Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 26148, for Joseph Jabez Pearsons, Connecticut
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SERVICE  Conn.
Pearsons, Joseph Jabez 
or Parsons
Hannah
NUMBER  R. 26148
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Copies of papers enclosed to Geo E. Hand U.S. Dist Atty Detroit July 28th 1855 
Dodge
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(Copy) 1 
State of Michigan 
County of Monroe } ss  Hannah Parsons, being duly sworn deposes and says that she is the widow of Joseph Jabez Parsons the identical person who served as a Lieutenant in the Connecticut militia, commanded by Colonel Butler, in the Revolutionary War, and afterwards in the same capacity in the Regiment of militia of said State, commanded by Colonel Well, in the Revolutionary War. She further says that in doing business, her said husband wrote his name Joseph J Parsons; that she did not know what the "J" stood for, and that he was usually called Joseph while at home, and that if his name appears upon the Rolls as Jabez, she thinks that was his middle name. Deponent further says that she was married to the said Joseph J. Parsons in the town of Broadalbin, in the County of Montgomery and State of New York on the seventh day of October, A.D. Seventeen hundred and ninety-two, by Henry Joshlin, a minister of the Gospel; that there is no public record of said marriage, according to this Deponents knowledge or belief, but there is a private record of said marriage in the Family Bible of this deponent, and which is the only record thereof in existence, as this deponent believes. said record in said Bible is in the words and figures following, to wit: Joseph J. Parsons and Hannah Newman was married October 7th 1792”
That Deponent and said Joseph J Parsons lived together as husband and wife from the date of their marriage until his death, which occurred on the fifteenth day of April A.D. 1820 
Hannah Parsons her mark 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Six day of July, A.D. 1855. 
(Signed ) Henry D. Spalding 
Justice of the Peace, Monroe Co Michigan
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State of Michigan 
County of Monroe } ss I James E. Skinner, Clerk of said County and clerk of the Circuit Court of said County of Monroe, a Court of General Common Law Jurisdiction, do hereby certify that Henry D. Spalding, whose name is officially subscribed to the annexed instrument in his own proper handwriting, was on the date thereof, and now is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected and sworn, and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, being my official seal, at the City of Monroe, this seventh day of July, A.D. 1855 
(Signed) J. E. Skinner, Clerk
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State of Michigan 
County of Monroe } ss Asa C. Lefford and John D. Williams, of the town of Summerfield, County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn on their oaths, say that they have examined the marriage record of Joseph J. Parsons to Hannah Newman, as the same appears recorded in the Family Bible of said Hannah Parsons, and that the copy of said marriage record, as set forth in the above affidavit of Hannah Parsons has been compared with the original family record, and is a true copy thereof 
Signed Asa C. Lefford 
John D. Williams 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this six day of July A.D. 1855. with And I do certify that I am well acquainted said A. C. Lefford and John D. Williams, who have subscribed the above affidavit in my presence, and have been by me sworn, and know that they are respectable and credible witnesses; and I further certify that I have no interest in this claim of Hannah Parsons, nor am I concerned in its prosecution 
Henry D. Spalding Justice of the Peace, Monroe County Michigan
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State of Michigan 
County of Monroe, } ss I James E. Skinner Clerk of said County and clerk of the Circuit Court of said County of Monroe, a Court of General Common Law jurisdiction, do hereby certify that Henry D. Spalding whose name is officially subscribed to the annexed instrument in his own proper handwriting, was, on the date thereof, and now is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly elected and sworn, and that full faith and credit 1 are due to his official acts. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, being my official seal at the City of Monroe this Seventh day of July A.D. 1855. 
(Signed)    J. E. Skinner, Clerk 
[Seal] 
July 28th 1855 Copies of papers enclosed to Geo E. Hand U. S. Dist Atty Detroit
July 28th 1855
Dodge
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13185 
Hannah Pearson widow of Joseph 
NY 
Act 7 July 1838 
Joseph Parson wid on Rule Commissioner 
[unreadable] in Jabez Parsons see Roll 2 Connecticut Regiment
Hon Wm. Grover
HR
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State of New York 
Livingston County } ss On this fifth day of March 1846 personally appeared before the undersigned a Judge of County Court in and for said County Hannah Pearsons a resident of the Town of Canadier in the County of Ontario and State aforesaid aged seventy nine years who 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 July 7 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and of the acts and Resolutions of Congress in addition and supplementary to above mentioned act.   
That she is the widow of Joseph Pearsons who was a Sergeant and Quartermaster in the Army of the Revolution - That her husband was born in the State of Connecticut at she understood at the time of her first acquaintance with him which was about fifty nine years since (1787) that she is seventy nine years of age and was married to the said Joseph Pearsons in the year 1788 who was seven years older than herself she being at the time of her marriage to the said Joseph of the age of 21 years and he of the age of twenty Eight years (28) that they then resided in the town of Broadalbin in the County of Montgomery in the State of New York which was on the 23 day of January 1788 aforesaid - That her husband the said Joseph Pearsons died the 17 day of April 1821 in the Town of Milo in the County of Yates & said State of New York. That she has never intermarried with any other person but still continues to be the widow of the said Joseph Pearsons. The said Hannah further states on her oath aforesaid that she and
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the said Joseph Pearsons were married at the time and place aforesaid by the Revd Henry Joselyn of the Baptist denomination that John McCormick and Nancy his wife and the widow Newman were present at the time of the marriage aforesaid and the only persons who attended the wedding who are all dead and have been for a number of years. That she has no family record or any other record of their marriage and she knows of no record thereof. The Rev Gentleman who man did them was their and elderly gentleman and has been long since dead and she dent understand that he kept any record of Marriage. And the said Hannah upon in oath aforesaid says that she has no personal knowledge of the time the said Joseph entered the service of the United States or how long he served but has often heard him converse a about it, and that he enlisted for three years in the Connecticut State Troops that he in the first place enlisted as a private and directly after was promoted to the office of Corporal and then to the office of Sergeant in which he served until the end of the second year and there be received the appointment of Quarter Master in which office he served until the end of the time for which he enlisted which was three years. She frequently heard him speak of his revolutionary papers which she frequently saw among other papers but what papers they were she dont know and never examined them and they with other papers were consumed by fire where they resided in Galloway in the County of Saratoga in the State of New York which was upwards of forty since the precise
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time she can recollect at which time the house in which they resided was consumed with by fire and all its contents the said Revolutionary papers among the rest.  She recollects of hearing the said Joseph name a man by the name of Webb as an officer under whom he served also a man by the name of Kenney but dues not collect the title or grade of the officers which either of them held or bore.  She recollects of him the said Joseph say that he was in a skirmish near Horseneck was marched to Sing Sing and to Peekskill and along the North River in the State of New York but whether stationed at any of the said places she dont recollect of hearing him say.  She has frequent hand him the places where he served and of his marches and where he was stationed and the particular duty which he performed from time to time but she cant recollect so as to relate only having an indistinct recollection of what she heard him relate not taking any particular interest in the relation at the time and being a long time since she has heard it he having died about 25 years since.  She further declares that she resided upwards of twenty miles from the place of the holding of any Court of record and at her advanced age is unable to appear in open Court to make this her declaration and further saith not.
Hannah Pearsons her mark 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year first his above written  
Leman Gibbs a Judge of Livingston County Courts
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State of New York 
Livingston County } ss 
I hereby certify that the said Hannah Pearsons who makes the above declaration is reputed to be a person of truth and veracity and of unimpeachable integrity and I have no hesitancy in saying that the facts set forth in her said declaration are entitled to full credit and that she is unable to attend Court to make her declaration. Given under my hand this 5th day of March 1846 
Leman Gibbs  a Judge of Livingston County Courts 
State of New York 
Livingston County Clerks office}  ss I hereby certify that Hon Leman Gibbs before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken and acknowledged, was on the day the same bears date a Judge of Livingston County Courts duly appointed and Commissioned and authorized to take the same and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and verily believe his signature to be to the said  affidavit and certificate to be genuine- 
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County at Genesee his 27 July 1846  
Wm Whiting Clerk of said County
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State of New York 
Yates County ss }  Timothy Van Scoy being duly sworn says that he resides in the town of Milo  in said County and his age is Seventy five Years. that he was married fifty years ago.   That Hannah Pearsons of Canadia in Ontario County is a Sister of deponent, and about two years older than deponent. That deponent was acquainted with Joseph Pearsons late of Milo decease That said Hannah was married some years before deponent the precise time deponent cannot State. That said Joseph Pearson and said Hannah resided together as man & wife a large number of years (the precise number deponent cannot now recollect). That the time of the marriage of said Joseph & Said Hannah deponent resided in Westchester County in said State, and said Hannah and Said Joseph resided some two hundred miles distant from deponent in Broadalbin in Montgomery County in said State, and that deponent visited them at Broadalbin aforesaid, and they lived together as man and wife, and further this deponent says not.
Timothy Van Scoy  
 Subscribed and Sworn this 6th day of December 1845 before me  Thos H Locke Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
State of New York 
Yates County } ss  
I hereby certify that the said Timothy van Scoy who makes the above affidavit is reputed to be a person whose
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character for truth and veracity is impeachable and whose integrity is unquestioned and I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe the facts set forth in his said affidavit are entitled to credit. Given under my hand at Penn Yan  Yates County this  6 day of July AD. 1846 
Thos H. Locke
State of New York. 
Yates County ss } I George R Young  Deputy Clerk of the said County of Yates hereby certify that Thomas H Locke Esqr. whose name is subscribed to the seal of the within affidavit of Timothy Van Scoy and also to the above certificate was on the days of the date thereof Justice of the Peace or magistrate in and for said County and duly anthorised to act as such and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and know the signatures aforesaid to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and the seal of said County this 6 day of July 1846 
Geo R. Young Cty Clk
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State of New York 
Ontario County ss } On the thirteenth day of June 1846 personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County John Hinckley a resident of the Town of Naples County and State aforesaid aged Eighty three years who being duly sworn according to Law did on his oath make the following declaration 
Viz. That he the said Hinkley formerly resided in the Town of Willington Hartford County State of Connecticut in which Town he in the month of May or June 1777 enlisted as a Drummer in a Regiment commanded by Col Samuel Webb & Lieutenant  Colonel Isaac Sherman in a company under the command of Capt. Ichabod Hinckley.  That he was stationed at Peekskill a portion of the Summer of 1777- at which place he was well acquainted with Joseph Parsons, who was at that time a Sargeant in a Company (in said Regiment) commanded by Capt Granger that the said Joseph Parsons stated to this deponent that he formerly resided in Infield Connecticut & that he enlisted into the United States Army for the term of three years.  That the said Joseph Parsons and this deponent remained in said Regiment untill the fall of 1778 during which he the said regiment left Peekskill & went up the North river to Poughkeepsie, returned & crossed the North river passed through New Jersey. Crossed the Delaware river at Carrell ferry & wintered at Valley Forge.  That the said Joseph Parsons was promoted to the office of Quarter Master in said Regiment in the year 1778 - that he the said Joseph and this deponent left Valley Forge
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together with the Army in the Spring of 1778 were together in the battle between the American & British Army at Monmouth after which they returned to White Plains where they separated, when he this deponent went with his company to Danbury Connecticut to winter quarters.   And that he never knew the said Joseph Parsons after their separation at White Plains.  And further this deponent Saith not.   
John Hinckley
Sworn & Subscribed  this 13th day of June 1846 before me 
Nelson W. Clark Justice of the Peace 
State of New York 
Ontario County ss}  I hereby certify that the said John Hinckly who made the above Declaration is reputed to be a person of truth and veracity & of unimpeachable integrity and I have no hesitancy in saying that the facts set forth in said declaration are entitled to full credit.   Dated at Naples this 13th day of June 1846  
Nelson W. Clark
State of New York
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Ontario County Clerks Office Canandaigua B. July 1846   I hereby certify that Nelson W Clark Esquire whose name is subscribed to the two foregoing certificates was at the time of taking the preceding affidavit a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Elected Sworn and authorized to act as such And further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signatures to said certificates are genuine.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said County at Canandaigua this 3d day of July 1846 
Reuben Murray Jr Deputy Clerk
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State of Connecticut 
Comptroller Office 
Hartford, June 19th 1855. 
[Seal]  
I certify, that on application for evidence of the service of Jabez Parsons, in the War of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this Office, and find the name of Jabez Parsons on a Pay Roll under the following heading viz “Settlement with the 2d Connecticut Regiment, Zebulon Butler Esqr. Colonel before January 1st 1780” where the said Jabez Parsons is credited with service as a lieutenant, from Sept 1st 1777, to June 1st 17789 was; and also as Lieut. & Quartermaster from June 1st 1778 to January 1st 1780 - 1 year 7 months.   
In another settlement with Col. Butler's regiment "for the year 1780,”  I also find the name of Jabez Parsons who is there credited with service as a Quartermaster from Jany 1st to Sept 1st 1780 - 8 months; & also as a Lieutenant from Jany 1st 1780, to Jany 1st 1781 - 1 year.   
I find also on the Pay Roll of the 3d Connecticut Regiment, under the organization of the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army, commanded by Col. Samuel B. Webb, "for the year 1781, the name of Jabez Parsons, in Capt. David Parsons company, where he is credited with service as a Lieutenant from Jany 1st 1781, to May 4th 1781 - 4 mo. 4 days.    
From documents on file in this Office, it appears that the aforesaid Jabez Parsons belonged to the town of Enfield, in Connecticut. I further certify that I find no other Jabez Parsons on the Pay Roll of the Connecticut Line, except the one whose service is certified in this document. 
Signed Alex Merrill Comptroller 
By G. W. Robinson, Clerk.
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Know all men by these presents, that I Hannah Parsons of Monroe County, Michigan, have made, constituted , and appointed, and by these presents, do make constitute and appoint Thomas H. Hartwell of Detroit, Michigan, my attorney to procure for me the pension to which I may be entitled as widow of Joseph Jabez Parsons, decd, a Lieutenant in the Revy War hereby revoking all power of attorney heretofore given by me, appointing any other person than said Hartwell as my attorney in matter aforesaid. 
Witness my hand and seal this 6th day of July AD 1855 
(Signed) Hannah Parsons her mark [seal] 
In presence of 
A.C. Lefford 
Jas. M. West
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Mch 8, 1851 
Clement W. Bennett Present 
Sir In reply to your inquiry relative to the claim of Hannah Pearsons widow of Joseph for the benefit of the act of July 7, 1838. you are informed that it has not been admitted for the reason that the alleged service of the said Joseph is discredited by the rolls of the Connecticut line in this Office, no such name being upon them. There was a Jabez Parsons attached to that line whose 1 service corresponded with that alleged to have been performed by claimants husband, and who was evidently, the soldier alluded to in John Hinckley's affidavit of the claim is further prosecuted, the alleged service in Col. Webb's regiment of the Connecticut State Troops must be sustained by the official Records of that State Record evidence that the marriage of the parties took place prior to January 1794, must also be produced; the testimony filed being unsatisfactory
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13185   Pearsons 
Hannah Parsons
 N Y 
Let to Hon M Grover Jany 12 ‘47
To Leman Gibbs March 26. 1847 
Let to C. W. Bennett March 8 / 51
Thos H. Hartnell May 21 1855
To Same June 21 / 1857
Same July 28 1855  NY
Act 7 July 1838
5.50
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Martha Parsons widow of Joseph ‘38 Parsons Suspended 
Jabez Parsons “      “     “  ’32 admt “admitted } N. York
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3 -- 595. 
O. W. AND N. DIVISION. 
Department of Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Nov. 8 1906  
Searched by  AW 
Original No. 
Certificate No. 
Claimant, Hannah widow of Soldier, Joseph J. Parsons or Joseph Pearsons 
Remarks Not identical with claim of Jabez Parsons, S. File 3644 
Not identical with claim of Hannah widow of Joseph Pearsons, W. File 21948 
Chief of Division.
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Jabez Parson S. File 3644- died Dec. 24, 1836, leaving a widow named Sally who died 1843; the last issue of his certificate was in Sept 13,1845 when his pension was increased and paid to heirs.
There is in the above claim a report from the Comp. of Conn. which corresponds with the one in this claim and which was obtained by the Widow Hannah to supposedly show the service of her husband Joseph Jabez Parsons 
A. Wilson Nov. 8. 1900
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( 3 - 224. ) 
No. 26148 
Ex'r.  
OLD WAR WIDOW. 
Hannah Parsons or Pearsons 
Wid of Joseph J. Parsons or Pearsons, 
Revolutionary War.
No other claim
Nov. 8, 1906, Simmons, Clerk
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Summerfield Aug 4th 1833 
[unreadable]
T.  H. Hartwell Esqr 
Dear Sir  Recieved a letter from you stating that you wanted me to send you the family Bible.   I have sent it to you by Express.  
The old lady said that the Person who Registerd the same is dead.   I send it to you as the Old lady brought it with her last fall to my place.  
Yours Truly 
A. C. Lefford
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Gorham Augt 31/55 
J. Minot Esqr 
Sir  yours of Augt 22th came to hand some days ago  but I have been unable to make the necessary Enquiries untill this time. 
The Lady you speak of Serita Pond lives in Penn Yan Yate Co. N.Y at present and I am informed she intends to go west in a short time, how soon I am unable to say, you probably can reach her  at Penn Yan by attending to it immediately. 
Respectfully Yours 
G. B. Cook P.M.
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Pension Agency at Detroit August 1st 1855 
Sir
Judge Hand the U.S. District Atty for Michigan advised with me to day in relation to the fraud which you think is attempted in endeavouring to obtain a pension for Mrs Parsons, by Thomas H. Hartwell her attorney. 
Mr Hartwell occasionally during the last few months has come to me for information in prosecuting that claim, and I was therefore in a position to learn easily all that he knew about it. The facts are these.    
In March last he sent posters to the different Post offices in this State announcing that he was prosecuting claims for Pensions, Bounty lands &c 
In April M Hartwell received from A. C. Lefford of Summerfield Monroe Co. Michigan letter No 1 giving him information about this pension claim, and all he knows about the claim is from the correspondence with Lefford and your office and the State offices of Connecticut.  Enclosed are 4 letters he has from Lefford, which he thinks are all he has rec’d except that in one was a pencil memorandum of the marriage Record as it appeared in the Bible and this memorandum he destroyed thinking it could be no service after copying it into an affidavit.  Hartwell is a young
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man with but little business experience and has not kept a copy of his own letters in his correspondence relative to Mrs Parsons. 
On the receipt of your letter requiring the original family Record two days since Mr Hartwell wrote to Lefford requesting him to forward it by Express. Summerfield is an inland town about 60 miles from here and he has not yet received a reply. 
So far as in Hartwell is concerned I am satisfied that he has acted in perfect good faith in the whole matter, and that he believes the claim is a good one.   
I have known Hartwell from a Boy 10 or 12 years old, and boarded with his mother for several years, and his training up his habits, his present and post character. everything repel the suspicion that he would commit the act of which you suspect him. 
He afforded me material aid in detecting William Martin who was convicted on three indictments at the last time term of the U.S. Circuit Court in Detroit for forging Pension papers & obtaining money thereon, and with that example fresh before him he would scarcely be guilty of a similar offence. 
If the family Record is sent him. he will submit it to the examination of the District atty
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and forward it by Express to your office, and will afford every facility in his power for the most thorough examination of this whole matter. 
I have enclosed these letters for your examination at the request of Mr Hartwell who feels that your suspicion of his criminality in this matter, is not only exceedingly unpleasant, but also, must prejudice every action of the Pension Office.   
He wishes these letters returned after you have examined them.   
The papers of Rhoda Pratt widow of Stephen Pratt decd Pensioner under act June 7, 1832 for the arrears of pension due from date of last payment to day of his death have been presented for payment, but in conversation with Mr Hartwell I learned that you had requested him to forward the Record Evidence of their marriage and supposing there may exist some doubt as to her being the proper person to receive these arrears.   I have declined to pay the same for the present. 
Your Obt Sert to the Commission of Pensions Washington, D.C. 
Elisha Taylor Pension Agent
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West Dresden, New York August 2. 1855. 
L.P. Waldo Com of Pensions Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ult, with instructions relative to Mrs. Hannah Pearsons widow of Joseph Parsons, decd, an applicant for a pension under act of July 7th 1838. 
In reply I would state that I immediately proceeded to her former residence near Branchfort in this County and found that her Brother Timothy Van Scoy died about 18 months since, and that she then went to reside with her grandson Van R. Van Scoy, whose residence is near Penn Yan in this (Yates) County. Being personally acquainted with Mr. V.S. I had no difficulty in ascertaining that in September of last year Mrs. Parsons left his residence with her grandson Asa Leopard [Lefford] for the purpose of making her permanent residence with him. Mr. Leopards P. O. Address, is Summerfield, Monroe Co. Michigan.  Mr. Van Scoy received a letter from Mrs. P., dated as he said about one month since, the letter had been destroyed.  My knowledge of Mrs. P., and her relatives here, satisfied me that she was living a month since, and that she is the same person referred to in your letter. she has no children living. 
I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt  
C. W. Bennett
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District August 1, 1855 
Sir
Enclosed is the letter I this day recd from A. C. Lefford and have also this day received by Express the family bible, and send the said bible by Express directed to you. 
The name in said Family record is written “Pearson”, and the marriage record is evidently not so old as many of the other records in said family record.   I have written for the affidavit of Mrs Parsons to show when said marriage was recorded in this book and by whom it was done and his residence also to explain why she has dropped the "e" in her name which affidavit I will forward to you as soon as received.   
Very Respectfully your obt svt  
Tho H Hartwell 
Hon J. Minot
Comm Pensions Washington DC
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(Copy) 
Detroit, May 15th 1855.
Hon. L.P. Waldo 
Sir I am informed that Judge Gibb of Livonia, State of New York, made out the papers in case of Mrs. Hannah Parsons, widow of Joseph Parson decd and they were forwarded to Washington by one C. Bennett. 
This application was made for a pension by said Hannah, widow of Joseph Parson, decd a Revy soldier, some nine years since. Let me know the grounds for its suspension, and oblige. 
Your Obdt Servt 
(Signed ) Tho. H. Hartwell
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(Copy) 
Detroit July 9 1855. 
Hon. L. P. Waldo 
Sir 
Enclosed please find the additional evidence required by letter from the Office dated March 8th 1851. 
If certificate is awarded, please forward same to my address at your earliest convenience, and oblige, 
Very respectfully Your Obt Servt 
(signed) Thos H. Hartwell
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(Copy) 
In matter of application of  Hannah Parsons for Revy Pension, 
Detroit, June 12th 1855. 
Hon L. P. Waldo 
Sir, 
In case record evidence cannot be obtained of the marriage of Hannah Parsons to Jabez Parsons, a Revy soldier, will not the affidavits of witnesses who knew that they lived and cohabited together as husband and wife for a period long enough to establish the fact of their having been lawfully married (as in other cases) be received as satisfactory?  
It may be impossible to obtain record evidence, a period of sixty five years, having elapsed since the marriage 
(Signed) Yours Respectfully, Tho. H. Hartwell
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A.C. Lefford 
Joseph Parsons 
Recd & [unreadable]  Apl 6 / 55
No 1
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Summerfield Monroe Co Michigan 
April 1st [unreadable]  
There is one Hanah Parson widow of Joseph Parson a Revolution Soldier he inlisted in the State of Connecticut and got his discharge and it birnt in his house.  The said widow of his maid Application, for her Pension befor one Judge Gibs of Livonia State of N.Y. and it was sent to Washington and the said widow gave one C Benitt the power of Colecting the Pension for her and the said Benitt, Neaver would give her any satisfaction whether he had get it for her or not.   She maid Oath to the Service of her Husband and had Evidence to his services now Sir if you will look in to the case and if you can get it for her that be Be liberaly Rewarded for the same. She is living with me and it is a very old lady it is some Nine years since she made Application for it.  I went East for her last fall i am her Grand Son.  
Pleas give me information as to the matter as soon as convicant [convenient] 
Yours truly A.E. Lefford Esqr
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A. C. Lefford-
Ans June 12 1855
No. 2
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Summerfield June 2, 1835 – 
Mr. T. H. Hartwell
Sir yours of the 25th Duly Recd this morning, I being Absent him home when it came to hand As to the questions you want  Answered 
1st the old lady said that his name was Joseph Parsons not Jabez. 
2st as to her Marriage the said that she was twenty one years old when she was married to Joseph Parsons and is now Eighty Six years old last January 14th 
3rd as to her record of Marriage She said that She Dont Recollect whether it was Recorded or not. She prooved her Marriage by one Timothy Van Scoy in that Bill that Judge Gibbs maid out for her in the of Livonia St of N.Y.  and proved his Enlistment by one John Hinckley and then implored one them [unreadable] to act for her with the power of attorney and he told that there was now trouble in giting for her for she Present it so perfectly in the bill she gives him he went to Washington
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the old lady has bin Rangfuly deseived [wrongfully deceived} for sinsearly believed that P. Benitt get her money and has taken the same [unreadable] that to her that his name must be Jabez insted of Joseph it was proven to be Joseph Parsons and she have bin told by bisness men that the said Benitt must of got her money.  The old lady is very old and if you can obtain her the money you shall have a libural reward for your Servises of five hundred will pay you.  
Right to me the perticulars. The old Lady is living with me
Respectfully yours 
A.C. Lefford
A. C. Lefford
Ans June 12 1855
No. 2
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A C Lefford
Rec’d & ans June 21st 1855
No 3
A C Lefford
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Summerfield Stone 15. 1855 
Mr. Tho Hartwell  Esqr 
Dear Sir yours of the 13 came to hand last evening your requesting me to ascertain as to his name, the old lady is some twelve miles from here [unreadable] my sisters,  the old lady told me that he youst to be Called Jabez but she supposed that it was a Nick name she says that he in doing bisness that his name Joseph J. Parsons, she said that she did not no what that J stood for,  She always Cald him Joseph, She said that it may be posable that it was put down as Jabez, She   told me that the men that she could prove the Enlistment by [unreadable] as to there living & cohabited together she an proove the Same as to the place of the Marage they was marade [married] in the town of Broadalban County of Montgomery State of N.Y., have a bible Record of his Death and his marage, he died in Eighteen hundred and twenty, I will see old lady and get the particulars of the matter
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Right to me and let me now if there is any prospects of Eny thing the old lady is very old and considerable care for me if there is probibility of geting any thing do the best and you shall share with me in the matter. 
I will see the old lad lady to morow Right you the same Yours Truly 
A. C. Lefford
A. C. Lefford
Rec’d & ansd June 21st 1835
No 3
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A. C. Lefford
Recd July 1st / 55
No 4
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Summerfield July 25th 1855 
Mr. T. H. Hartwell Esqr 
I received litter from you from you stating that you had sent me Same papers to Execute those papers was delaid some where on the Road i was at the office when they arived and I had them examined and took them to Monroe and maid them there is I neglected to right the case of there not soon being sent sooner to you excuse me for not doing the matter in More haste  
pleas Right to me how you get along in the Matter  
Yours Truly  
A.C. Lefford  
PS I expect that there is some of the Other Grand Children that will be tring to find out how the matter Stands, I dont want you to pay any attention in these eighting to you for have to take care of the old lady at my one [own] Expence they wont by to doing thing for her 
Yours Truly A.C.L.
Page 45

Hannah Parson
Power of Attorney
T. H. Hartwell
Detroit
Page 46

State of Michigan 
County of Monroe} Summerfield Monroe Co. April 28 1855 
Know all men by these presents that I Hannah Parson widow of Joseph Parson deceased do hereby appoint Thomas H. Hartwell of Detroit Michigan my Attorney to proceed for me the Pension to which may be entitled as widow of said Joseph Parson decd - on account of services rendered in the Revolutionary War said Parsons.
Hannah Parsons her mark
Signed, Sealed & delivered  in presence of
Samuel D. St. Clair 
Alexander Starks 
I certify the Mark to be Signature In [unreadable] of the above Witness 
A. C. Lefford