Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19,022, for Gideon Cornell Sherman, Rhode Island
Page 1

[doc is printed & written]

(3-1776)
SERVICE               NUMBER
RI   Sherman, Gideon Cornell     W. 19.022
---     Ruth     B.L.Wt. 27593-160-55
[double line]
CONTENTS
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[doc is printed, written, folded, soiled, & damaged]

631
New York Albany
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
widow of Gideon C.
Ret
who served in the Revolutionary
was, as a private & Corporal
Infrom $34.83 
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the
7th day of Jany 1837
and sent to
Hon W. A. Sackett
House of Reps
[double line]
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 188, Vol 4.

[line written vertically along fold = illegible]
Page 3

[doc is written, folded, soiled & damaged]

[left fold]
Cir T. Dickinson Sept 11/55
Let "    "    Apl 21/56

Vol 81. page 79

[right fold]
47.483} Act Mar 3/33
Rec Apl 9/33
[line]
Ruth Sherman
wid of
Gideon C. Sherman Pri & Corp
[line]
Pension
War Revolution
[double line]
2
M Feby 48 - no 631
[line]
[illegible] 16 [illegible] May 1786
BO for [illegible]
M
[line]
Theodore Dickinson
Newark
Wayne Coun[illegible]

[written diagonally]
27593 of May 23/57
Page 4

[doc is written; page 1 of multipage doc]

State of New York
County of Wayne ss: [line underlined]
On this tenth day of
February in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty personally appear
ed before [inserted] me Samuel Moore one of the Judges of
the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions
of the Peace of said County Ruth Sherman
a resident of Palmyra in said county of Wayne
aged seventy four 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 passed July 7th 1838 entitled "an act
granting half pay and pensions to certain wid-
ows": That she is the widow of Gideon Cornell
Sherman who was a soldier in the war of
the revolution that she was not acquainted
with said Gideon Cornell Sherman previous
to the close of the war of the revolution and that
her information in relation to the service of
said Sherman in said war is derived from the
statements of said Sherman, that according to
her best information knowledge and belief
said Sherman was a soldier in said war, that
he entered the service about the commencement
of the revolution and continued under different
engagements until its close, that he entered said
service at Tiverton in the State of Rhodeisland
but she cannot state the month or year
when he entered said service, that he resided
in Portsmouth at [crossed out] in said State of Rhodeisland
at the time he entered said service, that when
he entered said service he enlisted for the term
of one year at the close of which term he enlisted
for another year that he served a part or all of
said two years in the company of Capt Seth [underlined]
Thomas [underlined] That she cannot state the names of
Page 5

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any of the other officers under whom he served
except that he was at some time under [crossed out] in [inserted] the
army of General Sullivan---that during the
two years above mentioned he was stationed
at different places in the State of Rhodeisland---
that he was one of the party under Col. Barton
which captured General Prescott---that he acted
as pilot in said expedition and that he was the
first man that took hold of Gen Prescott as
when he was taken---that she cannot state [crossed out]
mention any particular battle in which
said Sherman was engaged but has frequently
heard him relate the particulars of one or more
battles in which he was engaged---that
towards the close of the war he was engaged on
board of some vessel of war from which he
was taken prisoner and confined in a 
prison vessel at New York---that he [inserted] was subse-
quently des [crossed] exchanged---and that she has no
documentary evidence in relation to the
service of said Sherman in said war.
She further declares that she was married
to the said Gideon Cornell Sherman on the
eighth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight [crossed out] seven [inserted] hundred and
eighty six---that her husband the aforesaid
Gideon Cornell Sherman died on the 11th
day of February eighteen hundred and thirteen
that she was not married to him prior to his
leaving the service but the marriage took place
previous to the first day of January seventeen
hundred and ninety four Viz: at the time
above stated and that she was never afterwards
married
Subscribed and sworn         Ruth Sherman
the day and year above written
before    Samuel Moore Judge of Wayne County Courts
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I Samuel Moore the Judge [inserted] before whom the
foregoing declaration was made do certify
that Ruth Sherman in the foregoing declaration
named and whose name is thereunto sub
scribed is unable on account of bodily
infirmity to attend any court of record in
said county of Wayne. Dated Feb. 10 1840
Samuel Moore
Judge of Wayne County Courts

State of New York}
Wayne County ss}
Ruth Moore of the town of Palmyra in
said county, being duly sworn says that she
is the daughter of Ruth Sherman and Gideon
Cornell Sherman in the foregoing declaration
named and that the said Gideon Cornell
Sherman died at the town of Palmyra in
said county of Wayne on the 11th day of February
eighteen hundred and thirteen and that the
said Ruth Sherman was never afterward
married and further saith not
Subscribed and Sworn          Ruth Moore
this 10th day of February 1840
before me    Samuel Moore Judge
of Wayne County Courts

State of New York}
Wayne County ss}
Susanna Osband of the town of
Arcadia in said county, being duly sworn says
that she is the daughter of Ruth Sherman and 
Gideon Cornell Sherman in the foregoing declaration
named and that the said Gideon Cornell
Sherman died at the town of Palmyra
Page 7

[doc is written; page 2 of multipage doc]

in said county of Wayne on the 11th day of
February in the year [3 words inserted] Eighteen hundred and thirteen and
that the said Ruth Sherman was never afterward
married and further saith not
Subscribed and Sworn          Susanna Osband
this 15th day of February 1840
before me    Samuel Moore  Judge of Wayne
County Court

State of New York}
Wayne County Clerks Office} ss I James Hawley Clerk
of said County do hereby certify that Samuel Moore
Esq. before whom the foregoing declaration and
affidavits were made and whose name is
subscribed to the foregoing certificate was at the date
of the said affidavits declaration and certificate one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said
county duly appointed and qualified and that I
am well acquainted with his handwriting and believe
the signatures above purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto affixed my seal of Office
and subscribed my name this
15th day of February 1840
James Hawley  Clrk
of Wayne County
Page 8

[doc is written]

These are to certify that Mr. Gideon Cornell Sherman and
Miss Ruth Lawton, both of Portsmouth in the State of Rhode
Island, were Joined together in Marriage on the eighth 
day of September (seventeen hundred & eighty six)
By me Gardner Thurston Pastor of a
Church of Christ in Newport in
said State

Newport ss Portsmouth Dec 16, 1839.  I Samuel Clarke
of said Portsmouth depose and say that I hold the office
of Town Clerk in the County town & State aforesaid
and that the above is a true extract from the records
of said Portsmouth with the exception of the date which
is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as
follows: "8th day of September 1786."
Samuel Clarke [name underlined] Town Clerk

Newport Rhode Island ss   Dec 17th A.D. 1839
Personally appeared before the subscriber the above
written Samuel Clarke & on affirmation duly
taken testified to the truth of the above certificate
and subscribed the same in my presence---
In testimony whereof I hereto set
my hand & authorised the Seal
of the Court to be affixed on the
day & year last above written.
Joseph Josten,
C. Jus. C.C. Pleas,
Newport
Page 9

[doc is written]

Newport ss      {Clerks Office Court of Common
                        {Pleas Newport Dec 17, 1839

By virtue of my Office I have this day affixed the
seal of the Court to the above certificate of the Chief
Justice, to bear testimony in Common with his signature
to the authority and validity which under his Com=
mission & due engagement thereon belong to his official
act.    As witness my hand
Daniel C. Denham Clk
Page 10

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State of New York}
Wayne County} ss Knoles Negus of being
duly sworn deposes and says that
he resides in the town of Marion in
said county and has resided in said
county about twenty seven years
and was a soldier in the war of the
revolution and now receives a pension
on account services in said war---that
he knew Gideon C. Sherman in his life
time and was acquainted with him [5 words inserted] several years previous to the com-
mencement of the war of the revolution
and for several years after the close of said
war and after his marriage to Ruth
Lawton. And this deponent further
says that about the time of the commence
ment of the war of the revolution he this
deponent resided in Tiverton and the said
Gideon C. Sherman resided in Portsmouth
in the State of Rhodeisland---and that about
the time of the commencement of the
revolutionary war this deponent enlist [crossed out]
and the said Gideon C. Sherman enlisted
into the service of the Unites States at
Tiverton under Capt William Cook that
they the said Sherman and this deponent went
together and enlisted that both enlisted
for the term of one year and during the
term of said enlistment were employed
and remained at Tiverton and on the
Island and worked at building forts and
diging entrenchments. This deponent is certain
that said Sherman remained in said service
for the term of one year after said enlistment
The said company during said year was
under Colonel Toppin.
And this deponent further says that
about the close of the said year for which
Page 11

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this deponent and said Sherman enlisted
as aforesaid they made another enlistment
into said service for the term of one year under
Capt. Seth Thomas said last enlistment
was made at Portsmouth in said State of
Rhodeisland. According to this deponents best
recollection Col. Church was the Col. in
command during that year. Said Sher-
man remained during the second year
at Portsmouth and thereabouts and this
deponent knows he remained in said
service during that year. During the second
year of said service said Sherman was
engaged in the expedition under Col. Barton
when Gen. Prescott was taken. This
deponent saw Col. Barton start on said
expedition and knows said Sherman went
with him. After the termination of said second
enlistment this deponent understood that
said Sherman enlisted and went west but
this deponent has no knowledge that he
served longer than the two years above
mentioned. And this deponent further
says that he knows Ruth Sherman
now of the town of Palmyra in said
County (formerly Ruth Lawton) and
that he knew her when she resided in
Portsmouth in said State of Rhodeisland---that
she was reported to be married to said
Gideon C. Sherman---and this deponent knows
that the said Gideon C. [inserted] Sherman and the
said Ruth Sherman lived together as
husband and wife and further saith
not.
Subscribed and sworn}          Knoles Negus [an 'X' and the words 'his mark' are written over the name]
this third day of December 1839}
before me Marvin Rich }
Page 12

[doc is written]

Judge of Wayne
County Courts
I Marvin Rich the Judge before whom the
above deposition was taken do hereby certify
that Knoles Negus in the above deposition
named and whose name is thereunto sub-
scribed and who is now dead was a man of
credibility and good character for truth and
veracity. Dated Feb. 5th 1840
Marvin Rich
Judge of Wayne County Courts

State of New York}
Wayne County Clerks Office} Ss  I James Hawley Clerk
of said county do hereby certify that Marvin Rich
Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit was made
and whose name is subscribed to the above cer-
tificate was at the date of the said affidavit and
certificate one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for said county duly appointed
and qualified and that I am well acquainted
with his hand writing and believe the sig-
natures above purporting to be his are gen-
uine.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto affixed my seal of
office and subscribed my
name the 15th day of February
1840    James Hawley Clk
of Wayne County
Page 13

[doc is written]

47483
Page 14

[doc is written]

State of New York}
County of Wayne} Ss
On this third day of April A.D. one thousand
eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and
State aforesaid Ruth Sherman aged 89 years a resident
of Arcadia in the State of New York who being duly sworn
according to law, declares declares [word crossed out] that she is the widow of
Gideon C. Sherman who was a private and a Corporal in the
Revolutionary War and that she is in the receipt of a pension
from the government of the United States of Eighty Dollars
per annum that she receives her pension at the New
York agency for paying pensions at the City of Albany
that all of the proofs necessary for obtaining her said
pension have been forwarded to the pension department
and are now on file in said pension department
as she verily believes
She make this declaration for the purpose of obtain
ing the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under
the act approved March 3, 1855
Ruth Sherman

We Theodore Dickinson and Norman S. Osband residents
of Arcadia in the State of New York upon our oath declare
that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged
by Ruth Sherman in our presence and that we believe from
the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the
identical person she represents herself to be and we
further state that we have been acquainted with the
said applicant for twenty years or more and know that
she is now the widow of Gideon C. Sherman deceased
Theodore Dickinson
Norman S. Osband
Page 15

[doc is printed and written]

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

State of New York}
Wayne County Clerk's Office} SS   I, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid, do here-
by certify that John N. Hardin whose genuine signa-
ture appears to the annexed Jurats &c is
and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and
for the County and State aforesaid; duly elected and sworn, that all his
official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the
aforesaid County Court is a Court of record, having general jurisdiction.
Given under may Hand and Seal of Office, (the seal of said Court and County,) at Lyons,
this 5 day of April 1855. 
Samuel B. Sann Clerk.
Page 16

[doc is printed, folded  & written]

Rev 19,022
WIDOW, &c.
[line]
File No. 19022
Ruth Sherman
Widow of
Gideon C Sherman
Corp Rev War
[line]
Act: Feb 20 48
Index:--Vol. M, Page 208
"[Arrangement of 1870.]"
Page 17

[doc is written & folded]

Janry 23---1903
Hon J.A. Beidler H.R. [line underlined]
Page 18

[doc is written & folded]

27593
[illegible] Any
Page 19

[doc is written & folded]

N. York
Ruth Sherman
let to Hon. T. R. Strong 13 May 1840

Act July 1838 [crossed out] 1838
Page 20

[doc is written, printed & folded]

[left fold]
Albany 6724
New York
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
widow of Gideon C Sherman
who was a Pri & Corp
in the R.I. Line
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
34 Dollars 83
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.,
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the
27th day of Mar 1843
and sent to 
Saml Moore
E Palmyra
N. York
[double line]
"[Act of March 3, 1843.]"
and June 17 1844.
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 20 Page, 85

[right fold]
repd
Page 21

[doc is  printed, written & folded]

6724
New York, Albany
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
widow of Gideon C.
who was a pri & Corporal
in the R.I. line
Incd from $34.83
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the
7th day of Jany 1837
and sent to
Hon W. A. Sackett
House of Reps
[double line]
"[Act of March 3, 1843.]"
and 17th June 1844 [4 words underlined]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 2 Page 89
Page 22

[doc is printed, written & folded]

5519
New York Albany
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
Widow of Gideon C. Sherman
who was a pensioner under the Act of [line crossed out]
and who died on the 11th Feby 1813
of Wayne Co., in the State of New York
who was a pri & Corpl in the Company
commanded by Captain Thomas of the
Regt commanded by Col Topham in
the Rhode Island line for---
Incd from $34.83.
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1836.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of
Jany 1837 and sent to
Hon W. A. Sackett
[double line]
House of Reps [double underlined]
Total amount,    $ --- [double underlined]
"[Act of July 7, 1838.]"
Recorded by H R Weightman Clerk,
Book D  Vol 1  Page 545
Page 23

[doc is printed, written, folded & damaged]

[left fold]
Albany 5519
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
widow of Gideon C. Sherman
who was a pensioner under the Act [line crossed out]
and who died on the 11th February 1813
of Wayne Co., in the State of N. York
who was a Pri & Corporal in the company commanded
by Captain Thomas of the regt commanded
by Col Topham in the R.I.
line 5 months Pri---18.33
6 " corporal---16.50 [figure underlined]
$34.83
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 34 Dollars 83 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of June
1840 and sent to Hon T. R. Strong
House of Representatives
[double line]
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840    139.32
Semi=annual allowance ending 6 Sept "   17.41 [figure double underlined]
$156.73 [figure double underlined]
{Act July 7,}
{1838}
Recorded by D. Brown
Book A Vol. 2 Page 102 Clerk,

[right fold]
Letter to S. Moore 3 March 1842
[double line]
Paid at the Treasury under
the Act 6 April 1838 from
4 Sept 1840 to 4 March 1841.
Agt Notified 30 Oct 1844
[line]
Let to S. Moore Dec 13  1846
Page 24

[doc is printed, written, folded & damaged]

[left fold]
631
Albany New York 
[double line]
Ruth Sherman
widow of Gideon C. Sherman
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a pri & Corporal
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
34 Dollars 83
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the
5 day of July 1848
and sent to
L. Jenkins
Albany
N.Y.
[double line]
Recorded on Roll or Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 185 Vol 4

[right fold]
Reported
Let to Honl
W A Sackett
H.R.
Decr 8[illegible]
Let Hon W A Sackett
May 22 1850 to
same May 23. 1850
same Dec 17 "
Page 25

[dos is written]

Newark Wayne Co. N.Y.
March 15th 1837
Sir
On the 5th day of April last
I sent to your department several
declarations for Bounty Land five
in all at that time all of which
have been acted on accept Mrs
Ruth Shermans. I have herd no-
thing from that now having new
Warrants on the others by Nov or
Dec. I thought there might have been
some miscarriage as I have
received and continue to receive most
of my communications from your
department from Newark New 
Jersey---
Your Truly
Theodore Dickinson
Agt
Hon J. Minot
Page 26

[doc is written, stamped, folded & damaged]

[doc center]
[mail stamp]
Lyon 
Dec
N.Y.
FREE
Hon. Theodore R. Strong
House of Representatives
Washington

[right fold]
Widow of
Gideon C. Sherman
Revy RI service

19022

[written up-side-down along bottom]
William Clark Jr
Letter Dec 5 1839
Page 27

[doc is written; page 1 of multipage doc]

Lyons Dec 5th 1839
Dear Sir
I am endeavoring to obtain the
evidences of the service of Gideon C.
Sherman as a soldier in the war of the
revolution for the purposes of applying
for a pension for his widow under
the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838
and wish to ascertain what evidences
of his service can be obtained from
the records of the war department the mus-
ter rolls or papers in the pension office. From
the best information I can obtain said
Sherman enlisted as a soldier into the
service of the United States at Tiverton
in the State of Rhodeisland about the
commencement of the revolutionary 
war for the term of one year under
Capt Wm Cook Col Toppin being the Col.
then in command and after the ex-
piration of that year he enlisted again
for [crossed out] at Portsmouth in the State of Rhode-
island under Capt Seth Thomas for
one year the full term of which enlistments
he served. He was one of the party under
col. Barton that captured Gen Prescott
He is reported to have remained in the
service during the war but in what
Page 28

[doc is written; page 2 of multipage doc]

regiment or company I can not [inserted] ascertain
with certainty. He is reported to have
been in Sullivans army and to
have been in some battle in one of
the eastern States, to have been en-
gaged on board some vessel of war,
to have been taken by the British
and confined in the old ship Jersey
and finally exchanged about the
close of the war. Will you have
 the goodness to ascertain at the proper
offices at Washington what documentary
evidence of the service of said Gideon
C. or perhaps it may be written Gideon
Cornell Sherman and write me as
soon as convenient. If no document-
ary evidence can be found I fear it will
be difficult to make the proof of service
with sufficient particularity. Will you
also procure from the pension office and send
me the regulations and forms of evidence
in relation to applications and payments under
the above mentioned act. By giving this
matter a little attention you will
confer a favor upon a worthy old lady
and much oblige
Yours Respectfully
Wm Clark Jr
Hon. T.R. Strong
Page 29

[doc is written]

J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington

[written vertically[
5519

[written up-side-down]
W W Allison
[next 2 lines illegible]
Page 30

[doc is written]

Washington Dec 5. 1849
J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Sir.
Gideon C. Sherman of New York
Revolutionary Pensioner, was entered on the Pension Roll at $34.
a year. He in past served through the War. It is claimed
his papers on file show him entitled to a full pension
and I now apply to have his case reexamined & the
objections to his having a full pension stated, if any
exist. I do this for the benefit of his widow, he being
dead. My information in this matter comes from
[illegible] that lead me to fully believe great injustice
has been done in this case. I ask that his proofs
be reexamined & the [illegible] objections to a full pension
stated, if any & the defects in the proofs.
Yours Truly
W. A. Sackett
Page 31

[doc is written, folded & stamped]

May 13. 1840
Ruth Sherman 
[mailroom stamp]
WASHINGTON CITY
MAY
[illegible]

[written sideways]
T.R. Strong
[illegible]
FREE [stamped]
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 32

[doc is written]

House of Representatives
May 12, 1840
Col J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
Please give me
the information requested by the
above letter & oblige
Yours very Respectfully
T.R. Strong
Page 33

[doc is written]

free
Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner
of Pensions
Washington City
Dist Colombia
East Palmyra
Dec 7

[written sideways]
Dec 12 44
Ruth Sherman
NY [illegible] 38 or 43

5519-Act 38
NY [illegible]
Page 34

[doc is written]

East Palmyra 6th Decr 1844
Dear Sir
Ruth Sherman of Palmyra
Wayne County, New York has recd the
five year pension as the widow of
Gideon C. Sherman late a soldier in
the revolutionary war---Now I understand
that there is provision made by Cong
ress to continue those pensions. Will
you have the goodness to inform
me of the different "Acts" and that subj
=ect and the manner and forms of applicati
=on to obtain the benefit of said new
"Acts"
Yours truly  Saml Moore

Hon J L Edwards
Comsr Pensions
Page 35

[doc is written]

Albany July 1, 1848
Jas L. Edwards Esqr
Comsr of Pensions,
Sir,
I enclose the declaration of Mrs
Ruth Sherman for the purpose of obtaining her pension
Certificate under Act 2d July last.
Very Respectfully
Yr Ob Svrt
Lemuel Jenkins
Page 36

[doc is printed & written]

GIDEON, PRINTER
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
April 11th, 1844.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act
directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners,
and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United
States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen=
sion agents, Ruth Sherman---
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N. York,
Agency, at the rate of Thirty four---Dollars
and 83 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th July
1838, has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of Sept. 1840, to the 4th March 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris [name underlined]
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
Page 37

[doc is written & stamped]

[mail room stamp]
FREE
[mail room stamp] 
Lyons Jun 10
N.Y.
Hon Theron R. Strong
Washington
D.C.

[written vertically]
Hon T.R. Strong
H.R.
Page 38

[doc is written; page 1 of multipage doc]

Lyons June 9th 1840
Dear Sir
Yours enclosing the letter of J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions was duly received. The
result of the examination at the Pension Office has
somewhat disappointed me. The services ascertained
by the rolls to have been performed by the husband of
the claimant appear to have been performed in the years
1778 and 1779. I find by the letter of Mr Edwards that this
service was supposed to have been performed under
Sherman's first enlistment. It appears by the testimony
of both the witnesses whose depositions were forwarded
to the pension office that Sherman was in the service
at the time Genl Prescott was captured by the party under
Col Barton and that he was one of the party. As Gen Pres
cott was taken on the night of the 10th of June 1777 (see
Marshalls life of Washington) Sherman must have been
in the service in that year and the enlistment of May
15th 1778 could not have been the first enlistment.
It is stated in the letter of the comsr of Pensions that it
is alleged that the claimants husband served two
years in Capt Thomas company Col Tappans regiment
This is the statement of one witness only. The other if I
recollect states that he served under those officers one
year and the other year under other officers whose names
are stated in his deposition forwarded to the pension office.
If the Rolls previous to the year 1778 are preserved I think
they will show that Sherman was in the service previous
Page 39

[doc is written; page 2 of multipage doc]

to the year 1778 but perhaps not under the officers stated
by the witnesses. Sherman is reported to have been in
the service the greater part of the time during the war and
I have no doubt such is the fact but under what officers
and in what company no evidence can be furnished except
that forwarded to the pension office. I wish you to see
that a full and perfect examinations are made at the
pension office in relation to this claim and that the
right thing is done and I will see that you are fully
compensated for your trouble. If upon full examination
of the testimony forwarded to the pension office and of
and [crossed out] the records and rolls which may be referred to
there it shall not appear that Mrs. Sherman is  en-
titled to a pension for more than 10 months service of
her husband she wishes a certificate to be issued for that
term as she can not furnish any further evidence of
her husbands service. Perhaps the evidence produced
in support of the claims of the witnesses Sherman and Negus
will give some light upon the matter. By giving this
matter your attention you will much oblige
Yours &c
Wm Clark Jr
T.R. Strong Esq
Page 40

[doc is written]

Ruth Sherman
N.Y.
Act 3 March '43
& 17 June '44
$3483

Saml Moore
E. Palmira
N.Y.
Page 41

[doc is written]

Declaration
State of New York}
County of Wayne} Ss
On the twenty third day of
December 1844 personally appeared before me
Samuel Moore a Judge in and for said county
Ruth Sherman a resident of Palmyra in the county
of Wayne and State aforesaid aged Seventy Eight 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
acts of Congress passed on the 3d March 1843
and 17th June 1844 granting pensions to widows of
persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Gideon C Sherman who
was a privat and corporal in the war of the Revolution
and according to her best recollection he served
under Colonel Barton and Captain Thomas in the
Rhode Island troops (see her former declaration for the
5 years previous when her recollections were better than now)
and the annual amount of her pension which she received
under the act of July 7th 1838 was thirty four dollars and
eighty three cents and she further declares that she is still
the widow of the said Gideon C Sherman
Sworn to and Subscribed on
the day and year above written     Ruth Sherman
before me Samuel Moore a Judge of Wayne County Courts
State of New York} Ss  Ruth Sherman who subscribed the above
Wayne County}  declaration is personally known to me
23 December 1844    Samuel Moore a Judge Wayne County Courts
Page 42

[doc is written]

State of New York
Wayne County Clerks Office} ss   I hereby certify that Sam
uel Moore Esq was at the time of taking
the within deposition a Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for said county,
and duly authorised to take the same
and that I am well acquainted with
his hand writing, and verily believe his signature within
written to be genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of office
this 25th day of December A.D. 1844
E A Palmeter Dep Clerk
of said County
Page 43

[doc is written]

East Palmyra}          free
Dec 28  NY}

Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
District Columbia

[written vertically along left margin]
Jan 9  1845
Ruth Sherman
March 3d 1843
June 17th 1844
NY
Page 44

[doc is written & damaged]

East Palmyra  28th Dec 1844
Dear Sir
Enclosed is Ruth Shermans
declaration to obtain a pension
please excuse if there is any error
point it out that it may be rem
edied    yours truly
Samuel Moore

Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner Pensions
Page 45

[doc is written & damaged]

East Palmyra}
Feb 23}        [illegible]
Hon J L Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington
City

[written vertically along left margin]
Mar 1. 1842
Mr Edwards
Page 46

[doc is written; page 1 of multipage doc]

Feb 24th 1842
East Palmyra Wayne County New York
Hon J L Edwards Comr of Pensions
Dear Sir
I have in
charge the business of Widow Ruth Sherman
a pensioner Widow of Gideon C Sherman a
revolutionary soldier Mrs Sherman has
received all her money except that last
payment which became due on the
4th of March last her papers were
probably made out last summer and
power given to me to receive her money
at Albany. She however requested me
to call at your office (while visiting
your city) to see if her pension could not
be increased, according to request I
called at your office and there left
the power of attorney which authorised
me to get her money on your table
came away and forgot it, consequently
I was not able to get her money on
my return home, She resides more
than 200 miles west of Albany
and before another oportunity offered
for getting the money it was quite late
in the fall; She then gave power of
Page 47

[doc is written; page 2 of multipage doc]

attorney to Mr Esbon Brackman who
presented the same to the pension
office in Albany and then appeared
some small defect in the papers and
they were sent back with instructions
to mend the papers, but before she could
send again to Albany her time had
expired by time allowed and her amount
returned to Washington. Now Sir the object of this is to know
how or what proceedings are necessary
that she may obtain the balance
of her pension, She is poor and the
little pension that has been awarded
her would do her good
Yours truly
Saml Moore
Page 48

[doc is written & folded]

Incd to $80 per annum
deducting former payts
at $34:83 per annum
Acts
38
43 & 44
48

281
Hon W.A. Sackett
HofR
Page 49

[doc is printed, written & folded]

Payment to be made at Albany
by
Thos. W. Olcott Esq
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the 
Agency of New York

Payable on the 4th September and 4th
March

Recorded in the Pension Office on the
Roll of Pensioners under act February
2d, 1848, Page 185 Vol. 4
Leo. Jenkins
Clerk

Report to Mr
Mr. Sackett
Page 50

[doc is printed & written]

WAR DEPARTMENT.
WIDOW'S PENSION.
[line]
I certify that in conformity with the act of February 2d, 1848,
Ruth Sherman.
widow of Gideon C Sherman.
who was a private & Corporal in the revolutionary war,
is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of thirty four
dollars and eighty three cents per annum, commencing on the
4th of March, 1848, and continuing for life, unless she should again
marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such
marriage.
Given at the War Office of the United
States this fifth day of July
one thousand eight hundred and
forty eight.
W.L. Marcy
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
By F.S. Evans
Page 51

[doc is written]
admitted
L. Jenkins
Albany
NY
Page 52

[doc is printed & written]

State of New York}
County of Wayne [line underlined]} ss.
On this 24 day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred
and forty eight, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace
in and for the county of Wayne in the state of New York, Ruth Sherman
--- a resident of the town of Arcadia in the said county of
Wayne aged Eighty two years, who first being 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 on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who
served during the Revolutionary War:
That she is the widow of Gideon C. Sherman, who was a private & corporal
in the Army of the Revolution, and on account of whose service she
was pensioned under the acts of 7 July 1838, 3 March 1843 and
17 June 1844, and the annual amount of the pension which she
received under the act of 17 June 1844 was thirty four Dollars &
eighty three cents--- She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sworn to & subscribed on the day &}    Ruth Sherman
year above written, before me}
Hugh Jameson Justice of the Peace

I certify that the above declarant is personally known to me---
Hugh Jameson --- Justice of the Peace
The word "June" written and erased before signing.
Hugh Jameson J.P.

State of New York,}
County of Wayne [line underlined]}ss.
I, Alexander B. Williams Clerk of the said county, do hereby certify that
Hugh Jameson Esquire was on the day of the date of the above Declaration and 
Certificate, a Justice of the peace in and for the said county, duly appointed and sworn,
and that the signatures to the Jurat of the above Declaration and to the above Certificate, purporting to be
his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of
the said county, this twenty fourth day of June 1848.
A.B. Williams
Clerk of Wayne [illegible] of
the Courts Record
Page 53

[doc is written, folded & damaged]

[left fold]
Ruth Sherman
D [illegible]/[illegible]
[illegible] C A
Report to me
I ask an increase of
pension
W.A. Sackett

[right fold]
application for an
increase of widows pension
[line]

[written up-side-down]
Free
Hon Wm A Sackett
M.C.
Washington
Page 54

[doc is written; page 1 of multipage doc; contrast enhancement was used to aid transcription]]

Lyons Dec [illegible] 1850
Hon W.A. Sackett
Sir
At you suggestion
that you thought there was Merit in the case
of Ruth Shermans application for an increase
of Pension, I bring the matter to your notice
again I suppose we cannot bring any
additional evidence on the case because
at this late period all the men are dead
who served with her husband Gideon
C Sherman in the war. The affidavits
of K[illegible] Negus and William Sherman are
in files in the Pension office. They knew Gideon
C Sherman perfectly well; was with him in the
service and drew Pensions; these men
state particularly that they knew said Sherman
was in the service two years. that [illegible] is
he was more than that time in the war
but we supposed that two years proved was [crossed out]
were all that was necessary; the only dificulty
is if I understand rightly that Shermans name
cannot be found on the records connected with 
the officers mentioned in the affidavits. They may
have made some mistake with regard to the officers
names, as it was so long ago, but [2 words illegible] that
they knew him in the army two years they
could not be mistaken. If it would be
any good to show up the character of these
witnesses we can find many men who
Page 55

[doc is written; page 2 of multipage doc; contrast enhancement used to aid transcription]

were acquainted with our witnesses in
their lifetime. Who knew them to be men
of good moral character and for truth
and veracity, never questioned. Such
evidence in support of our witnesses we have
in abundance. I knew both of them My
self, and can say that they were true
men. If you think there is a chance for 
[illegible] by taking an appeal from the Commis
sion we should be glad to hear [illegible] do it
This old lady has instructed me to say that
if you can secure for her in this matter
she will give you $100 of her Pension or
even more if you will take it. 
You will please write me on the
subject and let me know whether I
could say [5 words illegible]
[next 3 lines illegible]
Yours Truly
Samuel Moore
Page 56

[doc is written & folded; contrast enhancement used to aid in transcription]

2496[illegible]9   6829 [underlined]
Ruth Sherman [underlined]
Act July [underlined] 7, 1838
Married 8 Sept 1786
W
Husband died [illegible] 11 Feb 1813
[line]
Col Tappin} out 15 May
Capt Thomas} 1778 as Private
1778 [illegible]
15 May 1778 to
15 March 1789
Corporal 4 [illegible] 15 day
Private [illegible] 15 [illegible]
[line]
[illegible]
Adjutant
Corporal 4 mos & 15 days
Private 5 " & 15 " [underlined]
10 mos
Hon T.R. Strong
H.R.
Page 57

[doc is written]

Allegany County Ss
William Sherman being Duly sworn deposeth
and saith that he was well acquainted with [inserted] Gideon Cornell--
Sherman that he was a native of the State of Rhodeisland
and that he enlisted in Alexander Thomas Company
in Colonel Toppin Regiment in the war of the
Revolution and served his time out which was one
year and was stationed at Tivertown in the State of
Rhodeisland he then enlisted again for a year under
the same officers and served his time out and was
discharged during his last enlistment he volunteered
under Colonel Barton went over to Rhodeisland and
assisted to take Gen Prescott and was in the Battle
on Rhodeisland under Gen Sullivan he again volunteered
under Colonel Barton and assisted to take a Rogally
from the [illegible] in S[illegible] River
this deponent further states that he was a soldier of
the Revolution under the same officers in the same Regiment
and was acquainted with sam [rubbed out] Gideon Cornell Sherman
previous to the was of the Revolution and up to
the year 1813 at which time the said Gideon Cornell---
Sherman died---this deponent further states that he
now Resides in the Town of Wirt County of Allegany
and State of Newyork
Sworn and Subscribed       his William [inserted] X Sherman [inserted below] mark
to this 23d Day of January 1840
before me Josiah Utter Judge [illegible]

I certify that I am acquainted with the deponent
William Sherman and know him to be a man
Respectability and Good Moral Character
Josiah Utter Judge [illegible]
Page 58

[doc is written]

State of New York---}
Allegany County---Clerks office} Ss
I Saml Van Wickle Clerk of said County do hereby
certify that Josiah Utter Esqr before whom the
foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken
was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for said County, duly appointed
and qualified, and that the signature above pur-
porting to be his is Genuine---
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
affixed my seal of Office and subscribed
my name this 7th day of Feby 1840
Saml Van Wickle Clerk
Page 59

doc is stamped, written & damaged]

FREE [stamped]
J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[written vertically along left margin]
Feb. 28. 1840  6829 [underlined]
NY
7 July 1838
Page 60

[doc is written & damaged; page 1 of multipage doc]

Lyons Feb 19th 1840
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send the declaration of Mrs
Ruth Sherman and evidences for the purpose of
obtaining a pension for her under the act of July
7th 1838 on account of the services of Gideon C.
Sherman her late husband as a soldier in the
war of the revolution. The evidences of the mar-
riage and the death of the husband I believe will
be perfectly satisfactory. The two witnesses Sherman
and Negus, although they swear positively to services
by G.C. Sherman amounting to two years under two
enlistments, do not furnish such proofs as could
be wished in relation to the precise time when
the services were performed. As both the witnesses
were pensioners and served in the same company
with G.C. Sherman on account of whose services
the present application is made I think it evidence
upon which their pensions were obtained will throw
some light upon the present case and perhaps be
more satisfactory than the testimony of any persons
living at this late day. I suppose those evidences are
on file in the pension office. The testimony of Capt.
Thomas who is spoken of by both the witnesses
I understand was furnished by the witness
Negus in support of his application for his pension
I understand that there were two officers in the service by
the name of Thomas the one Seth a capt. the other
Alexander a major. This will account for the
error of the witness in relation to the Christian
name of Capt. Thomas. Col Tappin spoken of
by the witness Negus and Tapham spoken of by
Sherman I presume are the same. I think the
evidences upon which Negus and Sherman obtained 
their pensions will show which is in error in re-
lation to the officers under whom the last
years service was performed. If the evidences
Page 61

[doc is written & damaged; page 2 of multipage doc]

in support of the claim of Mrs Sherman should
not be found sufficient upon examination you
will please inform me of the defects. Direct to
me at Lyons Wayne Co. N.Y.
Yours Respectfully
Wm Clark Jr
J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions