revo.
Act 7 June 1832
Wm S. AShley
Rejected
Letter to 
claimant
Hartland
Nov 20, 1833
Let to Hon. H Everett - Dec. 8, 1837
Taylor
SSC
Page 17

STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS. }

I, NORMAN WILLIAMS, Clerk of the County Court, of the County of Windsor, in the state of Vermont, do hereby certify that Albert B. Burk was, at the date of the paper writing to which this is attached, and still is, a Notary Public in and for said County, duly qualified to administer oaths and take the acknowledgment of deeds, and that his signatures foregoing (four in number) are genuine. 

In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, at Woodstock, in said County of Windsor, this 27th day of December A.D. 1855. 

Norman Williams, Clerk.
Page 18

Rej. 284
William S. Ashley
Aug. 2, 1833. Hartland,
Windsor Co. Vt. [?] Westfeld
Mass 1757 us Hartland at
enl.           Vt.

Dr.                    June or July
Capt.    Strong
Col.    Alcott

exp, to Ticonderoga sta. at [Fort] Independence
[bat] Hubbardston    1 mo.

Ind. Spy Capt Elias Wells (Cox)
Col. Joel March
 6 yrs.
Page 19

Dec 4

Wm S. Ashley

J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Com'r of Pensions
Page 20

Washington 2 Dec 1827
Sir
I wish to examine the papers of William
S. Ashley (Vt.) transmitted to the Pension Office in 1833. and will thank you to send them to me.
Respectfully
yours
Horace Everett

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com'r of Pensions
Page 21

Hartland August 29th  1856

S. E. Hassler, Esq
Washington D.C.
Sir
Not hearing from you since my last
thought I would drop you a line to know if you
received the application for a land warrant for Aurilla
Ashley.  if so give me the result as soon as convenient.
Yours truly
William Ashley

This claim was for a Revolutionary
Land Warrant Act 1855
& according to my records filed
31 Dec 1855. but I do not find
any number entered opposite.
Yours truly,
S. E. Hassler

[illegible]
Page 22

O W & N
Burton J. Ashley
CIVIL AND CONSULTING ENGINEER,
Chicago

[rectangle stamp]
USPR
[illegible] & NAVY FILES
JUL 8 1905

6515 Normal Ave.
Tel. Wentworth 2372

JUL 1 1905

Commissioner Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir

I am trying to learn something of the record
of Capt Wm Ashley, revolutionary War,  who
at one time lived at Poultney Vermont- about
 1777. I can get no clew of his record in any way.
Any favor will be thankfully received.
Very Truly
Burton J. Ashley

[circle stamp]
PENSION U S 
JUL 6 1905
Page 23

DR. E. S. WILLARD,
OFFICE 17 PADDOCK ARCADE,
HOURS {3 TO 5, 7:30 TO 9 P.M.}
HEALTH OFFICER

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
WATERTOWN, N.Y. Oct 26th 1915

To the
Hon Comm of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Law Canyon

Sir
Can you inform me if the name James Racy
(Rasay, Rasey, Razey) is borne on the Pension Rolls.
He served in a Vermont Regt under Capt Caleb
Hill of Granville, Revolutionary War.
Also as to the name William Simms Ashley
who served under Capt Zebediah Dewey, 
Also under Elias Wells, Lieut Abisha Sampson:
And later his name was in the pay roll of Lieut
Dan Spooner; and payroll Isaac Tichenor Oct
13th 1781.

Any information will be greatly appreciated
Respy
(Mrs) Clara Rasay Willard
267 Ten Eyck St.
Watertown, N.Y.

REV. WAR SECTION
NOV 1 1915
PENSION BUREAU

[oval stamp]
LAW DIVISION
OCT 28 1915
RECEIVED

[oval stamp]
RECORD DIVISION
OCT 30 1915
Page 24

                                        S                       A.E.P. Exr.

File Rej. #284
Rev. War. 
                                               September 28, 1905 
                                                      Wm S. Ashley
                                                            R. 284


Sir:

In response to your inquiry of August 21, 1905, requesting a copy of the papers in the claim of William S. Ashley, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that it is not the practice of this Bureau to furnish full copies of papers, the clerical force being inadequate for such purposes. 

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner. 

Mr. Burton J. Ashley, 
6515 Normal Ave., 
Chicago, Illinois
Page 25

I Josiah Blake of Hartland in the County of Windsor
& State of Vermont of the age of Seventy four years
depose & say that I have lived in said Hartland the 
last thirty years & have, during that time, been
well acquainted with William S. Ashley of said
Hartland. said Ashley has ever since my said
acquaintance with him been reputed as a soldier
of the revolution in the service of the United States
- And I further say that said Ashley is a person
Whose veracity may be relied on.
Josiah Blake

State of Vermont
Windsor County
At Hartland in said County
on the 30th day of August AD
1833 Josiah Blake of Said Hartland,
 personally appeared & made solemn oath that the
above deposition by him subscribed contains
the truth & nothing but the truth.
Before me John S. Marcy Justice Peace

I certify that Josiah Blake who signed & swore to the
Foregoing deposition is a person whose veracity may
be relied on.
John S. Marcy Justice peace
Page 26

State of Vermont
Windsor County
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County
Court do hereby certify that John S. Marcy
is a Justice of the Peace within for said
County duly commissioned qualified
and that his signatures to the within four
affidavits by him written I believe to be 
genuine
Given under my hand, and the Seal of said
County Court at Woodstock in said County
this Seventh day of September AD 1833-
Benja Swan Clerk
Page 27

Moses Webster's
affidavit in case
of Wm S. Ashley
Page 28

I Moses Webster of Hartland in the County
of Windsor & State of Vermont of the age
of 78 years & upwards depose & say that 
I have lived in Hartland Vermont
above fifty years. now live there & have
during that time lived within a few miles
of William S. Ashley of s’d Hartland & said
Ashby has always been reputed & spoken of
as a soldier of the Revolutionary war in the
service of the United States. & further I say not.
Moses Webster

State of Vermont} at Hartland in said
Windsor County}  County on the 5th day of
 August A.D. 1833 Moses Webster personally
appeared & made solemn oath that the
above affidavit by him subscribed contains
the truth & nothing but the truth.
before me, John S. Marcy Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that Moses Webster who has Subscribed
 & sworn to the above deposition is a person whose
veracity may be relied on
John S. Mary Justice of the peace
Page 29

I David H. Sumner of Hartland in the County of
Windsor & State of Vermont of lawful age depose
& say that I have lived within about half a mile
of William S. Ashley of sd Hartland for the last 25
years & he was one of my first & most intimate
aquaintances in sd Hartland. Early after I
moved into sd Hartland I frequently heard sd Ashley
spoken of as a soldier of the Revolution in the
U.S. Service & more particularly by one Phinehas
Killam Esquire who had lately deceased & who
 I understood was also a 
soldier in sd Revolution. I have understood
from sd Ashley & Killam both that they were
acquainted with each other at the time of the
revolutionary war & from their youth I have
heard sd Killam say that he and sd Ashley were soldiers in the
revolutionary war-
David H. Summer

State of Vermont}  At Hartland in said County of
Windsor County } the 24th day of August A.D.
1833 personally appeared David H. Summer & made
solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him
subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the
truth.  before me John S. Marcy Justice of the peace

I hereby certify that David H. Sumner who has
Signed & sworn to the above deposition is a person
whose veracity may be relied-
John S. Marcy Justice Peace
Page 30

I Jeremiah Richardson of Hartland in
County of Windsor & State of Vermont of 
lawful age depose & say that I have
lived in said Hartland during the last
fifty years & during that time have
been well acquainted with William S.
Ashley of S Hartland & he has always
been reputed as a soldier of the Revolution,
 in his neighborhood.
Jeremiah Richardson

same, my acquaintance with


State of Vermont } At Hartland in said County of
Windsor County ss } the 4th day of September A.D.
1833 personally appeared Jeremiah Richardson
and made solemn oath that the above
 deposition by him subscribed contains the truth
and nothing but the truth. before me
John S. Marcy Justice peace

I certify that Jeremiah Richardson who made
the foregoing deposition is a person whose veracity
be relied on
John S. Marcy Justice Peace