Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19285, Alexander Douglass, Continental Mass. N.H.
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Service
Continental           Douglass, Alexander  S. 19285
Mass.
N.H.                           carded
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Sec Lit. Wm. Bridges, June 15. '36
______________________________________
"      "     Pen. Agent, Burlington,
                            Sept. 5, 1837
D. Aug. 17, 1837
Agency Book 

[Center of paper, unfolded]
Vermont  30,196
_______________________________
Alexander Douglass
of Franklin Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Priv.Vmatross in the company commanded by Captain Coffin of the Regt. commanded by [blank] in the Massachusetts line for 1. month Pr. of Inf.       3.33 1.3
             6 " 25 days Matross    28.66
                                               ______________
                                               $31.79
Mass + Continental + N.H.
______________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermot
at the rate of 31 Dollars 79 Cents per annum,  to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Reduced from $57.80.
________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of May 1836 and sent to Wm. Bridges 
St. Albans

Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-an. allowance ending

{Revolutionary Claim, }
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown   Clerk,
Book E -2-Vol. 3  Page 63
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Vermont
Franklin County SS
On the 22d day of April 1833 personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for the district of Georgia, now sitting Alexander Douglass a resident of Shefford in the province of Lower Canada, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
     That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served herein after stated.
     On the 2nd day of April 1775, he enlisted as a minute man under Capt Coffrin of Jaffrey N.H. and on the 22d of the same month, he marched under the command of said Capt to Cambridge Mss and remained with said company of Militia about one month, when he enlisted as a private into a company of Artillery commanded by Capt Callender + Lieut Perkins for eight months in Col Gridleys Regt, was stationed at Cambridge Mss near the college, until the 16th day of June when said company was ordered to Prospect Hill in or near Charlestown, and just before daylight on the morning of the 17th said company was ordered by Col John Starks to march to Bunker Hill where it was employed in completing the entrenchments. That he remained with said company til about the middle of the action when he received a wound in his left arm from a musket ball, which entered the arm just above the wrist, and was taken out at the elbow joint, which so disabled the applicant that he was obliged to leave the
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field of action. The day following he was sent to the Hospital, at a place called Little Cambridge and put under the care of Doctors Foster + Warren where he remained unfit for duty until the last of July, when he returned to his company then station at Cambridge on Barrels Hill on Cambridge Bay. Said company having been, on the arrival of Gen Washington reorganized, and was then under the command of Lieut Perkins  (Capt Callender being absent). Said company remained on the Hill of sd [said Hill] until about the first of August, and was then moved to Dorchester Bay where it was stationed until December, when P company returned to Roxbury and put up for Winter quarters where the applicant was discharged, about the last of Jan'y or first of Feb'y 1776, having served eight months in the company of Artillery and one month in the company of Militia under Capt Coffrin.  The applicant further states that for all the before mentioned service he received only about $13.00. That during the whole campaign he furn'd his own gun and blanket, and left home with four days provisions.
     Again (he believes) in the month of March 1776, he enlisted as a private for nine months under Capt Dana of Worcester; (does not recollect the name of the Col) in G Knox or Heath's Brig. He was attached to the Artillery and marched from Cambridge under the command of said Capt Dana  to Providence, and from thence to New London in Ct and from thence by water to to the City of New York, where he stayed ten or twelve days and from thence to Fort Montgomery on the West Side of the Hudson River. Remained at the fort aforesaid a short time, and then return back to N York, and from thence to Paulus Hook + from thence
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to Bergens Point on Newark Bay. (believes he was then attached to Col Durkeys Regt.) where they stayed a short time, had a skirmish with the enemy and soon after returned to Paulus Hook + as aforesaid the River and marched to White Plains, and from thence to North Castle in the State of N. York, where they joined the main army under Gen Washington. From North Castle to Terrytown where he quartered until December and was then dismissed and returned to Worcester where he recd his pay.
Interrogatories
I was born in Scotland, on the 5th day of April 1758.
I have no record of my age.
I was a resident of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, when I entered the service in which place I lived until the year 1786 when I removed from thence to South Hero Grand Isle County Vermont, and from thence to Shefford L.C. my present place of residence. I was called into service as stated in my declaration. In my first campaign I became acquainted with the following named officers who I can now recollect. viz Capts Clark + Jeremiah Stiles Lieuts Holmes + Griggs. Col's John Jarks and Sergeants, Col Clearland Mass Austin Cols Ward + Putnam Capt Knowlton. Gen's Lee and Ward, Col Reed, Capt Crosby.
In my 2nd campaign in 1776, Capts Dana Jones + Tucker, Cols Sparrowhawk and Dana, Capt Reynolds Col Tyler, Adjutant Clapp, Docts Dix + Walker, under whose care I was a short time at North Castle. I never received any written discharge.
I am acquainted with the following named gentlemen residing in Shefford, who can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my having been a soldier of the Revolution. vis Sewell Foster, Alvin Williams, David Wood, Daniel Taylor, + Orin Dorman
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I have no documentary evidence whatever, + know of no person by whom I can prove my service, (except the enclosed)
     I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }     Alexander Douglass
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We Sewell Foster Alvin Williams and David Wood, residing in the Township of Shefford in the Province of Lower Canada, hereby certify that we are well-acquainted with Alexander Douglass, who we are informed has made his declaration before the Court of Probate for the district of Georgia, State of Vermont, for a Pension.  We believe him the same Alex. Douglas to be seventy six years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution in the Service of the United States of America, and that we concur in that opinion.
     We further state that the said Alexander Douglas is a person of sober regular habits, and we believe him to be an honest upright man, and one in whose integrity the most entire confidence may be placed.
Sworn and Subscribed at Shefford the 21st day of May 1833. Before me, Sewell Foster J.P.

Alvin Williams Capt
David Wood, Post Master
D. MacDonald Capt late of the 14th Regt. Iroq. (??)

I do hereby certify that the above named persons who have made oath and subscribed the aforegoing affidavit are credible witnesses and highly reputable individuals of Society and are holding such offices under the authority of His Majesty's Government, as are indicated by the addition to their respective names.
D MacDonald, Capt. + Late of the 14th Regt. Iroq. (?)

[at the bottom of this image are two lines of text from the foregoing pages describing the injury to Douglas's arm suffered at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  The lines are included on the earlier page with no problem.]
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I do hereby certify that I have, for twenty years past, been well acquainted with Alexander Douglas, the person mentioned in the affidavit on the opposite side and that during that time he has fully sustained the character of an honest man, and I do not hesitate to state that I consider the declaration he makes in respect to his services in the United States Army entitled to full credit.

Samuel Wood } Justice of the Peace

Farnham, 18th May, 1833.
I do hereby certify that I have for ten years past been well acquainted with Alexander Douglass the person mentioned in the affidavit on the opposite side and that during that ["that during" struck through] that time he has fully sustained the character of an honest man and I am fully confident that the declaration he makes in respect to his services in the United States Army is just and true.
Sewell Foster Justice of the Peace
Shefford May 21st 1833
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In reply to your request of _______, received ________ for a statement of the military history of Alexander Douglass, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ("or his widow's" struck through) application for pension on file in this Bureau.     S. File 19,285

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. Length of Service.  Rank.  Officers under whom service was rendered.  State. [Headings for table]
Apl 2, 1775. 1 mo. Pri.  Capt. Coffrin  Col. Gridley  N.H.

May 1775. 8 mos.   John Callender's Co. of Artillery. Col Gridley  N.H.

Dis. Jan or Feb 1776. Lieut Wm. Perkins. Col. Gridley.  N.H.

Mch. 1776. 9 mos. Pri. Capt Dana arty co. Mass

G.S. Wd. of left arm at Battle Bunker Hill
Battles engaged in, _________________
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Jaffrey N.H.
Date of application for pension, Apl 22, 1833.
Residence at date of application, Shefford, Lower Canada.
Age at date of application: born Apl. 5, 1758 i Scotland. Died Aug. 17, 1837 Agency book.

Remarks: [blank lines]

May,
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3-871

Record Division.
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions

Briefed by Geo M. Moore
Claim No. [struck through] Jan 11, 1910
Certificate No. [blank]
Claimant [blank]
Soldier: Alexander Douglas
Service --Rev
Additional Service [blanks]
No___ claim, State records ____, 190___
No claim, combination records ____, 190__
Remarks:
So 0 W.I. Work as above except
    1776-1781 New Jersey troops
IF 994 Born + res in N.J.
I.F. 19285 - --- o.l. -----
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stamp in upper left (diagonal) c/o L B (?)

[Office Stamp]
Record Division
Jan 8 1910

[Office Stamp]
U.S. Pension Office
E
Jan 7 1910
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209 Hallock Ave.
New Haven, Ct.
Jan. 6, '10

Commissioner of Pensions
My dear Sir,
I am trying to locate a Douglas Revolutionary ancestor. Nathaniel Douglas was in the company raised by Capt. John Couch in Meriden (a society in Wallingford) Conn. July, 1776.

Alexander Douglas name is on a Revolutionary payroll, Wm. Perkins, Capt., at Camp Prospect Hill,
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Nov. 8, 1775
Kindly send me what information you have concerning these two men.
Respectfully yours
(Mrs.) M.P. Cooley
209 Hallock Ave.
New Haven
Connecticut
Jan. 6, 1910.
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 19285
INVALID.                   [right side of fold]
File No.19285           1910 Jan. 14, Hist to Mrs. 
                                     M.P. Cooley copy.   
Alexander Douglass
Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7 '32
Index: __Vol. 2, Page 115

(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Alexander Douglas
Vermont
Suspended July 18
-1834. Fee lit to Wm Bridges St. Albans Vt
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30,196
Vermont
Alexander Douglass
of Franklin in the State of Vermont
who was a pr of In + Art [private of infantry and artillery] in the Company commanded by Captain Coffin of the reg't commanded by Ca________ in the Massachusetts line for 11 months pr of Infantry, 8 months pr of Artillery
Mass and Continental and N.H.

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 57 (Handwritten "31" above the "57"} dollars and 80 (handwritten "79" above the "80") Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of October 1835 and sent to Wm Bridges St. Albans
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $231.20
Semi-an. allowance ending for Sept. 28.90
$260.10

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Dan'l Boyd Clerk,
Book E 2  Vol. 3  Page 63

[right side of page after fold]
Sent to E.L. Englesby, 7 Nov 1835
to Wm Bridges 7 Nov 1835
Pension reduced to $31.79 per annum 27 May 1836 + new certif. sent to Wm. Bridges. Esq. St. Albans, Vt.
See letter within of P. Agent that he had not been inscribed
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NHamp'r
Magistrates
blayed (?) to
Canada

Power will go over 90 days,
Note that.

2 payments will be due; yet the Agent was merely to know after official character of the magistrate. +c. [etc.]
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May 11 Vt                        FREE.
[postmark] St. Albans. Vt. May 5

Hon. JL Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City


(upside down when unfolded)
Alexr. Douglas
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St Albans May 5th 1836

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir

Agreeably, to your letter of the 7th Nov 1835 I enclosed on the 18th of the same month the certificate of Alexander Douglass for correction.

The old gentleman is quite anxious to know the result of his claim.

On the receipt of yours of the 18th July 1834 I informed Mr Douglass that the Department would allow him nine months, and more if he could make further proof but not being able to obtain any further evidence he concluded to accept a certificate for nine months.

You will please return a answer as soon a [sic] convenient--

Very Respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt
William Bridges

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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St. Albans Nov 18th 1835

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir
Agreeably to your request I return you the certificate of Alx Douglass I should have answered yours of the 7th earlier, but have been absent at Boston and on my return found the certificate and your letter requesting 
me to return the same

Very respectfully
Your obt servt
Wm Bridges

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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Bank of Burlington
Sept 1, 1837

JL Edwards, Esq.
Com'r of Pensions

Sir,
As the enclosed voucher has been presented for payment --I have forwarded the same to you for your opinion upon the propriety of paying those when executed before Magistrate, residing in Canada --In this case I have not any reason to suppose that any fraud is intended.
Your Obt Servant
ET Englesby per
RG Cole
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[postmark] 
St. Albans. Vt. June 4     FREE.
Vt. June 11

Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Alexr. Douglass
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State of Vermont
Franklin County
St. Albans June 3d 1836

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir

Yours of the 27th (last?) has been duly read covering the certificate of Alexr Douglass.

You remark in the letter above refered [sic] to that Mr Douglass will be required to account for the amount received under the first certificate.

I have to inform you that Mr Douglass did not draw under the first certificate.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
W Bridges 

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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Nov 21
[postmark] Burlington Vt. Nov 16      FREE

JL Edwards Esqu
Comr of Pensions
Washington D.C.


Alexr Douglass
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Bank of Burlington
Nov 14. 1835

JL Edwards Esqr
Commr of Pensions

Sir

I have yours of this 7th inst directing Mr Alexander Douglass "private + matross $57.80 per annum should be suspended until further instruction.
I would respectfully state that his name is not upon the roll of this Agency.

Your Obt Svt
E.T. Englesby Esqr
per RG Cole
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Alxd Douglass
Payments to be made
at Burlington
by E.T. Englesby Esq
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Vermont

Have new certif.n
1 mo pri Indp 33.23
6 mo 25 ds Thatrap $28.26
                                   28.46

Wm Bridges Esq
St. Albans
Vt

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E 2 Vol. 3
Page 63 by Dan Boyd, Clerk
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Alexander Douglass of the State of Vermont . . . . . . who was a private of Infantry and Matross in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Fifty Seven dollars eighty cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this Sixth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five

Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.
JL Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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This may certify that we the Subscribers have Examined Alexander Douglass and find him unfit for Military Duty on account of Lameness in his left arm occassioned [sic] by a wound and fracture he received last War in his Country's Service and Therefore he ought in our opinion to be excused from Training South Hero Apr 25th 17gs
To all whom it may concern
Jacob Ruback Surgeon
Jesse Landon Physician
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Bt/n [believe abbreviation of "Burlington"]
[postmark] Boston Apr MS

William Bridges Esqr
St. Albans
Franklin County
Vermont

Double
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 7th 1834.

I hereby Certify, that, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Alexr Douglass, as a private, is borne on a Muster Roll of Capt. John Callender's Company, under the command of Capt. Lt. Wm Perkins, in Col. Richard Gridley's Regt. where he is allowed from June 5th to August 1st, 1775, for services and travels, two months and one day. - 2=1 Alexander Douglass claims for further services under Capt. Callender, in 1775; - the roll after the 1st of August in 1775 is not found in this Office. - Alexander Douglass claims for services under Capt. Dana, and Gen.l Heath in 1776; - but the roll he describes is not found in this Office.

Edward D. Bangs, Esq.
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I Daniel Stone of Breem in the Province of Lower Canada aged seventy nine years, a Pensioner of the United States, testify and say that on the 21st day of April 1775, I marched from Keene in the County of Cheshire and state of New Hampshire to Jaffrey in said County, and there joined a party destined for Concord in the State of Massachusetts.  But when we arrived at Concord we found the enemy had returned to Boston, and we continued our march to Cambridge. Among the number of persons who went from Jaffrey was one Alexander Douglass with whom I was acquainted, and the same person who now resides in Shefford in the Province aforesaid. Soon after I arrived in Cambridge I enlisted for eight months in Captain Jeremiah Stiles's Company in Col Dudley Sergeants Regt. That while I was at Cambridge I often saw and conversed with said Douglass who belonged to a company of Artillery, but do not no [sic] what regt he was attached. He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wounded in the arm. I saw him several times while he was in the Hospital. He often visited the camp before he was fit for duty. After said Douglass was fit for duty, which I should think was about the first of August I do not recollect of seeing him after that time untill a few days before I left the camp, when I went to Roxbury to visit him and hi informed me that
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that his time was not out until about a month, and I left him at Roxbury. This I should say was some of the last days of December as near as I can recollect. I believe I was discharged on the first day of January 1776. I do not know how long he stayed only from the account he afterwards gave me, after he returned home but conclude he served his time out. Soon after his return home he again returned to Massachusetts (as it was said) and enlisted into the Southern army but of this fact I do not know only from report at the time and what he has since told me I lived nine miles from his residence. He was absent from home I should say ten or twelve months. He has often told me that he was in the Southern army at New York and in the Jersies. Further say not.
Daniel Stone
Sworn to + subscribed this 16th day of April 1834
Before me William Bridges Justice of the Peace
I further certify that said Daniel Stone is a credible person.  Wm Bridges Justice Peace
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State of Vermont
Georgia District SS

I, Aaron S. Beeman Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for said District, do hereby certify that William Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is a Magistrate duly qualified and that the same is his genuine signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at St. Albans this 16th day of May 1834.

Aaron S. Beeman Clerk
[seal]
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A. Douglass
[postmark] St. Albans. Vt. Aug 6
FREE

Hon JL. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington City

[handwritten note vertical] Rec'd Aug 12, 1835
Dept Pensions
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St. Albans Franklin County Vermont
August 4th 1835

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir

I am requested by Mr. Alexr Douglass to again call your attention to his claim for a Pension.
Since the receipt of your favour of the 18 July 1834 Mr. Douglass has written to Massachusetts and elsewhere for the purpose of attaining evidence to prove his service in the Company of Capt Dana, but has not been able to find but one person who was acquainted with him viz a man by the name of Hutchins, and his acquaintance very limited. Hutchins says he recollects a foreigner, by the name of Douglass who was with him a  short time in the Jerseys and presumes from the description to be the same person, but not willing to make an affidavit unless he could see and converse with him.  Hutchins belonged to Col Durkee's Regt. Mr Douglass lives nearly eighty miles from the residence of Mr Hutchins, and not able to visit him at present on account of ill health. He has therefore concluded to take what has been proved and allowed agreeably to your letter above refere'd too.  But at the same time wishes the Department to allow him for his services in his 2d campaign
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in case he should be fortunate enough to obtain the evidence required. Mr. Douglass says that at the time he was at Bergens Point as stated in his declaration, he is very sure that Col Durkee was with the detachment, and supposed had the command of the expedition. This was the reason why he was led to state in his declaration that he was attach'd to his Regt. But does not wish the Department to infer from this that he ment [sic] to be understood that he belonged to, or served in sd Regt at any other time for such was not the case, for when the troops returned from the Point they re-crossed the Hudson and marchd to White Plains and from thence to North Castle where he joined his Regt.
The applicant says he is justly entitled to pension for his nine months service and to that of his first service at Cambridge, and is very sure that his name is borne on the roll of Capt Dana's Co of Artillery. He says that the name of one of the sergeant under whom he served in the last campaign was Knight, and that one of the sergeants was killed in the encounter which they then had with the British. I have made the foregoing statement of the applicant for the purpose of satisfying the Department that it was not his intention to convey an idea that he belonged to Col Durkee's Regt, but only (as he supposed) at that time. All I can say respecting the
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character of the man for truth and veracity is I am personally acquainted with one of his neighbours who is a man of respectability, who says that the applicant is a worthy and very respectable citizen and one that is to be believed. Having no personal acquaintance with the applicant I am not able to judge only from his general appearance from which I should say that he was a man of good character.

Very Respectfully
Your obt servt
Wm Bridges

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter; and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears that David Wood who has signed the preceding certificate
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is a Post Master and that Samuel Wood and Sewell Foster who have also signed the same are Justices of the Peace + are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Aaron S. Beeman Clerk of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that that [sic] foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Alexander Douglass for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixd the seal of said court at St. Albans in sd district this 15th day of May A.D. 1834.
Aaron S. Beeman Clerk
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We the undersigned Clerks of the Peace for the District of Montreal, in the Province of Lower Canada, do hereby certify that Samuel Wood Esquire of the Township of Farnham, and Sewell Foster Esquire of the Township of Shefford are two of the Justices of the Peace for the said District, and that they have qualified as such as prescribed by Law -

Given at Montreal under the Seal of this office, this 28th of May 1833 ---

Delisle & Delisle.
Clerk of the Peace

[seal and ribbon on left of page]