Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8,129, Henry Adams, Mass.
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
Mass. 

Adams, Henry 
Besly, Sarah 
Former Widow

NUMBER
W. 8. 129 
B.S. Wt.18 _ Hoo. Surg'n
Issued April 1. 1790.
No papers.

b. June 29,1758
res of Roxbury, Mass.
Page 2

Sarah Besly
Petition of
Sarah Besly
for a Pension

Jany 7 1839
Refd [Referred] to the Committee
on Rev y [Revolutionary] Pensions
Jan. 4. 1840
Refd [Referred]  (under rule) to Committee on
Rev Pensions

Dec 30, 1841
Refd [Referred] to Commee [Committee] Rev. Pensions

Feby [February] 9 1842-- Bill 165
Doctr [Doctor] Adams [illegible]
[illegible[ dated  [illegible] 1782
evidance [evidence] of service.
Report & oath
Mr Smith
Hon. A. C. Hand
F. Wood HR

[illgible] 130 Rev Pery
Page 3

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled
The petition of Sarah Besly formerly Sarah Adams respectfully represents that she was married to Henry Adams a surgeon in the Massachusetts Line Continental Army on the Eleventh day of November one thousand [eight crossed out] seven hundred and Eighty six
Your petitioner further represents that by an act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 she would be entitled to a pension were it not for the rules and regulations adopted by the President under the third Section
of said act depriving her of the benefits thereof in consequence of her subsequent marriage although she is a widow
and has been for the last seven years
Your petitioner therefore respectfully prays your Honorable body to grant her such relief in the premises as in their judgment they may deem meet
Dated Nov. 22d 1838
Sarah Besly
The word seven was interlined after the execution of the petition
Page 4

Omit
State of New York
City and County of New York ss. On this twenty first day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. Personally appeared
before me Philip Adams of the City of
Brooklyn and State aforesaid, who being
duly sworn according to law deposeth and
saith, that the paper hereunto annexed
purporting to be a leaf from the family
bible of Doctor Henry Adams deceased is the
family Record of the said Doctor Henry Adams,
and that the same was taken from such
Family Bible in the presence of Deponent, and
also that when so taken out it was in the
possession of Mrs Sarah Besley who is now
an applicant for a pension as the former
widow of the said Doctor Henry Adams, being
now the widow of William Besley deceased
Philip P Adams
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me
Sylvester Spencer
Notary Public


I certify that the above named Philip P. Adams is a credible witness, and I further certify that the paper hereunto annexed purporting to be a leaf from the family Bible of Doctor Henry Adams deceased was taken out of said Bible by me in the presence of Philip P Adams and Mrs Mary Weeks, and that erasures above made were done before execution
Sylvester Spencer
Notary Public
Page 5

THE
HOLY BIBLE
Containing the Old and New
TESTAMENTS
Newly translated out of the
ORIGINAL TONGUES:
And with the former
TRANSLATIONS
Diligently Compared [illegible]
By His Majesty's Special Command

Appointed to be Read in Churches.
EDINBURGH
Printed by the A,ESIGNS  of Alexander Kingaid, [illegible]
MDCCLXXXIV [1784]
Page 6

Henry son of Amos & Elizabeth Denning was born June 29 1758
Sarah - Daughter of Phillip & June 
Pelton was born Oct 28th 1768
Henry Adams & Sarah Pelton were joined together in marriage November 11th 1786
Charles Chaunsey, Son of Henry & Sarah Adams was born Sept [illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible] born April 16, [illegible]
Charles Chauncey Adams departed this life April 6 1814 aged 25 years 6 m. 6 days
Henry Adams son of Charles and Cordelia Adams was born Sept 12 1812 departed this life April 4 1814 aged 1 ys 6 m 4 d
Page 7

12
New York, N. Y City
Sarah Besley
widow of Henry Adams
died Dec 14 1857
who served in the Revolutionary
war as a Surgeon
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 600 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of June 18[illgible]8 and sent to Philip P Adams New York City
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848 Page 9 Vol. 4

Reported
Page 8

New York April 10. 1848
Sir
I herewith transmit application of my mother, Mrs Sarah Besley, for a certificate under Act 2d Feb 1848. Please send certificate to me directed Pacific Street above Hoyt, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
very respectfully
your obedient Servant
Philip P. Adams
JL Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC.
Philip P. Adams
Page 9

Admitted
Sent to
Philip P. Adams
Page 10

State of New York
Dutchess County ss: On this Sixth day of April
A.D. 1848, before me, Norris Baxter, a Justice
of the Peace for said County, duly authorized
by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Sarah Besley, a resident of the town of Fishkill in the County of Dutchess, 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 provision made by
the Act of Congress passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensins to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war; that
Omit

State of New York, County of Dutchess, SS.
I, Joseph T. Adriance, Clerk of the County of Dutchess, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Norris Baxter Esquire whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the attestation of the annexed
affidavit was on the day when the same purports to have been subscribed and sworn an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, in the Town of Fishkill duly Elected and sworn and duly authorized to take affidavits to be
read in Courts of Record
AND FURTHER, That I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice,
and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the Seventh day of April A. D. 1848
J. T. Adriance Clerk
Page 11

State of New York 
Dutchess County  ss
On this Sixth day of April A.D. 1848, before me, Norris Baxter, a Justice of the Peace for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Sarah Besley, a resident of the town of Fishkill in the County of Dutchess, 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 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 now the widow of William Besley, and was formerly the widow of Henry Adams, who was a surgeon in the War of the Revolution, and that She received a pension of Six Hundred dollars per annum under the act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the servicess of her first husband, the said Henry Adams. She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sarah Besly
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Norris Baxter
Justice of the Peace
of said County
I certify that the above named declarant is personally known to me, and that she is the same individual who drew a pension, as stated by her above -
Norris Baxter
Justice of the Peace
Page 12

Genealogical notes
made by
N. D. Adams
Aug 1883
1928 July 20 Photos to
E. D. Martindale, See
Wm. Adair W. 9691.9.[illegible].
\
Revolution
Massachusetts Line
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 8129

Sarah Besley
Farmerly Wid.
Henry Adams
Surgeon Rev. War
Act: Feby, 2d / 48
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 50
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

New York 672[illegible]
Sarah Besley, formerly the widow of Henry Adams
see other jacket
and who died on the [crossed out "4th April 1845"] Error of N. Yk in the State of N.Y.
of N. in the State of N.Y. who was a Surgeon in the ______ commanded by Captain _____ commanded by _____ 
the Massachusetts line for 2 years Increased from $480 per annum ┃
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 600 Dollars ____ Cents per annum, to  commence on the 4th March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th-
December 1843 and sent to Wm F.
New York (232, Canal Street 
Whole amount due $300.00
deduct what haz [has] been paid
[Act July 27,
Recorded by [illegible]
Book D Vol. 1 Page 149
Page 14

Refd by letter to agt: 6 Dec '43
Increase case, see within
Page 15

New York, 3365-
Sarah Besley, formerly the
widow of Henry Adams
who was a Surgeon
in the Massachusetts line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
600 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on
4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Dec. 1843 and sent to Wm F. Piatt, 232, Canal Street
New York
Act of March 3, 1843.
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1  Page 102
Page 16

Reported to Agent
Let to P Agt Aug 18 1842
Page 17

New York 6723
Sarah Besley, widow of William Besley, decd & previous thereto widow of Doctor Henry Adams
[CROSSED OUT:who was pensioner under the Act of] and who died on the [CROSSED OUT; 4th April 1815] this is a little child who died that day see family record.
of New York Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Surgeon in the _____ commanded
by Captain _____ of the      commanded by _____ in the Massachusetts line for

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 480 Dollars      Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of August 1842 and sent to Hon Fernand Wood, House of Representatives
Arrears to the 4th of March 1841 $2400-
[CROSSED OUT: Semiannual allowance ending]
[Act July 27, 1842]
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Act July 7, 1838.
Book A. Vol. 2 Page 70
Page 18

[illegible]
Besly Case
Page 19

Henry Adams [illegible] surgeon in [illegible] line
from 14th day of May 1781 in the day of May 1781 [illegible] dated 6 Nov 1782
[illegible] Congress
Applicant married to Dr Adams 11 Nov 1786
Service not proved except implied by postdating
count  with math [illegible] 1 y 5 m 25 d Service
Page 20

2914
Aug 21 43
[ROUND STAMP: NEW YORK AUG 19]
NY
Mar 3d 1843
Sarah Besley

James L Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington D C
Page 21

New York Augt 18th 1843.
Sir
I herewith inclose the application of Mrs
Sarah Besley for a pension, under the act of 3rd of March 1843, The wishes her certificate payable at the New York Agency. Mrs Besley has for the last forty years resided in Dutchess County, and her declaration was written some months since by me for that place, but it appears that she has left there and now resides with her son in the City of Brooklyn County of King, not being acquainted with any Magistrate in that county, she was under the
necessity of going to her former place of residence in order to obtain the certificate of her identity, not knowing when I drafted the declaration that it would be executed before a first Judge, I simply stated a "Justice of the peace". The judge instead of drafting a new declaration, has made some erasures and interliniations, which, I trust will not operate against its validity,
You will please forward her certificate to me,
No 232 Canal St, New york
With much respect I now am
yours [illegible]
J L. Edwards Esq
Wm F Piatt
Page 22

Sarah Besley
Issue certificate
for
2 yrs Surgeon
600 $
Deduct what has
been paid
act 7 July 38

Wm F Piatt 232
Canal Street
New York
Page 23

Bill 165
27th CONGRESS,
2d Session.
Rep. No. 119
Ho. OF REPS.

SARAH BESLY.
(To accompany bill H.R.No. 165.]

FEBRUARY 9, 1842.

Mr. WILLIAM SMITH, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to which was referred the petition of Mrs. Sarah Besly, have, according to order had the same
under consideration, and now submit the following report:
That it is in proof that the petitioner, then Sarah Pelton, intermarried with Henry Adams on the 11th day of November, 1786; that said Henry Adams served in the continental service, as surgeon's mate, from 1st January, 1777, to 14th May, 1781, and from that period to the conclusion of the war as surgeon; that Doctor Adams having departed this life, his wife, the said petitioner, intermarried with one William Besly, who also departed this life some eight or ten years ago; that, shortly after the passage
of the act of July, 1838, the said petitioner applied for the benefit thereof, but the Commissioner of Pensions rejected her application, because of her second marriage. Your committee, regarding this decision
as more technical than just, report a bill for her relief.
Page 24

H.R. 165.
27th CONGRESS,
2d Session.
SENATE.
261
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
APRIL 26, 1842.
Ordered to be printed. -- To accompany bill  H.R. 165.
Mr. BATES submitted the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill ( H. R. 165 ) for the relief of Sarah Besley, report:
The petitioner claims a pension under the act of 1838. She was married to Doctor Henry Adams, November 11, 1786. He was a surgeon in the continental army. Was commissioned by the Congress on the 6th of November, 1782, from the 14th of May, 1781. He died some time before 1827, when does not appear, and was, at the time of his death, a member of the
Cincinnati Society. There is no other evidence to indicate the duration of his service.
Afterward the petitioner intermarried with William Besley, who also died before the passage of the act of 1838, and she has remained a widow ever since. The committee are of opinion that the second marriage does not constitute a valid objection to her claim to a pension. Upon full consideration in the case of the House bill for the relief of Esther Parrott ( No. 142 ), to which reference is had as a part of this report, they have decided this point.
They therefore, recommend the passage of the bill, leaving to the War Department the graduation of the pension, according to the evidence which is now in the case, or which may hereafter be furnished of the duration of
of Doctor Adams' service.
Thomas Allen, print.
Page 25

[STAMPED SEAL:]
WASHINGTONCITY AUG 3

FREE
Honl Fernando Wood
M C
Auburn NY

[STAMPED SEAL:]
NEW [ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 2
Page 26

New York Aug 1st 1842
Honl [Honorable] Sir
By the Washington Intelligenancer of
Saturday, I leaarn, that on the 27th of July the bill in favor of Mrs Sarah Besley, was passed and became a law. Plan kind sir accept my thanks in her behalf, for your friendly and kind attentions to the same, at the same time permit me to request you to procure of the Commissioner of Pensions, her Pension certificate, and forward the same to me
Accept my best wishes for your
future welfare & Happiness
Wm F Piatt
234 Canal St N. Y.

Honl [Honorable} F Moore
Page 27

New York City Pension Agency
August 14,1842
Sir
Your letter of the 12th inst [present month] is received, directing me to inscribe on my role
name of Sarah Besley, formerly widow of Henry Adams, under the act of July 27, 1842.
As this is a new act, of the purport of
which I have not been apprised. I will be
obliged to you for a copy of it and if any
new forms or regulations have been prescribed
to carry it into effect, for for a copy of them also.
Very respectfully
Your obediant Servant
M. A.[illegible]
Pension Agt.
J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 28

8370
Sarah Besly, formerly widow
of Dr Henry Adams, Act
July 27, 1842 (Inscribe an
[illegible] act July 7. 1838) at
$480. Surgeon
Send cert to
Hon. Fernando Wood
House of Reps
Page 29

House of Reps
August 11 1842
Sir
Will you oblige me by complying with the requests of the writer of the enclosed
letter as far as furnishing me with the
Pension certificate is concerned.
Very Respectfully
Fernando Wood

Hon Com of Pensions
Page 30

Aug 12 1842
Sarah Besley
[illegible]
[FOLLOWING IS A ROUND STAMPED IMAGE:]
NEW YORK
AUG 11

James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.
Page 31

New York Augt 10th 1842
Sir
At the commencement of the present
Session of Congress, I placed in the hands of the Hon Fernando Wood of this City, documents supporting the claim of Sarah Besley to a pension under the act of
1838 - he laid the same before the House, and the result has been the passage of a bill in her behalf through both houses, and finally became a law and was approved on 27th July last, I have written to Mr Wood to procure her Pension Certificate, but having subsequently heard he was not in your City have concluded it was best to address you on the subject-
Mrs Sarah Besley was the wife of Dr
Henry Adams of the Continental Army, she
wishes her certificate made payable at the
New York Agency as she resides in this State,
you will please direct her certificate in an
enclosure to Doct Wm F Piatt 234 Canal
St. New York
J. L. Edwards
Very Respectfully yours
W. F. Piatt
Page 32

Sarah Besly
[illegible]
Will probably be provided
for under assessed
[illegible]
W. Smith 116
[illegible]
Page 33

War Department
Pension Office
Feb. 11. 1840
Sir,
In reply to the inquiry in your letter of the
7th inst. [present month] viz. [namely] whether Mrs Sarah Besly has made application
for a pension; and if so, whether her name has been inscribed on the roll, and if not, whether she is entitled to a pension upon the papers enclosed, I have the honor to state that it does not appear that Mrs Besly has applied at this office for a pension. The claims of those widows who have married since the death of the husband on account of whose service a pension is claimed, are not provided for by the act of July 7. 1838. Mrs Besly's papers are herewith returned
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Obet [Obedient] Servt. [Servant]
J L Edwards

Hon. A. C. Hand
House of Representatives
Page 34

New York Jany 20th 1840
Hon Sir
At the commencement of the last session of Congress in behalf of the Widow Sarah Besly I forwarded to your care the enclosed documents together with her petition, a leaf from the family record and two affidavits of
respectable persons duly executed before
Sylvester Spencer and by him fully
certified. At the close of that session the enclosed only you returned to me
preferring that they should remain in
my hands -
I take the liberty to again forward them to you with a request that you will have them referred to the appropriate committee, also that you will use your best exertions to have her petition granted.
Respectfully
your Ob [Obedient] Sent [Servant]
Wm F Piatt
422 Greenwich St

Hob E Curtis
N. C.
Page 35

Honl [Honorable] E Curtis
Washington D. C. 
[Illegible round date stamp]
Page 36

Sarah Besly
Pension Papers
[Illegible round date stamp]

Honl
Mr
Page 37

3914
Sarah Besley
600$
Wm F Piatt
New York
Page 38

STATE OF NEW-YORK,
County of Duchess
ss.
I, Robert Mitchell, Clerk of the County of Duchess, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Joseph J Jackson Esquire whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the attestation of the annexed affidavit and before whom the same was taken and subscribed was at the time of taking the
said affidavit first Judge of the County Courts
in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, duly commissioned and qualified and duly authorized to take affidavits &c

AND FURTHER, That I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said first Judge and
verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of attestation genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the 12th day of August A. D. 1843.
Robt Michell Clerk
Was your hundred and Eighty Dollars She further declares that she is still a widow. 
Sarah Besly

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written
Jos. J. Jackson First Judge for Dutchess County
I certify that the above declarant is personally
known to me
Jos I Jackson First Judge for
Dutchess County
Page 39

State of New York
County of Duchess
On this tenth
day of August Eighteen Hundred and Forty three personally appeared before the Subscriber, First Judge for the County of Duchess, Sarah Besly, resident of the City of Brooklin, County of Kings 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 on the third day of March 1843 granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War,
That she is the widow of William Besley and was formerly the widow of Doctor Henry Adams, who was a Surgeon in the fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Line, Army of the Revolution, and that the annual amount of the pension which she received under the act of July 7th 1838, by a special act of July 27th 1842, was four hundred and Eighty Dollars, She further declares that she is still a widow
Sarah Besley
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year
above written
Jos. J. Jackson First Judge for Dutchess
County
I certify that the above declarant is personally
known to me
Jos J Jackson First Judge for
Dutchess County
Page 40

Sarah Besley
Page 41

An act For the relief of Sarah Besly, widow of William Besly, deceased, and, previous thereto, widow of Doctor Henry Adams.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
Sarah Besly, widow of William Besly, and, previous thereto, of Doctor Henry Adams, a surgeon in the army of the Revolution be placed on the pension roll, and that she be allowed the benefit of the act of July seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, in the same manner, form, and extent, as if she had never married the second time, and had been the widow of said Doctor Henry Adams on the passage of said act.
approved July 27th 1842.
a true Copy from the Roll this Office
Dept. of State
Augt 10th 1842.
Fletcher Noble
[illegible] Clk
Page 42

Massachusetts Cincinnati
Boston May 21 1827
I hereby certify that by the Books of the Massachusetts State Society of Cincinnati
It appears that Henry Adams of Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts, deceased was a
member of said Society, at his death, and was a regimental Surgeon in the army of the revolution

In testimony thereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Society the day & year
aforesaid

Jno Callender Secretary
of Mass. Society Cincinnati
Page 43

[Seal on left side of paper with signature of Elias Boudinot]
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,
To Henry Adams Esquire
Greeting.
WE, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Prudence and Fidelity, do
by these Presents appoint you to be a Surgeon in the Massachusetts line from the fourteenth day of May 1781 You are therefore faithfully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Surgeon by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed a Committee of the States, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before
mentioned, or a Committee of the States,
WITNESS His Excellency Elias Boudinot Esquire, President of the Congress of the United States of America, at Philadelphia the Sixth Day of November 1782 and in the Seventh Year of our Independence.
By Order of Congress,
B Lincoln
Secretary at War.
Page 44

.FR 165
Sarah Besly
Page 45

Omit
State of New York
City and County of New York. ss.
On this twenty first day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight Personally appeared before me Mary Weeks wife of Benjamin Weeks of the said City who being by me duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that she is well acquainted with Sarah Besley who is now the widow of William Besley deceased. That the said Sarah Besley was previous to her marriage to the said William Besley the widow of Doctor Henry Adams in which character she is now an applicant for a pension That Deponent was well acquainted with the said Doctor Henry Adams as well as the said Sarah, and that she was present at the marriage of the said Doctor Henry Adams and the said Sarah, and know her the said Sarah to be the identical person who is now the applicant for a pension as aforesaid,
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first  above written before me
Sylvester Spencer
Notary Public
Mary Weeks
I certify that the above named Mary Weeks is
credible witness
Sylvester Spencer
Notary Public
Page 46

B.L. Reg. 191261 - 1855
Adams, Henry
Besley, Sarah
(former widow)

[FOLLOWING IN STAMPED BOX VERTICALLY ON RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
BOUNTY LAND FILES
ACT OF 1855 REJECTED 191261
VETERAN HENRY ADAMS
Rev War GRADE Surgeon
SERVICE
CAN NO. 1738   BUNDLE NO. 74
Page 47

191.261 Act March 5
July 19
Sarah Besley fmr wid.
Henry Adams, Surgeon
Reviy War
Paid Feb. 2. 1848.
[illegible] 48-12
Philip P. Adams
319 Pacific St.
Brooklyn  NY
[Illegible] PP Adams June 28
Page 48

191.261
Phillip P. Adams
319 Pacific 8th Brooklyn
County of Kings
State of New York
Page 49

State of New York
County of Dutchess
On this 11 day of July A.D. One thousand
Eight hundred and fifty five personally
appeared before me a Justice of peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Sarah
Besley aged 85 years a resident of the town of
Fishkill in the County of Dutchess and State of
New York who being duly sworn according to
law declares that she is now the widow of
William Besley deceased and formerly the widow of Henry Adams who was a Surgeon in the revolutionary War for which Services she now receives a pension as the following Copy of her certificate shows
War Department
Widows Pension
I certify that in conformity with the act of February 2nd 1848. Sarah Besley widow of Henry Adams who was a Surgeon in the revolutionary war is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Six hundred dollars 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 ninth day of June One thousand Eight hundred and forty eight
W L Marcy
Secretary of War
Examined and countersigned
J S Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
By F. S. Evans. 77
she further declares that the [illegible] to establish her right to the above pension has been furnished
Page 50

the commissioner of Pensions, and is now with the department
She makes this declaration for the pupose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855.
Sarah Besley
We William Seward and Mary L Seward residents of the town of Fishkill in the County of Dutchess and State of New York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Sarah Besley 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
William Seward
Mary L Seward
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the
STATE OF NEW YORK,
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS, ss.
I, GEORGE H TOMPKINS, Clerk of the County of Dutchess, and of the Courts of the said
County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, THAT William J. Heylcoonlay whose name is subscribed to the annexed Jurat or Certificate, and thereon written, was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, duly elected and sworn, and authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted
with the handwriting of the said Justice, and verily believe that the signature to the said Jurat or Certificate is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County and Courts, this 11th day of July A. D. 1855
Geo H Tompkins Clerk
Page 51

the commissioner of Pensions, and is now with the department
She makes this declaration for the purpose of
obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3 1855
Sarah Besley
We William Seward and Mary L Seward residents of the town of Fishkill in the County of Dutchess and State of New York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Sarah Besley 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
William Seward
Mary L Seward
The foregoing declaration and affidavit 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
William Seward
William J [illegible} Justice of the peace of and for the County of Dutchess