Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,585, Sylvester Bishop, Continental. Mass. Vt.
Page 1

SERVICE           NUMBER
Continental Bishop, Sylvester  W 15.585
Mass    Deborah
VT
CONTENTS
Page 2

4230
Vermont Montpelier
Deborah Bishop
widow of Sylvester Bishop
who served in the Revolutionary
war, map as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars ~
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the
12 day of March 1849
and sent to
Hon. Wm Henry
M.C.
recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, page 40 Vol. 3
Page 3

3374V
Deborah Bishop's
Declaration for a Pension

At 7 July 38

M800C22

For 15.43 on 1 Jul 75 6 mos

Admd 
6 mosre
20$

no deduction
Page 4

State of Vermont
District of Marlboro

On this third day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before the Probate Court within and for the district of Marlboro aforesaid being a Court of Record having by law a seal and Clerk, Deboarh Bishop a resident of Marlboro in the district aforesaid and county of Windham aged seventy nine years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."

She is the widow of Sylvester Bishop who was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army of the United States and served as follows to wit that the said Sylvester Bishop in the year 17[Unreadable] enlisted at Brookfield, Mass. into the army aforesaid for the term of Eight months, sent to Boston early in the year, was in the Battle of Bunker Hill and served out the full term of his enlistment and returned home in the autumn. In this campaign she thinks said Sylvester served under Capt. Danforth but she cannot say in no certain terms. 

That imme--
Page 5

deately after his said return the said Sylvester
enlisted with the Continental service for one year and marched to Barton, & thence in the spring marched to New York, was taken with the Small Pay at Providence all the usage and was left there until he recovered in part when
he was partially recorded he went aboard a
soap to Jance his company took sold all
the way and become sick-- that when 
the British took the city he lay in an
open boat a little above unable to haul
and was left alone while the British were
bering upon the city-That in order to heal him
self from the British he crawled into the earth
and upon gaining strength day by day he
joined his company and served out his full
year for which he enlisted in and about
the region of New York & West point and returned to Brookfield at the end of the year - That in the year 1777 while looking for a farm
at Wilmington Vermont he volunteered to
go North to meet Burgoyne's Army
that some where near lake Champlain the way
taken prisoner by a scouting party of widean
and remained with them a number of
week that he escaped from the said indios
and arrived at Bennington by the
day of the Bennington Battle and fought
Page 6

in that battle. That being estitut of Arms, he
borrowed a power form of a man named
Gant (which this declarant now has in her possessed) and a gun of another. the afterwards re named and bright a farm in Marlboro near Willington Vt and cleared it and lived there until the time of his deceased. That from age and the consequent loss of memory she cannot more particularly set forth the services of the said Sylusten nor can she name the officers under whom he service other than as above and she further says that repere passage of the Pension act of Welland 1818 the seed spies to rear possessed of a handram real
personal estate in said Wilmington and had no need of assistance from his country for support and never applied for a pension as she understood-
1
She further declares that she was married to the said Sylvester Bishop on Eighth day of June in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and
Eighty - that her husband the forsaid Sylvester
Bishop died the twelfth day of March Anno Domini Eighteen hundred & twenty two
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of Young seventeen removed & ninety four rowed
Page 7

towed at the time above stated
Sworn to and subscribed are the seer and
year above written-J Deborah Bishop
Before}
Dana Hyde Judge}

In testimony whereof I Samuel Elliot
Clerk & Register of said Court have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of said
Court the day and year above justice.

Samuel Elliot Clerk & Register
of Probate
Page 8

Under the head of marriages in the Records of
the First Church in Brookfield Kest by Rev
Ephraim Ward I find the following Seventeen hundred and eighty June Eighth Silvester son and Deborah Barnes, both of Brookfield.
certify the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date which is excused on the Record in fairley ible figures as follows. 1780 June 8- Allen Newell Clerk of said Church

I Allen Newell above named depose and say
that I hold the office of Clerk of the first
Church in Brookfield County of Worcester
and State of Mapachusetts, and that the
above is a true extract from the Records
of said church with the exception above
named as certified by me Allen Newell Clerk
of F. Church
Worcester cert. 1st 1838 Then personally appeared Allen Newell above named & under oath that the above is a true copy of the records of the First Church in Brookfield as Clerk of said Church
Before me Jesse Bliss [priest Ri]
Page 9

Chipman Swain
Brantlecland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Worcester

I, Charles G. Prentiss Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester do certify, that Jesse Bliss is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly Commissioned and
qualified and  that the foregoing six nurture of his name is true and genuine.

In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this third day of October one thousand, eight hundred thirty-eight.
Chas G. Prentiss, Register
Page 10

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15385
Deborah Bishop
Widow of
Sylvester Bishop
Pri Rev War
Act: Feb 29 48
Index:-Vol. a, Page 63
[Arrangement of 1870,]
Page 11

3871
Vermont  Montpr
Deborah Bishop
widow of Sylvester Bishop
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars ~
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
15th day of Dec. 1843
and sent to Pensioner
Marlborough,
VT
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 page 31
Page 12

Mc Montpelier    5925
Vermont
===================================
Deborah Bishop,
widow of Sylvester Bishop
who was a pension under the Act of
and who died on the 12th March 1822.
of Malboro in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the Compy. commanded
by Captain Harwood of the commanded by in the Massachusetts- line for  6 months
===================================
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont- at the rate of 20. Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
==================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of November 1840------and sent to----Chipman Swain, Brattleboro Vt.
==================================
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840              $90.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar.       10.00
                                                                     $100.10
{Act July 7,}
{1838.}

Recorded by Wm C. Lantzinger Clerk,
Book A -Vol.-2 page  64-
Page 13

3374
Letter to Chipman Swain,
May 22, 39
Hon N. Hall,


January 9. 1840.
Letter to Chipman Swain
June 30, 1840.

Act 7, July 38
Page 14

W Halifax, Vt Oct 7, 48
S. Plumb
Declarations of Ruth
Winchester & Deborah
Bishop.

P1476, Rec Oct 12/48
Pension Office
West Halifax, Vt
Oct. 7th

Hon. W. L. N.
Service Pension

[Cole 12]
Page 15

Free
Hon. W.L. Marcy
Secretary of War
Pension Office
Washington
DC
Page 16

Hon W. L. Marcy,
Enclosed I send you two applications
from widows for a renewal of pension, the reason they were not forwarded before is that they lived in towns when no one lived that took an intent to have them apply in season and they at last sent for me to write them-- There is one needy poor widow in this vicinity who come under the provisions of the last pension act which I would gladly assist if I had the necessary instructions to enable me to make out her application forward and to me and much oblige.
 your humble servant
Sanford Plumb

West Halifax, VT}
Oct 7th 1848}
Page 17

Brattleboro November 18th, 1840
Enclosed I send you the application of Ruth
Winchester for a pension under the act of June 
7 1832- In your letter to me of the 30th of June
last you state that the service of Sylvester
Bishop in the case of Deborah Bishop) Should be
sustained by satisfactory evidence as there are me
roll. I cannot find any more testimony there that
already in your office in her case unless it be
traditionary evidence it is very different at this
State day when most of the people of the Revolution
have passed of the stage of life to find those that
were in his company and that knew him in the
Service as he is not here to tell who his associates
were I lived in his family in 1820 and well recollect
his telling of his being in the years' service in 76 of
his having the Smallpox on the way from Beeston
to New York of his lying Sick in an open but where
the British took New York & other particulars of
that campaign & I present many other people have
heard him relate the same will you have the
goodness to renew the testimony there & if you can
not allow for that service and also the service in 77
testified by the Waterman please send me a 
certificate for the service in Capt. Kings Company in 1775
which you mind on your was
Page 18

Joel Sumner from Princeton Mass was in
Nathaniel Wright Camp in at Denrys
by in-1 if not inconsistant with your intes
please inform me whether he served long
enough to entile the willow to pension we think
he was in serve nine months, but do not know as
he was under those office all the time
have you decided in the last of Jane Harland
King Respectfully
Your letter
Chipman Swain
Hon J L Edwards
a pensions
Page 19

Brattleboro, Vt. Nov. 23d 1838
Sir,
Enclosed I send you the application of Deborah Bishop widow of Sylvester Bishop for a pension.
Very Respectfully
Chipman Swain
Hon J L Edwards Esq
Coms of Pensions
Page 20

Jan 7. 1840
Vt
6. Andrews
Col. J. L. Edwards
com of pensions
A H Hall
Page 21

[illegible] 6, 1840
Sir,
In the case of Elizabeth Andrews widow of Nehemiah Andrews, I believe you have found proof of service for 8 mo. 10 d. in 1775.  If no further service can be allowed you will please send me a certificate for that-
I also send additional evidence in the case of Sylvester Bishop
Very respectfully
Your obt sevt
H. Hall
Col. J L Edwards
Page 22

Vol 14.83
Vol 15.31
75- Harwood or Danforth
76-Witnesses say he was absent 12 mo Continental Day
was taken prisoner in Scouting at
Saratoga escaped & was in the battle of
Bennington
Page 23

June 29. 1840
D. Bishop
N - 3
Washington City
Com of Pensions
Page 24

Dear Sir
Brath Bord June 28th, 1840
In the case of Deborah Bishop Willow of
Sylvester Bishop under the act of July 7th, 1888
kind that said Bishop was in Capt. Josiah
Kings Jones in the 9th Continental Reg command
ed by lot Daniel Brewer in October and
December 1775 the length of service I in
S. James I do not know but probably the
month in-- 75 & perhaps the years Service
76 as set forth in the declaration
will you have the goodness to examine
said Real - perhaps also the name of
Samuel Gilbert whose Willis Hannah
Gillents application is in your office is
on the same had they both went from
Brookfield Mass in 1778. I have a few days
same accused with Adam Gillies a Brother
of Samuel Gilbert who says he is confident
that Samuel was one of the Militia that guarded
Burgans army at Rutland & went to the South
afterwards & returned in March 79 as set forth
in his affidavit file - had you the roll
as that Militia
Yours
Hon J L Edwards
Chipman Swain
Page 25

I Oshea Smith of Brattleton in the County of
Windham and State of Vermont of lawful age testify and
say, that I was well acquainted with Sylvester Bishop
late of Marlboro in the County and State aforesaid, and
that he the said Bishop died in the month of March
A.D. 1822. and that Deborah Bishop now of Marlboro
is the widow of said Sylvester Bishop, and has not inter
married since his decease, and further the deponent
saith not
Oshea Smith
State of Vermont Personally appeared before the Probate
Marlow Probate District Court for the District of Marlboro
Nov. 15. 1838.
person, who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth
of the above deposition
before
Dana Hyde Judge
Page 26

State of Vermont - Windham County ss
Probate District of Marlboro S.
I Samuel Watts of Brattleboro
in said district Register & Clerk
of the 2d Probate Court, do
hereby certify that the Hon
Davis Clyde was, on the 15th
day of November inst. and
still is Judge of the said Court
and that his signature to the
within Caption is genuine-
In witness whereof I
have hereunto subscribed my
name & affixed the seal of
the said Probate Court this
20th day of Nov AD 1858
at Brattleboro in sd district
Samuell Mitt Register
& Clerk
Page 27

I Josiah Cutler of Woodford, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont of the age of Seventy Seven years do testify and say that my native place was Brookfield in the State of Massachusetts--that when a boy I was bound out to Lieut John Phipps of said Brookfield and lived with him --that Sylvester Bishop was bound to the same John Phipps and was there at the same time--that in the year 1775 said Bishop enlisted into the continental service for eight (8) months and went to Roxbury in Cambridge--I well recollect the morning that he left--our Master Said Phipp gave him two pistereens to Start with--at the expiration of the eight months he returned to Brookfield and immediately enlisted for one year--I think he made the engagement before he came hense--he soon returned and in the Spring went to New York with the American Army and returned to Brookfield at the end of the year 1776 or the Begining of the year 1777--I afterwards lived a number of years near neighbor to him in Marlboro Vermont and have often heard him tell of being taken prisoner by the Indians at or near Ticonderoga in July 1777 and of his escaping from them and serving at Bennington the day of the Battle there and of his being in that Battle
Josiah Cutler
Woodford November 9th 1838

State of Vermont                )
Bennington County fs        )

Then personally appeared the above Josiah Cutler and made oath that the above Deposition By him Subscribed is Just and True
John Collard/Justice of the Peace
Page 28

SERVICE                                 NUMBER
Continental           Bishop, Sylvester      W15585
Mass.                     Deborah
Vt.

CONTENTS
Page 29

State of Vermont}
Bennington County}ss I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington County Court hereby certify
that John Collard was, at the
taking of the foregoing Deposition aJustice of the peace in & for sd County duly qualified, & that his signature I believe to be genuine-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of our said Court at Bennington
this 12th day of Nov. AD. 1838-

Henry Robinson
Page 30

I Jonathan Waterman of Brookfield in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts
being ninety years of age do testify that I and consider Brookfield in the month of June 1776 and in the month of August 1777. I first became
him acquainted with Sylvester Bishop
the battle at Bennington in the State of Vermont when said Bishop came & at that time said he had made his escape as a prisoner from Ticonderoga said Bishop was in the battle with me at Bennington and attached to the same company with me until some time in
the month of September of the same year when my term of service & find & we both went home to Brookfield together.   Jonathan Waterman

Month of October 2 1838 Then personally appeared Jonathan Waterman above named and the above deposition in my presents I made oath to the same before me - I further certify that thou and personally acquainted with said Jonathan Waterman for more than twenty five years last past & are of opinion, that full faith & credit out ought to be given to his testimony.
Jesse Bliss, Justice of the Peace
Page 31

SERVICE                                                 NUMBER

Continental         Bishop, Sylvester.   W15585

Mass.                                 Deborah

Vt.
Page 32

I John Ross of Brookfield in the County
of our State of Massachusetts being
seventy years of age do testify & say
that I was born in said Brookfield & have
resided in that Town ever since and was well
acquainted with Sylvester Bishop when a lay
said Bishop was bound to Lunt John Phipps
then of said Brookfield untill he was twenty
one years of age to have the trade of forming
at the commitment of the Revolutionary
was said Sylvester Bishop enlisted in the holy
company commanded by Capt. Peter Harwood
for eight months & went to Roxbury in the
spring of 1775 and was about at that time, I should think eight months after his return according to the best of my recollection
he purchase his term of said Phipps & enlisted as a soldier again in the war of the revolution &
went to the South & was absent.  I should think
a year or more & returned again to Brookfield.
I knew that said Bishop afterwards volunteered
as a soldier & went to the North, was taken by the Indian as a prisoner & made his escape. & was in the battle of Bennington in August 1777.
I was present at the time said Bishop was
married to Deborah Barns by the Rev.
Ward in the year 1780                      John Ross

Worcester ss. October 2, 1838. Then personally and John Ross above named & subscribed the above deposition in my presents made oath to the same before me I further certify that them him personally acquainted with said John Ross for than is testimony is entitled to full credit. Jesse Bliss, Justice of the Peace
Page 33

I John Ross of Brookfield in the County
of Mount & State of Massachusetts being
seventy nine years of age do testify & say
that I was born in said Brookfield & have
resided in that Town since and was will
acquainted with Sylvester Bishop when a lay
said Bishop was bound to Lunt John
Phipps then of said Brookfield until he was twenty one years of age to leave the trade of forming at the commencement of the Revolutionary was said Sylvester Bishop enlisted in the City company commanded by Capt. Peter Harwood
In eight months & went to Roxbury in the
spring of 1775 and was absent at that him I should think eight months after his return according to the best of my recollection
he purchase his token of said Phipps & enlisted of as a soldier again in the war of the revolution
went to the South & was absent I should think
a year or more & returned of an to Brookford
shows that said Bishop afterwards contin
as a soldier unto the south was taken by the
indive as prisoner & mark his escape & was
in the battle of Bennington in August 1777
I was present at the time said Bishops
married to Deborah Brown by the Rev. Phipps
ward in the year 1780.                      John Ross

Worstep. October 2, 1838 Then personally appeared John Ross above named & subscribed the above deposition in my present &  made oath to the same upon me- I further certify that show him personally acquainted with said John Phipps for me- then testify your last past was of opinion that his testimony is 
attested  to full credit & witness.

John Pipps, Justice of  Peace
Page 34

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County Worcester do certify, that Jesse Bliss is a Justice of the Peace within
and for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified and that the two foregoing of his name are his own genuine signatures.

In testimony whereof I do here unto set my hand and the said of said Court, this third day
of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
Chas. G. Prentiss, Register
Page 35

I Thankfull Ross of Brookfield in the County
of Worster & State of Massachusetts, being seventy seven years of age do testify & say that I was well acquainted with Sylvester Bishop when young having born in said Brookfield I resided that. I will remember that said Bishop at the commencement of the revolutionary war enlisted soldier in the army of the revolution in the company commanded by Capt Peter Harwood in 1775 for the term of eight months a& went to Roxbury a was abstract I should think about that of months on his return he purchase his time of Mr. Phipps to whom he was bound for & service & again enlisted & was about from Brookfield I should think a year or more at the South of Burgoine-said Bishop was again was about in the war at the taking of Burgione.  I do not recollect how long Mr Bishop married my sister Deborah Barnes-I was witness at this marriage by the Rev'd Ephraim Ward in the month of June 1780-
                                                      Thankfull Ross
Month of October 2, 1838 Then personally appear Thankfull Ross above named subscribed the above deposition being presents & made oath to the same before me - I further certify that I have him personally acquainted with said Thankfull Ross been for more than twenty years last part and of opinion that full credit is to be given to her testimony
Jesse Bless Justice of Peace
Page 36


I Chipman Swain of Bratthbana in other County of Windham and State of Vermont of the age of forty four years do testify and say that in the summer of the year A.D. 1890 I hid in the family of Sylvester Bishop late of Montana in Said
County dec'd who was then in life that I was well acquainted with his property that it consisted of a farm of upwards of the hundred and under goal improvement & well subscribed & he that he had money at interest and  often heard him since speak of the pension act of the 18th ofMarch 1818 that he should be entitled to
pension under said act of the situation of his property was such that he later say that he stand in need of assistance of his Country
                                                    Chipman Swain
State of Vermont
Windham County ⎬ At Newton on this 14th day of Nov. 1839. I personally appeared the above
named Chipman Swain who is for & wholly known to me as a credible witness and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him dated contains the whole truth &  things and the truth.
Before me,  Asa Keyes Justice of the Peace
Page 37

State of Vermont 
Windham County Court Clerk's Office 
I Marshall Miller, Clerk of said County Court, do certify that Asa Keys is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature within written as such is genuine.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of the said County Court, this 4th day of November AD 1839
Attest- Marshall Miller, Clerk
Page 38

4268
16 Sept. 1843
D. Bishop
Act 1843
$20 per an

Pensioner of Marlborough
Marlboro Sept. 12
J.L. Edwards

Pensions
Commissioners of Pension
Washington City of D. C.
Page 39

State of Vermont
Windham County
On this 9th day of September in the year A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me Phineas Mather a justice of the peace within and for said County Deborah Bishop a resident of Marlborough in said County of Windham aged 84 years 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 8th day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War that she is the widow of Silvester Bishop who was a private in the revolutionary army and that she as his widow drew a pension under the act of of July 7, 1838 at the rate of twenty dollars per annum reference being such declaration and proof under said act- She further declares that she is still a widow of such Silvester Bishop
Deborah Bishop
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year last above written  I also testify that the above Deborah Bishop is personally known to me
Phineas Mather Justice of the Peace
Page 40

State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office
Newton September AD. 184.
I Marshall Miller, Clerk of said Court, certify, that then has Mather is Peltie of the Peace within
& for said County, duly commissioned & qualified this his commissioners date November 9th 1842 and will expire on the 30th day of
November 1843 & that his signature within written is genuine-
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my
hand and affix the seal of said Court the day & year first above written.

Attest Marshall Miller Clerk
Page 41

STATE OF VERMONT
Windham County.....SS

On this twenty sixth day of September, A.D. 1848,  before Sanford Plumb, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by the laws of the State to administer oaths, personally appeared Debora Bishop a resident of Marlborough in said County, aged 89 who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the second day of February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War; that she is the widow of Sylvester Bishop who was a Private in the eight months service in the revolutionary war from Brookfield in Massachusetts in the year 1775 in the company of Capt. Wing I believe according to my best recollection and that the annual pension I received under the act of June 17th 1844 is twenty dollars.
Witness Isaac Bishop
Deborah Bishop
She further declares, that she is still a widow.
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year last above written, before me.
Sanford Plumb Justice Peace
I also certify that the declarant is personally known to me, and is the same individual she represents herself to be. Sanford Plumb Justice Peace
I, Marshall Miller Clerk of the County Court in and for said County, do hereby certify that Sanford Plumb is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signatures above written are genuine.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, this 28th day of September in the year A.D. 1848
Attest Marshall Miller Clerk.