Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,920, John Child, Mass.
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No. 1.029
Mary Child
New Hampshire
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State of New Hampshire Commonwealth SS.

On this thirteenth day of November AD 1857 personally appeared before Joel Eastman Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Carroll and State aforesaid it being a Court of Record Mary Child a resident of Wolfborough in the County of Carroll in the State aforesaid aged eighty seven 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd of February 1853 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War and all other acts of Congress according to pensions that may be applicable in her case thus she if the widow of John Child who was an Ensign in Captain Abner Craft's company, Colonel Thomas Gardner's Regiment from April 19th to September 24th 1775 from the Town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Also in the Continental Army in Colonel Henry Jackson's Regiment from May 12th 1777 to October 17th 1778 as Lieutenant from Roxbury State of Massachusetts the town and state where he resided when he went into the service in the Revolutionary War. She further declares that she was married to the said John Child on the sixth day of May Eighteen hundred and Eleven. Then her said husband died as soon as she can recollect...
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...the latter part of January Eighteen Hundred and Twelve then she was not married to him prior to the second day of January eighteen hundred but at the time when stated.
She further declares that she is now a widow and has always remained the widow of the above named John Child ever since his death which took place in the Town of Parsonsfield State of Maine at the time when stated.
Attest Joel Eastman
X "he mark" Mary Child

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.
Joel Eastman Judge of Probate

I hereby certify that Mary Child the applicant from old age and bodily infirmity is unable to attend Court.

Joel Eastman Judge of Probate
I certify that I have no interest whatever in this claim.
Joel Eastman Judge of Probate
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State of Maine} SS
County of York}

On the twentieth day of Nov. A.D. 1857 Alvah Doe personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid who being sworn deposes and says that he is Town Clerk of Parsonsfield in said County and has the custody of the records of said town; that he has examined the records of said town and finds a record of the Marriage of John Childs and Polly Perea in words and figures as follows to wit.
"Marriages Solemnized by Reverend Benjamin Rolfe
Married May 6th 1811} Mr. John Childs to Miss Polly Perea both of Parsonfield
True copy record Jasmine Beadbury T.C."
A true copy of Record
Attest Alvah Doe, Town Clerk
Subscribed & sworn to on the day & year above named and I certify that said Alvah Doe is Town Clerk of Parsonfield & in my opinion he testified truly.
[Signature] Justice of the Peace
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I Hannah Beacham of Ossipee in the County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire aged Seventy Eight years whosoever say that I was well acquainted with Captain John Child of Parsonfield as he was usually called he married the Widow Mary Peare same time in the forepart of the Year 1811. And they lived together as Man and Wife until he died which took place the winter past of the following January 1812. I recollect that he frequently talked about his service. Sources said he was a native of Massachusetts and lived in Roxbury near Boston & went into the Revolutionary War at the commencement of it as an officer but what office I do not recollect was in the Battle of Bunkerhill and wounded in the chest which left a scar ever afterwards, was out in the service several times but how many or how long I do not recollect he stated. I became acquainted with him while he lived in Parsonfield, Maine, he was a person of good sense and fluent in conversation.
Signed in presence of Hannah P Beacham
X "her mark" Hannah Beacham
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State of New Hampshire Carroll SS.
Ossipee February 22nd 1858
Then personally appeared Hannah Beacham the deponent above named and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit by her signature in my person.
Thomas J Tibbets Justice of Peace
And I further certify that she is a women of truth whose testimony is entitled to full belief. I base this Statement on an acquaintance with her of more then Thirty Years.
Thomas J Tibbets Justice Peace
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I Richard Beacham of Ossipee in the County of Carroll and the State of New Hampshire aged seventy eight years next month depose and say that I was well acquainted with Captain John Child of Parsonsfield, as he was usually called, he married the Widow Mary Peare same time in the forepart of the Year 1811 and they lived together as Man and Wife until he died which took place the latter part of the following January 1812. I distantly recollect that he told he was a member of the State of Massachusetts, or Bay State as he called i,t and was a resident of the Town of Roxbury said he served in the Revolutionary War two or three years which I do not recollect, a Lieutenant of a company was in the Battle of Bunkerhill and wounded in the chest which left a scar to be seen when I saw him he further stated that he resided in Massachusetts until he came to Parsonsfield State of Maine in 1808 or 1809.
Signed in presence of Hannah P Beacham
Richard Beacham
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State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Ossipee February 22nd 1858
Then personally appeared Richard Beacham the deponent within named and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit by him signed in my presence.
Thomas J Tibbets Judge of the Peace
And I further certify that he is a man of truth whose testimony is entitled to full Credit or Belief. I base this knowledge of him from an acquaintance of more than forty years.
Thomas Tibbets Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
Carroll SS.
I Daniel G Beede Register of the Court of Probate for said County hereby certify and attest that Thomas J. Tibbets whose genuine signature appears above, was at the time specified above, to wit, on the 22nd day of February A.D. 1858 a Justice of the Peace within and for said County fully authorized by the laws of this State to act as such and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such.
Given under my hand and seal of said Court this first day of March A.D. 1858.
Daniel G Beede 
Register
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State of New Hampshire}
Carroll SS.}
I Daniel G Beede, Register of the XCourt of Probate for the County of Carroll hereby certify that Thomas J Tibbets whose genuine signature appears above and within, was at the time of taking the above and within acknowledgements a Justice of the Peace for said County of Carroll fully authorized by law to take such acknowledgements, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Sandwich this third day of July A.D. 1858.
Daniel G Beede, Register
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I Richard Beacham and Hannah Beacham of Ossipee in the County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire aged seventy eight years depose and say that in addition to the former affidavit we have made before Thomas J Tibbets Esquire in relation to the claim of Widow Mary Child for a pension as the Widow of John Child that we should think and do believe from [illegible] consideration that John Child the husband of the above named Mary Child was at the time of his death which took place in the year 1812 Sixty Five Years old.
Signed in presence of X "her mark" Hannah Beacham
Hannah P Beacham


State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Ossipee July 1st 1858
The personally appeared Richard Beacham and Hannah Beacham the deponents above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit wit by them. Subscribed in my presence and I further certify that they are persons of truth whose testimony is entitled...

I James D Leavitt of Effingham County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire depose and say that I was well acquainted with Captain John Child as he was usually called. He lived in Parsonsfield, State of Maine and married widow Mary Peare. He died in Parsonsfield in the winter of 1812 at the age of sixty or more years. He was a Revolutionary officer from the State of Massachusetts and went into the service from the town of Roxbury it being the place of his residence in 1775.
James D Leavitt
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...at the age of Sixty or more years he was a Revolutionary War officer from the State of Massachusetts and went into the Service from the Town of Roxbury it being the place of his residence in 1775.
James D Leavitt

State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Then personally appeared the above named James D Leavitt above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed and I further certify that I have been acquainted with the deponent above named for many years and he is a Man of truth whose testimony is entitled to full belief Effingham June 30th 1858.
Thomas J Tibbets Justice of the Peace
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...to full belief.

Thomas J Tibbets Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office, Boston
Nov. 2nd 1857
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 John Child is borne on return of Captain Abner Crafts Company, Colonel Thomas Gardner's Regiment from the alarm of April 19th to Sept 24th 1775 as Ensign from Roxbury, 5 months 5 days. Also on Continental Army 13 weeks in Colonel Henry Jackson's Regiment from May 12th 1777 to October 17th 1778, 17 months 5 days as Lieutenant from Roxbury when he resigned.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Francis De Witt
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Application for a Certificate of Revolutionary Services made by the Widow of the party who rendered the services. The Secretary of State of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his Office of the Services of my husband John Child. He served in the War of the Revolution, he was an Officer of a Company, and I believed was Captain, was at the Battle of Bunkerhill, and was wounded by a Ball passing through his chest, was out in the service  most of the time during the War. And I believe he went into the Service from the Town of Cambridge or Roxbury.
Attest  X "her mark" Mary Child

John A Chamberlain
State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Wolfborough October 30th 1857
Then personally appeared the above named Mary Child and made oath to the truth of the above application by her signed in my presence.
Thomas J Tibbets Justice of the Peace
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I, Moses Sweat, of Parsonsfield in the county of York and State of Maine, practicing Physician & Surgeon, do testify, depose and say that in the Summer of 1809. I became acquainted with John Child (or Childs, who was called "Captain Child", and that my acquaintances with him became more and more intimate untill the time of his death, which took place about the 20th January 1812. He often spoke of his being an officer in the Revolutionary Army, and that he was in the said service about two years. Before coming into Parsonsfield, he said he resided in some town near Boston in Massachusetts, and I think it was Roxbury. He and the widow Mary Peary (or, as she was sometimes called "Widow Polly Peary") was married in Parsonsfield in May 1811 by Reverend Benjamin Rolfe, and they resided at Blazo's Corner, in said Parsonsfield, until his death which occurred about the time above mentioned. I was his attending physician in his last sickness, which was Phthisis Pulmonalis, and my last charge against this was on the 17th of this January 1812. The widow "Mary Child," who is now applying for a pension, through the agency of Dr. Thomas J Tibbets, is to my certain knowledge, the identical Mary (or Polly) Peary who was married to the said Captain John Child in May 1811 and ever after lived with him to the time of his death. Captain John Child had a scar in one check which...
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...he used to say was made by a musket ball while he was in the Revolutionary service. Dr. Thomas J Tibbets, the agent for Mrs. Child, resides in North Wolfborough, N.H. I think he told me he was in the battle of Bunker Hill. The foregoing is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Moses Sweat
State of New Hampshire
Carroll SS
Wolfborough January 11th 1858

Then personally appearing the above named Dr. Moses Sweat and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed in my presence.
Aaron Roberts Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Dr. Moses Sweat for several years and that he is a man of undoubted truth and sincerity, whose testimony is entitled to full belief.
Aaron Roberts Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Carroll SS
I, Daniel G Beede Register of the Court of Probate for said County hereby certify and attest that Aaron Roberts, whose genuine signature appears, subscribed to the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace for said County, fully authorized by the law of said State to act as such and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this sixteenth day of January A.D. 1858
Daniel G Beede
Register
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North Wolfborough, NH January 13th 1858
Dear Sir,
I wish to prove from your records that John Child who was an officer in the Revolutionary War & went into the service from the Town of Roxbury is the only man by that name from that Town & if there is no other John Child on your record plain to certify to the same I will copy the letter from the Commissioner of Pensions I have received in relation to the business.
Pension Office January 6, 1858.
Sir, 
The Claim of Mary Child for a pension and for County land as the Widow of John will favorably considered when proof is filed which will identify her husband as the person who performed the service certified to by the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, Signed by the Commissioner of Pension
You will readily understand the situation of the Claim & if you can assist me from your records you will confer a great favor on a poor Old Lady you will recollect your Certificate showed two services are in '75, of five months & same days. The other I think...
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...was in '76 & '77 of 17 months& same days & the first service he was an Ensign & went into the service from Roxbury. The second service he was a Lieutenant & went into the service from the same Roxbury please to give the subject all the attention it demands & forever [in] the result of your investigation that I can forward the same to Washington.
Respectfully Yours 
Thomas J Tibbets
Hon Secretary of State
Recorded Jan 15, 1858
$1.00 enclosed
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North Wolfborough NH January 21st 1858

Sir,
I herewith enclose the affidavit of Doctor Moses Sweat in relation to the identity of John Child as the man who performed the service claimed from Massachusetts records. Doctor Sweat is a Gentleman whose veracity for truth stands as firm as any man in the County where he resides to my certain knowledge there. Also provided, another certificate from the Secretary of State of Massachusetts which I believe will remove all doubt in the case.
Please to attend to the business as soon as the War Department can find it convenient.
Very Respectfully Your Obedient & Humble Servant
Thomas J Tibbets
Honorable Commissioner of Pensions
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North Wolfborough NH April 6, 1858
Sir,
A month or more since I mailed a letter directed to your Department enclosing the affidavits of Richard and Hannah Beacham in relation to the identity of John Child as the man who rendered the services claimed as the husband of Widow Mary or Polly Child & having heard nothing from the Hon. Department since, I wish to call your attention to the subject hoping the Hon. Department will give the subject an early investigation and forward the result of their investigation soon.
I Am Sir Respectfully Your Obedient & Humble Servant,
Thomas J Tibbets
Hon Commissioner of Pensions
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I Mehitable Blazo of Parsonsfield in the County of York and State of Maine of the age of seventy two years depose & say that I was well acquainted with Captain John Childs, as he was usually called, who resided in said Parsonsfield several years previous to his death, which took place here in the year 1812 of which time I should think he was sixty years old or more - He was a stove lacquer & worked one season with my late husband in said Parsonsfield - Said Childs married with Mary Peary, who formerly lived in said Parsonsfield. He came to this town from Massachusetts & was a resident of Roxbury, as I have always understood, & have no doubt he is the identical man referred to in a certificate of the service of John Childs of Roxbury, in 1775 & 1777 - from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it having been understood that said John Childs, who worked for my late husband William Blazo, was a Revolutionary officer & soldier & was at the battle of Bunker Hill...
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Given under my hand this thirteenth day of June 1858 - 
Mehitable W. Blazo

York SS State of Maine
The forgoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affidavit to be credible person & that I am cognizant to the facts therein stated & I have no interest in the said Childs claim.
Robert & T Blazo, Justice of the Peace & of the Quorum
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Free
Hon. Commisioner Pensions
Washington City DC
{Signature}

Mary Child
John Child
Res 1853
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See if John Child affair [illegible] under act
1/8_(Robbi illegible) in '32_(illegible)
=
See if he is [illegible] & Roxborough in the widow during war - and the date of his birth
=
Look at Correspondence
= 
Look at Jackson's regiment
=
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North Wolfborough NH Dec 15th 1857
Sir
I herewith enclose the Declarations and accompanying guidance of Widow Mary Child for ea pension and Bounty land hoping the Hon Department will be enabled to attend to the [illegible] soon
Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant
Hon Com of Pensions 
Thomas J Tibbets
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North Wolfborough NH Sept 6 1858
Sir,
I herewith enclose additional evidence in the case of Widow Mary Child for a pension as the Widow of John Child & hope the Hon Department will attend to the business immediately.
Very Respectfully Your Obedient and Humble Servant
Thomas H Tibbets
Hon Com of Pensions
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Hon Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
No 1029}
M Sept 6}
Free

Mary Child
Wid 
John
NH 1853
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North Woldborough NH March 2nd 1858
Sir
I herewith enclose two official affidavits in relation to Widow Mary Child's application for a pension & hoping they will be satisfactory to the Hon Department
Thomas J Tibbets
Hon Com of Pensions
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North Wolfborough NH April 28 /58
Dear Sir,
I commended last fall to get a pension for Widow Mary Child of this Town her husbands name was John Child a native of Roxbury Mass- a Lieut, in the Rev War. I have proved the messuage and services to the satisfaction of the department I was then called whom to identify the Claimants husband as the man who rendered the service this I believe I have done to their satisfaction my last evidence was sent to the commissioner of pensions recently two months since I waited a month and hearing nothing from the Department I wrote to the Hon Com, to know if my letter & evidence have been received no answer. Will you be kind enough sir to call on the Hon Department for information in relation to this business and forward me the result of your inquiry...
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...please to attend to this as soon as convenient.
Respectfully Yours
Thomas J Tibbets
Hon James Pike
An early response to this letter is respectfully solvent by
Very Respectfully Yours
J. Pike
Hon George Calvin Whitney
Commonwealth Pensions
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I Thomas J Tibbets of Wolfborough in the County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire depose & say that I have acted as agent for Widow Mary Child of this Town to obtain a pension and Bounty land. And that I have no interest in the result of the examination of this claim except to have a reasonable compensation for my services.
Thomas J Tibbets
Wolfborough December 16th 1858
State of New Hampshire
Carroll SS
Then personally appeared Thomas J Tibbets was made oath that the above affidavit by him signed in trust. I have then certify that the deponent is a man of truth before me 
Aaron Roberts
Justice of Peace
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North Wolfborough NH Dec 20th 1858
Sir
I have made extensive inquiry in Roxbury Massachusetts for information of the family connections of John Child but have not been able to obtain any more information on that part it appears they have all died or moved away. Time & removeals breaks up families & connections so that the places that once knew them know them no more. The Hon Department will I [illegible] not press the [illegible] so hand [illegible] to present the widow from her just claim.
Respectfully Your Obedient & Humble Servant
Hon C of Pensions 
Thomas J Tibbets
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State of New Hampshire
Carroll SS
I Daniel G Beede, Register of the Court of Probate for said County do certify that Joel Eastman, is Judge of said Courts, that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to all his official acts as such that his name subscribed to the above certificate is his own proper signature and that the seal affixed hereto is the seal of said Court,
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Ossipee this first day of December AD 1858
Daniel G Beede, Register
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston,

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 John Child is borne on return of 5 mos. men in Capt. Abner Craft's Company. Col. Thomas Gardner's Regt. from April 19th to Sept 20th 1775 as Ensign from Roxbury when he was discharged.
Also on pay roll of Continental Army Books in Col. Henry Jackson's Regt. from May 12th 1777 to Oct 17 1778 17 mos 5 days as Lieut from Roxbury when he resigned.
No other person by the name of John Child in this office, except as musters from Worcester County.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
F. De Witt
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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I Ire Chamberlin of Wolfborough in the County of Carroll and State of New Hampshire depose & say that John Child of Parsonsfield State of Maine who was a Revolutionary Officer and married Mary Peary died at Parsonsfield aforesaid on the latter part of January 1812 and that his Widow who is now making application for a pension is the identified man of John Child whose named that she has never intermarried since the death of John Child above named. The above facts are true to my certain knowledge having been acquainted with Widow Mary Child the most of the time since the death of her husband the above named John Child.
Ire Chamberlain
State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Wolfborough November thirteenth 1857 
Then personally appearance Ire Chamberlin. The deponent above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit [illegible] him signed in my presence.
Joel Eastman 
Judge of Probate
I hereby certify that Ire Chamberlain the deponent above named is reported to be a man of truth whose testimony is entitled to full belief.
Joel Eastman
Judge of Probate
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I Jeremiah A. Dermett, of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts depose and say that I have made careful inquiry in this city and cannot find the name of John Childs on any Family Record.
I am infirmed that many years ago, there was several people by the name of Child living in Roxbury who are now dead or moved away.
Roxbury Sept 1 1858
Jeremiah A Dermett

Norfolk SS Commonwealth Massachusetts
Roxbury Sept 1 1858

Before me personally appeared the aforesaid Jeremiah A Dermett and made oath to the truth of the above statement and subscribed before she & further that I am personally acquainted with the said Dermett and whose testimony is entitled to full belief.
Isaac P Clark
Justice of the Peace
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North Wolfborough NH July 15th 1858
Sir,
Your letter of January 6th 1858 was duly [illegible] & in compliance once with your instructions I processed the affidavit of Doctor Moses Sweat. Also a Certificate from the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, showing the identity of John Child the husband of Mary Child. The claimant as the identical person who performed the service. And having not heard from the Hon Department since. Since I sent the papers on which is seven. There which I do not know but they have miscarried if they have or have not please to inform me as soon as the Hon Department can attend to the business.
I Am Sir Respectfully Your Obedient and Humble Servant
Thomas J Tibbets
Hon Commissioner of Pensions
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I Mary Chamberlain of Wolfborough in the County of Carroll State of New Hampshire depose and say that John Child of Parsonsfield State of Maine who was a Revolutionary Officer and married Mary Peary died at Parsonsfield aforesaid on the latter part of January 1812 and then his widow who is now making application for a pension is the identical Widow of John Child above named that she has never intermarried since the death of John Child whose named the above facts are there to my certain knowledge for I was well acquainted with Widow Mary Child before she married John Child above named was acquainted with them while they lived together as Man & Wife and have been acquainted with the Widow above named up to this day the Widow as named before she married John Child was Mary Peary.
Attest Joel Eastman
X "her mark" Mary Chamberlain
State of New Hampshire Carroll SS
Wolfborough November thirteenth 1857. Then personally appeared Mary Chamberlain above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her signing in my presence.
Joel Eastman
Judge of Probate
I hereby certify that Mary Chamberlain the deponent above named is reported to be a woman of truth whose testimony is entitled to full belief.
Joel Eastman
Judge of Probate