Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,082, James Godfrey, N.H.
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(3-1776)
Service  Number
NH
Godfrey, James
R4082
Elizabeth
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Declaration of
Elizabeth Godfrey
for pension under act
of Congress 7 July 1838
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State of Vermont Washington District

On this 12th day of March AD 1841 [I] personally appeared before the Probate Court now in session within and for the District of Washington. Elizabeth Godfrey, a resident Waterbury in the County of Washington, aged eighty-one 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 [..] July 7, 1938 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of James Godfrey who was a private in the army of the Revolution, that from her own recollection in past and from constant declaration of her said husband while living she states that at Northwood in the State of New Hampshire [...] first days of July 1777 [...] the said James Godfrey enlisted with the Company of Capt Enoch Paige for the term of six months - that entered the service under that enlistment and served that term out faithfully and she also understood from him, that he served about that length of time in army the succeeding year or the succeeding year but one after that, but as to the latter service she is not sufficiently informed to make a more definite declaration.
She further declares that she was married to the said James Godfrey at said Northwood by Elder Edmund Pillsbury on the 25th day of October in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one, that her maiden name was Elisabeth Caswell, but that she was called Betsy Caswell by usage. That
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her husband the aforesaid James Godfrey died on the twenty-fourth day of April in the year Eighteen hundred and Twenty One, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous  to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four. [...] at the time above stated. 
Elizabeth Godfrey

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written, before
Geo. Worthington Judge of Probate for the District of Washington
State of Vermont
District of Washington
I, Geo. B. Manser Registrar and Clerk of the Probate Courte within [...] the district [...] do hereby certify that the aforesaid proceedings were had in open Court at the time therein mentioned within said District before the Hon, George Worthington Judge, who has subscribed his name above, and that the same is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court the day and year above written [aforesaid] district.
Geo. B. Manser
Register Clerk
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J W Godfrey
Oct 1836

Ex 3
Stephen Thomas
June 1852
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Know all Men by these Presents that I,
James Godfrey of Waterbury in the county of Washington and State of Vermont
do hereby constitute and appoint Stephen Thomas of West Fairlee in the State of Vermont my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to prosecute the claim of my late mother Elizabeth Godfrey for a Pension under the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 or July 7th 1838. Witness my hand and seal this 21st day of January 1852.
James Godfrey
STATE OF Vermont
COUNTY OF Orange
Be it Known, that on the 21st day of January 1852, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said Country, duly authorized by law to administer oaths and to take acknowledgments, personally appeared James Godfrey above named, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned.
Alvah Bean Justice of Peace

I, James Godfrey of Waterbury in the County of Washington and State of Vermont of lawful age and depose and say that I am the son of James and Elizabeth Godfrey who are both dead, that the said Elizabeth Godfrey in her lifetime made an application for a Pension, that her application was never allowed, that this affidavit and poser of Attorney is made for the purpose of obtaining what was her due at the time of her decease.
James Godfrey
Sworn to and subscribed this 21st day of January 1852
Before me, Alvah Bean Justice of Peace
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James Godfre[y] and Betsey Carswel both of Northwood wer married together October twenty fifth seventeen hundred and eighty one by Elder Edmund Pillsbury. I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in the Town of Northwood and the State of New Hampshire in full lefible figures as follows October 25th 1781. Nathan H Leavitt

I Nathan H Leavitt above named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the Town of Northwood, Country of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town of Northwood with the exception above named as certified by me
Nathan H Leavitt Clerk of the Town of Northwood
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham
January 30th 1841
That the above named Nathan H Leavitt personally appearing made solemn oath to the truth of the above by him signed before me
Nath'l Dearborn Justice of the Peace
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Nathan H Leavitt and that his statement is entitled to full credit
Nath'l Dearborn Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE

I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Nathaniel Dearborn is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the seventh day of December 1840 and will expire on the seventh day of December 1845 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this first day of February 1841.
Josiah Stevens Jr Secretary of State
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I John Bickford of Northwood in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire eighty one years of age a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States on oath depose and say that on my second enlistment in the revolutionary war I enlisted under Capt Enoch Page of Nottingham New Hampshire according to the best of my recollection in the month of July n the year of our Lord seventeen hundred seventy seven. Our company firmed first at Exeter New Hampshire from there marched to Haverhill Massachusetts thence to Cambridge, from there to Providence Rhode Island from thence to Warwick in the same State there we were formed into a Regiment Colonel Joseph Center was our Commander. James Godfrey formerly of Northwood aforesaid now deceased and Simon Batchelder of said Northwood both enlisted under Capt Enoch Page about the time I did on or about the same day we all enlisted for six months James Godfrey aforesaid continued with us in the service of the United States till the January following when the Regiment was discharged and the said James Godfrey returned with me and others. I further say that I was well acquainted with the Widow of the said James Godfrey before she was married to him, before she was married she was commonly called Betsey and is the same person now sometimes called Elizabeth
John Bickford
State of Newhampshire
Rockingham } January 30th 1841
Then the above named John Bickford having signed the above in my presence personally appearing made solemn oath that the above statement by him made and signed is true
Before me Nathl Dearborn Justice of the Peace
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the above
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named John Bickford that he is a man of good character and his statement is entitled to full credit
Nathl Dearborn Justice of the Peace
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I Simon Batchelder of Northwood in the County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire of the age of eighty two [...] a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States on oath depose and say that on my third enlistment in the revolutionary war I enlisted under Capt Enoch Page of Nottingham Newhampshire according to the best of my recollection in the month of July in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy seven. Our company formed first at Exeter Newhampshire from there marched to Haverhill Massachusetts thence to Cambridge and from there to Providence Rhode Island from to Warkwick in the same State. There we were formed into a Regiment. Colonel Center was our Commander. James Godfrey formerly of Northwood aforesaid now deceased  enlisted under Capt Enoch Page about the time I did I should think on the same day as understood for six months he continued in the service of the United States till the January following when the Regiment was discharged and the said James Godfrey returned to Northwood with me.
I further say that I formerly was well acquainted with Elizabeth Godfrey the former wife of the said James Godfrey and believe that if she had ever married since the decease of the said James I should have known it, but have always understood that she has ever since the decease of her said husband she has remained his widow.
Simon Batchelder
State of Hewhampshire
Rockingham } January 30th 184[1] Then the above named Simon Batchelder having signed the above in my presence personally appearing made solemn oath that the above statement by him made and signed is true.
Before me Nathl Dearborn Justice of the Peace
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State of Newhampshire January 30th 1841 Rockingham }  I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the within named Simon Batchelder and that he is a man of good character and that this statement is entitled to full credit
Nathl Dearborn Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benning W. Jenness is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Strafford duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the twenty first day of June 1839 and will expire on the twenty first day of June 1844 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this first day of February 1841.
Josiah Stevens Jr Secretary of State.
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Elizabeth Godfrey Declaration
Evidence for Pension

Hon S. Prentiss
Senate US
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I Joseph Carswell of Strafford New Hampshire aged of Eighty five years a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States on oath define and say that I was well acquainted with James Godfrey who live in Northwood New Hampshire and I think he was born in said Northwood said James Godfrey married his wife in said Northwood in the year 1781 and said James Godfrey has been dead about twenty years said James Godfrey enlisted as a soldier in the Army of the Revolution for the term of six months to go to said Rhode Island in the year 1776 or 1777 said Godfrey did start him said Northwood for the State of Rhode Island for the service which he enlisted. I did not see said Godfrey until soon after the expiration of said six months in the year 1777.  I saw said James Godfrey a great many times at Still Water and said Godfrey served about the time of the surrender of Burgoyne [illegible] my own knowledge he was there and served in Captain Pages company of infantry for five months or more Elizabeth Godfrey is now living and is the widow of said James Godfrey and that she has not remarried any one since his decease.
Joseph Carswell
His mark
Samuel Dugin
Benning W Jenness
Strafford January 30th 1841 State of New Hampshire then person appearing the above named Joseph Carswell and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed
Benning W Jenness Justice of Peace
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Jan 30 1841 This certifies that I am well acquainted with the [illegible] named Joseph Carswell and believe him to be entitled to full credit and belief

Benning W Jenness Jus Peace
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James Godfrey d 1821
[illegible] E Page  m 1781
77 6m
78 6m
Page Co Simon Balchede  4 mo 4 dy
Jno Beckford 4 mo 6.
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V. No. 7964
Elizabeth Godfrey
Widow of
Vermt.  James Godfrey
let to Hon S.S. Prentis U.S. Senate
August 18, 1841
4082
Act of July 1838
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4082
P.O. 
Elizabeth Godfrey
Service; Wid. Of James
Enlisted____________, 18
Discharged: ___________, 18
Application filed: ___________________, 18
Alleges: ______________________
Re-enlisted: __________________
Attorney: ___________
P.O. _________________
_________Recognized _______
________Cert of Dis.  Searched for _________
[Stamped REJECTED]
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No 7964

Elizabeth Godfrey
widow of 
Jamese Godfry
Vermont
Act of July 1838

4082

Hon S. Prentiss
Senator US
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I Timothy Chesley of Waterbury Washington County and State of Vermont aged seventy one years, depose and say that I was well acquainted with the late James Godfrey of Thetford Vermont. I knew him forty years before his death. He died at Thetford in the State of Vermont on the 24th day of April AD 1820. He left a widow when he died, named Elizabeth Godfrey, who is now living. I have known her [...] since her husband's death, she has never been since married but still remains his widow. She now resides in Waterbury Vt and is the person claiming a pension for her said late husband's service in the revolutionary war.

Timothy Chesley

Sworn to and subscribed, this 8th day of May AD 1841
before me, Paul Dillingham Jr. Justice of the Peace.

I certify that I am well acquainted with Timothy Chesley who signed the above affidavit and that he is a credible witness.

P Dillingham Jr. Justice of Peace
I certify that in each of these affidavits, the figures 17th were under the figures 24th [...] was signed or sworn to, having been wrongfully inserted by myself in writing the depositions.
Paul Dillingham Jr Justice of Peace

I James Godfrey of Waterbury Vermont, aged 38 years, will recollect my late father, James Godfrey. He died at Thetford in Orange County State of Vermont, April 24th AD 1820. When he died he left my mother Elizabeth Godfrey a widow. I know that she has ever since remained his widow having never since married. She is still alive, lives with me in said Waterbury and is the [...] person, asking a pension for her said husband's revolutionary [...] whose application accompanies this affidavit.
James Godfrey
Sworn to and subscribed this 8th day of May AD 1841 before me Paul Dillingham Jr Justice of the Peace.
I certify that I am well acquainted with James Godfrey, who signed this above affidavit and that he is a credible witness
Paul Dillingham Jr. Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier, June 5, 1841
I, Chauncey L Knapp, Secretary of said state, do hereby certify that Paul Dillingham, junior, esquire, whose name is subscribed, in his own proper hand, writing to the within certificate, is and was, at the date thereof, a justice of the peace, within and for the county of Washington, in said state, duly elected and qualified, and that to his official acts and attestations, as such full faith and credit ought to be given.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixes the seal of this office at Montpelier, this the 5th day of June, Anno Domini, 1841.

Chauncey L Knapp
Secretary of State
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To the Court of Provisions
Sir
Should it be asked why Mrs Godfrey has delayed this application so long, I answer for her because I know the facts, that she is old, poor and destitute of friends any better able than herself to meet the [...] of looking up testimony. Last winter I found a man going in to Northwood NH. Having heard the old lady's story so many times enlisted him to look for testimony which he did and obtained some. All the papers would have been forwarded earlier but I detained then hoping to find additional evidence of another 6 or 7 months service, spoken of by our witness, which was undoubtedly [...] but I have not been so fortunate as to find a living person who served with Godfrey save the one above alluded to.
Respectfully
Paul Dillingham Jr