Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45,495, Joel Adams, Mass.
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(8-1776)
SERVICE Mass
Adams, Joel 
NUMBER S. 45,495
CONTENTS enl. at Lincoln, Mass
in 1823 aged 74 yrs + res. of Sharon, Hillsborough Co. N.H
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Notification sent to J.K Smith Esq 19 July 1820
Amherst, N.H.
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16.115
New Hampshire ["R" written on top right corner in large print]
Joel Adams
[o]f Sharon in the state of New Hampre [Hampshire]
who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Greaton of the Massachusetts
line, for the term of Three Years
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 12 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 of Novr 1819 
and sent to J K Smith Amherst Hillsboro' Co N.H.
Arrears to 4th of Septr 1819 - - - 126.22
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1820 48
15 20/31 4/30 [numbers encircled]   $174:22
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Discontinued
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BY THE HONOURABLE MAJOR-GENERAL KNOX
Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.
Joel Adams-Soldier in the third Massachusetts Regiment, being inlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourably DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.
Given in the State of New-York, the 22 Day of Dec,r 1783
By the General's Command, H Knox M Genl
Registered in the Books of the Regiment,
 John R Statford Adjt
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Joel Adams
3d Regt. Ms Line
Sworn to 12th May 1818
Discharge

Admd

Error rectified the declaration & oath was made 12'th May 1818
J.K. Smith
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I Joel Adams of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire Husbandman a Resident Citizen of the United States now in the seventieth year of my age do solemnly swear that the sixth day of March or thereabout in the year of Our Lord 1781 I inlisted a private Soldier for the term of three years to serve against the Common Enemy in the Revolutionary War in the town of Lincoln in the State of Massachusetts & passed muster in Concord Ms the same day I enlisted and served in Capt Prichard's Company in the third Regiment in the Massachusetts line commanded by Col Graton untill the twenty fourth day of December AD 1783 or some time last of the month of December when I was honourably discharged in writing or printing at West Point in the State of New York. I served my Country in 1775 eight month in Capt Smith's Company in Col Nixon's Regt Mass. Line and in 1776 I served two months more in Capt Wheelers Company My discharge for the three years service I gave to the Hon'ble Jeremiah Smith who was formerly a Member of Congress & appointed afterward a district Judge of the U States under President Adams
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who told me that Congress would make up the pay to the soldiers of the 3d Mass'tts Regt. As our regiment was never paid for the last year 1783 or the paymaster went off with the money whats Smith did with my discharge I know not for he never returned me my discharge or paid me  any money. I have never learned whither [whether] Congress ever made up the pay of the Soldiers for that year. I was in the battle of Concord or Lexington & in a battle near Kings bridge NY at a place called Bound Hill. I have never been on the Pension List of Invalids and am in reduced circumstances & stand in need of assistance from my country for my support. I have no further evidence in my power at this time that I can offer in support my service & claims to a pension 
Joel Adams 

Sworn to this 12th day of May AD 1818
Before me J K Smith associate justice of the Court of C. Pleas for sd County of Hillsboro 

State of New Hampshire Hillsborough Ss} On the twelfth day of May AD 1818 Before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County Personally appeared Joel Adams in the seventieth year of his age resident in Sharon in said county of Hillsborough & being duly cautioned made an oath that about the ninth day of March AD 1781 he inlisted a private soldier for the
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term of three years to serve against the common Enemy in the Revolutionary War on the Continental establishment & passed muster at Concord the same day & served from that time in the Company commanded by Capt Prichard in the third Regiment commanded by Col Gratton in the Massachusetts Line & continued to serve in Corps or in the service of the United States untill the 22d day of Dec AD 1783 when he was honourably discharged in the State of New York that he is reduced in his circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his Country for his support. from all which I certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Joel Adams did serve in the Revolutionary war on the continental establishment more than nine months & I further certify that he is reduced in his circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his Country for his support & is not on the pension list of the [US?]. and I now transmit the proceedings & the testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the late act of Congress 
JK Smith Associate Justice of the Court of C Pleas for sd County

This certifies that the signature of JK Smith in this paper is in his own hand writing and that he is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Hillsborough aforesaid In testimony whereof I have here affixed the seal of said Court, 
Moses Eastman Clerk
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Joel Adams 
18, 115 
Not Enld 
27 Nov 1819 not entitled
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. HILLSBOROUGH, SS. 

At a Court of Common Pleas for the first district, holden at Amherst  in said county of Hillsborough, on this 4th day of July, 1820, being a court of record; having power of fine and imprisonment, and unlimited Jurisdiction in point of amount- PRESENT The Hon. JOSHUA DARLING, JEDIDIAH K. SMITH, Justices. 

Personally appeared in open court Joel Adams aged seventy one years, resident in Sharon in said county, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served the revolutionary war as follows, to wit:- 

enlisted March 1781 for three years Capt Prichard's company in Col Graton's Reg in the third Massachusetts line and served till the 24th day of December in the year 1783 - when he received an honorable discharge at a place called West Point in the State of New York 

I was in the battle at the place called Round Hill in said New York 

the date of my original declaration was on the 12th day of May Anno Domini, 1818. I have received a pension, the certificate of which is numbered 16,115 

And I do solemnly affirm that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled ""an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land or naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March, 1818;"" and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the following schedule, by me subscribed. 

50 Acres of land by estimation and buildings thereon valued at --- $512.00 
1 Horse do - - - " 12.00 
1 Cow ------ 15,50 
1 hog- --- --- 4.90 
1 Cart --- 2.50
1 harrow --- .85
3 Plows  --- 7.00
2 Pitch forks --- .17
1 Crow Bow --- 1.10
1 Axe --- .40
2 chains --- 1.65
horse harness --- .86
2 hoes --- .12
1 Grind stone --- .60
house hold furniture 4.00
========
$563.64
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the debts which I owe and prepose if able honestly to pay amount in the whole as enumerated in the original. 
the debts particularly are as follows 
Due James Adams-- --- 3060 24 
Due William Abbott ------ 30.00
Due Dr. A Howe - --- - ---- 18.50 
Due Col B Prescott --- --- 10.77
Due Elisha Witt --- 6.70
Debts own according to the best of my Judgment 30.00 
========
$401.57
 
My occupation is farming but by reason of ill health I have been unable for five years past to do very little labor & for the last eight months have done no work at all. 

My family, residing with me, consists of a wife, and two children. My wife is very infirm by reason of a Cancer in her leg and is of the age of sixty nine years 

my daughter is forty two years old and is will [well] and is willing to assist in our maintainence 

my son is twenty seven years old and has been sick for more than five years past so that he has done no labour 
Joel his X mark Adams 

Sworn to and declared in open court, on the 4th day of July  Anno Domini, 1820.
M Eastman Clerk

I Moses Eastman, Clerk of the above named Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing declaration and oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited, in the foregoing schedule, is $563.64 and that said applicant is indebted as above in the sum of $401.51

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, on this fourth  day of July, 1820. 
M. Eastman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Hillborough
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Revy 45 495 
INVALID. File No. 45495 
Joel Adams Pri Rev War 
Act: 18 March 1818 
Index: -- Vol. 3 Page 5 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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New Hampshire Joel Adams, Private 1781- was Aged 76 years by occupation a farmer but on account of bad health he has been unable to pursue the same for five years last past. wife aged 69 years, infirm by reason of a cancer in leg, Daughter aged 42 years in good health, and willing to assist in maintaining his family, Son aged 27 years, has been sick for more than five years.
 
1 Schedule dated July 4, 1820 contains 50 acres of land with buildings thereon valued at $512. 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 hog, cart, 3 Ploughs. Household furniture , in all valued at 51.64 Total amt in value of the prop $563.64 
States that he owes debts to the  amount of $401.51 which the Court certifies to the names of his creditors, and the amt owing to each mentioned in his schedule 

Schedule under the act of March 1823 dated 28 Augt 1823. States that since he exhibited his 1st Schedule he sold the 50 acres
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to Wm Abbot for $651 as per authenticated Copy of a deed filed within that [word crossed out]
Wm. Abbot has paid the applicant $400 for said land in the following manner- 
$260 by 2 years labor $160 by discharging sundry debts to the above and for the affidavit of the said Abbot corroborating the applicants statement, and the affidavit of the applicant creditors filed within stating the amt owing to them by the applicant and the amt recd by the hands of the aforesaid Abbot 
43.12 

Total amt of property contained in the applicants 2 Schedule including $50 owing to the applicant, by the said Abbot on account of the sale of this land 
$78.67

[??]
May 20. 1824 
Hon. M. Harvey House of Reps
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I William Abbot of Sharon County of Hillsborough and
State of New Hampshire Testify and say that I went
live with Joel Adams of said Sharon in November
[18]20 and lived with him untill January AD 1823
and during that time carried on his small farm
and took the sole care of him and his family
[until]  January 1823. I settled with him and he allowed
me for two years labor at ten dollars a month
and I then purchased his farm for four hundred and
fifty dollars-- I have paid or settled and procured
to be discharged by giving my note the following debts
of the said Joel Adams to wit
X To Luke Howe—$18.37
X Adonijah Howe—$57.55
To Josiah Whitney—$24.79
X To John Preston—$5.00
To Oliver Prescott—$9.50
To William Hodge—$1.25
+ To William Ainsworth—$10.55
To John Cutter—$2.35
To Henry Payson—$3.54
To Samuel L. Wilder—$10.83
To Alpheus Crosby—$3.58
To Benjamin Howard—$1.75
To John Gilman—$7.42
To Amos Stickney—$3.71
making in the whole more than 160 dollars-- these debts
I paid or settled as above soon after I purchased said
farm-- I had no means of getting my pay of Adams
but by taking the farm and I consider the __gave him
quite as much as the farm was worth
and more than it would sell for at this time.
I have furnished said Adams and his family__the purchase of said farm with [illegible] to more
than the amount of the balance due for the farm.
March 22d 1824
William Abbott
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough Ss. March 22d 1824 Hon. William Abbot of Sharon signer of the foregoing affidavit personally appeared and made oath to the truth of said affidavit
  Before me James Walker Justice Pea[ce]
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B. Russell
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I Benjamin Russell of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough and state of New Hampshire testify that I am well acquainted with Joel Adams of Sharon and with his character family and circumstances and have assisted him in making out his pension papers and know that the facts testified to by him in these papers in relation to his debts his property and the disposal of the same are substantially true - I know that he had no means of paying his debts but by selling his real estate I am entirely satisfied that he has not property sufficient to pay his just debts by more than two hundred dollars, and that unless he obtains a pension he and his family must become an immediate charge to the town of Sharon
  Benja Russell

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough Ss March 24th 1824 then the above named Benjamin Russell personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed   Before me  James Walker
Justice of the Peace
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John Preston
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I John Preston testify and say  that in the month of March 1822 I was [well..?] to visit the wife of Joel Adams of Sharon and I [illegible] for M[illegible] administered and [illegible] five Dollars and have received my pay for the same
 from William Abbot
New T[proch?] March 22d 1824
  John Preston

Hillsborough Ss  March 22d 1824
Then personally appeared the above named John Preston and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
 Before me  Benja Russell  Justice of the Peace
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Prescott
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I Oliver Prescott of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire & state of New Hampshire testify & say that I have furnished Joel Adams of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in sd state with firewood, grain and other necessaries for his family previous to the year 1820 to the amount of $3.50 which sum I have received of William Abbot by his Note of hand and thereby Joel Adams amount is fully discharged
  Jaffrey  March 23d 1824  Oliver Prescott

State of New Hampshire
Cheshire  Ss}  Jaffrey  March 23 1824
then the above named Oliver Prescott personally appeared and made Solemn oath to the above affidavit by him Subscribed is just & true
  before me  Benja Prescott  Justice pea[ce]
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Adonijah Howe
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I Adonijah Howe of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire do testify and say that I attended upon Joel Adams of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in this state and on his  family as a physician from April 1821 to April 1823 for which I charged $41.16 which sum was paid me by Wm Abbot of said Sharon by cash and by his note on the 14th April 1823 -  I also testify that I wrote a note against said Adams dated May 18th 1820 for the sum of $16.20 with interest - which note last mentioned the said William Abbot has become answerable to   making in the whole which the sd Abbot has settled for said Adams   n the debts d  me - the sum of Fifty seven dollars and fifty five cents
 Jaffrey March 23d 1824
  Adonijah Howe

State of New Hampshire Jaffrey March 23 1824
Cheshire Ss}  The said Adonijah Howe personaly appeared and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
 Before me William Ainsworth  Jus Peace
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Aynesworth
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I William Ainsworth of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire and state of New Hampshire do testify and say that on 31st August 1821 Joel Adams of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in said state was indebted to me as one of the firm of Henry Payon and   in a note dated Nov 24th 1818 for $3.02 ^ with interest - what note was given for sundry goods from our store between May 1818 and date thereof - also on an account for sundry goods for use of his family had between April 28th 1819 and Aug 2d 1820 amounting to 7.03
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Luke Howe
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I Luke Howe of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire do testify & say that I visited & administered medsin [medicine] to Mr Joel Adams and family of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough which I charged eighteen dollars & twelve cents and as a second examination of the account I find twenty five cents of the latter sum was originally charged to the said Abbot & probably included in the above note without his knowledge - for which note I at the date thereof in April 9 1823 discharged said Adams - my said account against him began in June 1820 & ended in March 1823
  Luke Howe
March 23d 1824

State of N. Hampshire
Cheshire Ss} Jaffrey March 23 1824 - The said Luke Howe personally appeared & made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true -
  Before me William Ainsworth  Jus Peace
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DEED
Adams to Abbot

office copy From
Volume 140 page 23- [encircled]
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Know all Men by these Presents that I Joel Adams of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough and State of New  Hampshire yeoman in Consideration of four hundred and fifty Dollars to me paid by William Abbot of the same Sharon Yeoman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and do for myself and my heirs by these presents give grant bargain sell and convey unto the said William Abbot his heirs and assigns forever, a certain piece or tract of land situate in Sharon aforesaid being the whole of lot numbered twenty four in the first Range of lots in said Sharon containing by estimation fifty acres be the same more or less -
To Have and to Hold the afore described premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereun to belonging to him the said William Abbot his heirs and assigns to his and their use and behalf forever. And I do covenant with the said William Abbot his heirs and assigns That I am lawfully seized in fee of the afore described premises: That they are free of all incumbrances That I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said William Abbot in manner aforesaid and that I and my heirs will warrant and depose the same Premises to the said William Abbot his heirs and Assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons whomsoever
 In witness whereof the said Joel Adams have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three  signed Sealed and delivered in presence of us Benjamin Russell
 Samuel Manning
  Joel Adams  his x mark    seal [encircled]
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Hillsborough Ss. January 10th 1823 Then the above named Joel Adams personally appeared and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and Deed  Before me, Benjamin Russell Justice of the Peace
Recd & recorded 4 June 1823 & examd [examined] by Isaac Brooks  Regr Volume 140 Page 23
 A True copy  Attest Isaac Brooks  Regr

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough} I hereby certify that the above named Isaac Brooks is the Register of Deeds for said County of Hillsborough having been verily elected to that office and qualified for the discharge of the duties agreeably to the law of the State of New Hampshire and that full faith and  credit are to be given to his attestations as such. I further certify that the Registers of deeds in the State of New Hampshire are not required by law to have any official seal and that the said Isaac Brooks has no official seal and that the attestation to the foregoing copy of a deed is in the hand writing of the said Isaac Brooks
 In testimony whereof I have set my hand and the seal of the Court ^ of Sessions for the County of Hillsborough at Amherst in said County the fourth day of Sept A.D. 1823
 E. Darling} Clerk of the Court of Sessions for the said County of Hillsborough
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Whitney
[the other writing is bleed-through from the other side of page]
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I Josiah Whitney of Rindge  in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire do testify and say that I attended upon Joel Adams and wife of Sharon in the County of Hillsborough in this State as a physician from July the 14 1821 to September 14 1821 it being for Twenty two Visits and    administered to the above    Adams and wife. I do testify and say that William Abbot  ayed one the above amount, is being twenty four Dollars and seventy nine cents, in April the 9 1823 by his Note of hand
 Josiah Whitney

State of New Hampshire
Cheshire Ss.} Rindge March 23, 1824
Then the above named Josiah Whitney personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true before me
 Samuel L. Wilder Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough Ss
  On this twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1823, personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Judge of the Court of Sessions for said County of Hillsborough being a Court of Record, Joel Adams resident in Sharon in said County aged seventy four year, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of the eighteenth of March 1818, the  first of May 1820 and the first of March 1823 - That he the said Joel Adams enlisted for the term of three years in March 1781, in the Company commanded by Capt Prichard, in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Graton, being the third Massachusetts Regt or line on the Continental establishment - that he continued to serve in the Corps, until the 24th day of December 1783, when he was discharged from the said service at West Point in the State of New York -- that he was at the battle at the place called Round Hill, in New York - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March AD 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, r in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby as to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the eighteenth day of March A.D. 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule herewith annexed and by me subscribed - That since the exhibition of my first schedule the following changes have been made in my property - one hog killed and eat up - one Plough worn out, one axe worn out - Fifty acres of land
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2
sold to William Abbot by deed dated 10th January 1823 a copy of which is annexed for the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars; of which sum the said Abbot has paid four hundred dollars, - two hundred and forty dollars by two years labour for me in the years 1821 and 1822 and one hundred and sixty dollars by discharging my debt to sundry persons, to that amount contracted before and since the exhibition of my former schedule - fifty dollars of said purchase remains due from said Abbot, but I am still indebted to a much larger amount to sundry persons, particularly to James Adams for more than two hundred dollars - My occupation is that of a Farmer, but I have been unable to do much labour for eight years, and now for three years last past I am now and for a considerable time past have been unable to dress or undress myself or eat my own food - My wife is seventy two years old, sick and unable to do any work. I have no other family residing with me.
 I am unable to attend in person in court by reason of disease and bodily infirmity.
  Joel Adams his x mark
Witness Abial Wilson
Sworn and declared on the twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1823
  Before me  Abial Wilson } Judge of the court of Sessions for the county of Hillsborough
I Enoch Darling Clerk of the Court of Sessions for said County of Hillsborough certify that Abeel Wilson before whom the above affidavit of Joel Adams who is now sick and confined to his house, was made is a Judge as aforesaid. I also certify that the said Schedule and oath have been admitted to the record of said Court and that the same are truly [copied] therefrom  that it is the  opinion of said Court the total amount exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is D 78.47.
  See page 4
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3
Schedule of Debts paid Jany 1 - 1823
Note in favor of Dr Luke Howe  $18.37
   "             Adonijah Howe  57.55
  "              Dr Jonah Whiting  24.79
  "              Dr John Preston    5.00
  "             Capt Oliver Prescott   9.50

Account  "  William Hodge   1.25
              "   William Ainsworth   10.55
             "     John Cutter    2.35
             "     Henry Payson    3.54
             "     Saml L Wilder       10.83
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this first day of October A.D. 1823 
E. Darling Clerk as aforesaid
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Washington April 8 1824

Sir
 I am requested to send the [ca...?]  to the Pension office
James Walker   Benja Russell
Samuel L Wilder Adonijah Howe  William Ainsworth & Benjamin Prescott are all Justices of the Peace in the State of New Hampshire
 With much respect
 I am Sir your obt Servt
  Matthew Harvey

James L Edwards Esqr