Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,426, Abel Wilder, Mass. N.H. Vt.
Page 1

Service.       Wilder, Abel                  Number
Mass.                        Mary                 W 18426
NH
Vt.
Page 2

4225.
Vermont
---
Mary Wilder
widow of Abel Wilder
who died on the 14 September 1831
of [blank]
in the State of Vt
who was a private in the Co commanded
by Captain [unreadable signature]
of the [Blank]
by [Blank]
in the Vt line for5 mo 16 ds pri
25, AC
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Poultney
at the rate of 29 Dollars 54 Cents
per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1831.
-----
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of June
1845 and sent to
Ira Davis
----        Norwich, VT.
Arrears to the 4th of  [blank]
Semiannual allowance ending [Blank]
------
------
Revolutionary Claim
Act July 4, 1836
Section the 3d
Recorded by F.L. Swann, Clerk
Book C
Vol.  1
Page 47
Page 3

I  Jacob Wilder of Woodstock in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged eighty six years.  testify and say that I had a Brother whose name was Abel Wilder who served with
me in the Revolutionary War between two and three months and were stationed at Cambridge Massachusetts and made nails for the Army, he the said Abel living at the time of entering the service in the County of Worcester and State of Mass.  and I suppose
he did other service by what has been told me.
I further testify and say that my said Brother Abel Wilder removed from Lancaster in said County of Worcester to the town of Cardigan (now Crange) in the State of New Hampshire
and from thence he removed to Norwich Vermont where he died, and left a widow whose name is Mary Wilder who now resides or lives in Hartford Vermont.  I further say that I am now a pensioner of
the United States, and further say not.
Jacob Wilder

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss ⎬ Woodstock September 6. 1843
Personally appeared Jacob Wilder the signer above and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition
Before me Oel Billings Justice of the Peace
I further certify that said Jacob Wilder is a credible person
Oel Billings Justice Peace
Page 4

State of Vermont, 
Windsor County, … SS. 
I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that 
[handwritten] Oel Billings
[print] Is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the [handwritten] ninth day of November [print] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty [handwritten] two [print] and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature [handwritten] to the foregiving certificate [print] is genuine.

Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this [handwritten] 6th [print] day of [handwritten] October [print] AD [handwritten] 1843
[handwritten] N. Williams, [print] Clerk.
Page 5

Married at Cardigan N Hampshire
November 18th 1776 Abel Wilder of [ ] Cardigan 
formerly of Lancashire Massachusetts to Mary Phine 
of [St?] Cardigan formerly of Canterbury Connecticut
Nancy their Daughter born Feb 28th 1778
Abel their son born March 19th 1780
Cloudesley their son born March 3d 1782 Died 
Feb 25th 1786 
Polly their Daughter born July 1st 1784
Patty their Daughter born Decm 27th 1786
Nabby their Daughter born May 5th 1789
Sally their Daughter born August 13th 1792
Died Feby 23rd 1806
Sophia their Daughter born Jan 21st 1795
Sophronia Dolly their Daughter born October 3d 1797
Died June 26 18*4
Harriet their Daughter born April 9th 1802
Page 6

Abel Wilder Son to Abel Wilder Born March
Nineteenth Seventeen hundred eighteen
Cloudepley Wilder Son to Abel Wilder Born March 3d
1782
Polly Wilder Daughter to Cpt Abel Wilder  born
July 1st 1784
Nancy Wilder Born Feb 28th 1778
Cloudepley Wilder Died February 25th 1786
Patty Wilder the Daughter of Capt Abel Wilder
Born December 27th 1786
Nabby Daughter to Capt Abel Wilder Born May 6th
1789 

I WM. E [ ] Clerk of the town of Norwich
depose and say that I now hold the office
of town clerk of the town of Norwich in the 
County of Windsor and State of Vermont. And 
that the above is a true excerpt from the 
Records of service town of Norwich, with the exception of  
of the first date which is [ ] in the records 
in fair legible [figures] and follows “ March 19th
1780.”
Norwich July 1. 1845 Wm. E. [ ]

Subscribed and sworn before me this first day of January AD 1845,
IRA DAVIS Justice of Peace

[inserted certificate]
I, Norman Willians, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that 
[handwritten] Ira Davis [print] Is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the [handwritten] 31st Day of October [print] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty [handwritten] four [print] and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature [handwritten] above written [print] is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this [handwritten] 3d [print] day of [handwritten] January [print] AD [handwritten] 1845
[handwritten] N. Williams [print] Clerk.
Page 7

[unreadable/faded stamped seal over a coat of arms in upper left corner]

[print] Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary’s Office, [handwritten] July 25 [print] 18 [handwritten]43.

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 [handwritten] the name of Abel Wilder is borne
upon a paper purporting to show the 
number of months service of each sol-
dier of the Revolution from the third
precinct of the town of Brookfield said
paper being the report of a Committee
of the said precinct or town charter to
make an average of services thus rendered
From the figures set down against said 
Wilder named it appears that he
served five months and one third of a month

[printed] And I further Certify, that, before search made for evidence 
/ of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this
Page 8

[print] Office, in the form in which the same now appear [cut off] 
search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and [cut off]
application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the [cut off]
and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity [cut off]
the party described in the application with the individual who ren-
dered the service. 

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written. 

[handwritten] Mr. A. Bolles
[print] Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 9

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss }
On this 17th day of February A.D. 1842, personally 
appeared before the Probate Court of the District of Hartford
[inserted into line below] a resident of Hartford, County of Windsor + state of Vermont 
Mary Wilder aged 87 years, ^ [inserted above line] who, being first duly sworn according to the 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 4th 1836; that she is the widow of Abel
Wilder, who was a Private & a Lieutenant in the War of the revolution, that in the month of October 1775 as she thinks, he enlisted 
and went to Cambridge in Massachusetts, where he remained until
the British troops left Boston the next spring, when he hired Joseph
White to take his place & he returned home, at this time he lived
in Lancaster or Brookfield in Mass. That in the early part of 
1777 he removed to Cardigan, (now Orange) in the State of New
Hampshire, and that in that year he served as a Lieutenant 
about one month in Col. Chase’s Regiment of Militia and
he served as a Lieut. also at the surrender of Burgoyne
but how long he was absent she cannot tell, in 1779 he removed to the town of Norwich in this State, and that in October 
1780, he volunteered + went to Royalton, (^ On Straffer &) when the Indian burned that place, she further declared that she was married to the 
Said Abel Wilder on the 18th day of November 1776, (Seventeen 
hundred and seventy six) that her husband, the aforesaid Abel Wilder
died at Norwich aforesaid, on the 14th day of September 1832, and that 
she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear
by reference to the proof hereto annexed, 
Mary Wilder
Page 10


The written declaration sworn to before
me   Tho. P. Russell Judge

State of Vermont
Hartford District

I Oel Billings Register of the Court of
Probate of the District of Hartford, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the application of
Mary Wilder of Hartford in said District for
a pension.
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 17th day of
February AD 1842.
Oel Billings Register.
Page 11

I Harry Burton of Norwich in the County
Windsor & State of Vermont aged 52 years depose
and say that I have been well acquainted with
Deacon Hezekiah Goodrich of this town for more
then forty years past, that he has been for many
years a Magistrate of this County, and entrusted
very much with the public business of this town,
ever since my earliest recollection, he has been
a member of the Congregational Church, and for many
years one of its Deacons, He is now an old man
but retains his faculties remarkably well, and
has always sustained an unblemished reputation
for truth and veracity,
Harvey Burton

State of Vermont
Windson County At Norwich this 28th day of April AD 1845
Harvey Burton, who is a witness of strict veracity, personally 
appeared and subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affidavit
Before me, IRA DAVIS Justice of Peace

STATE OF VERMONT
Windsor County, ss. ⎬ I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of 
the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that
Ira Davis is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county
duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was
dated on the 31st day of October in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five
and will expire on the thirtieth day of November next, and
that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 27 day of
April A. D. 1845
N. Williams
Clerk.
Page 12

Hartford, Vermont April 29 1845
This certifies that I have known Deacon Hezekiah Goodrich of Norwich in the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont for many years.
I moved to this place in the spring of the year 1811 and although I cannot state positively, yet I am confident that my acquaintance commenced with him soon after that time-
If he was not at that time he had previously or has subsequently, held a commision as one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Windsor. My residence during the above period with exception of six years, has been within five miles of the principal place of business in Norwich where during said period I have often been in my profession of Atty at Law.
I have no hesitation in saying that Deacon Goodrich's standing in his own town in the estimation of his townsmen is high and that he is in [ ] particular in his morals and character above reproach or suspicion, and that I should believe whatever he aperted as truth without hesitation or doubt.  George E. Wales
Page 13

May 6 1845
Ru to Pension Office Character of Hezekiah Goodrich Mary Wilder
Page 14

Norwich Vt April 30 1845
Dear Sir Enclosed I send the affidavit of Harvey Burton Esq [Pastmoth] of this place.  The certificates of Hon George E. Wales, Judge of Probate for the District of Hartford & Norman Williams Esq Clerk of the County of Windsor in relation to the character of Dea. Hezekiah Goodrich for truth & veracity which I presume will be satisfactory.  
I am respectfully your Ira Davis
Hon. J L Edwards
Deacon Hezekiah's affadavit was sent in the care of Mary Wilder.
Page 15

Norwich Vt June 5 1845
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the affadavit of David Wright who was a private in Col. Chase's regiment and well acquainted with Abel Wilder who was a Lieut in said Regt & who was the husband of Mary Wilder whose case you have under consideration.  I have found this witness after much research, and trust his testimony is sufficient to establish the identity. Will you have the goodness to communicate your decision on receipt of this.
Respectfully yours Ira Davis   
J L. Edwards Com Pensions
Page 16

I David Wright of Hanson in the County of Grafton State of New Hampshire aged (85) eighty five years depose and say that Iw as a soldier in the army of the Revolution and in the July of 1777 I belong to Col. Jonathan Chase’s Regiment of New Hampshire. I also further say that I was well acquainted with Abel Wilder who was then a Lieutenant in said Chase’s Regiment, The said Wilder afterwards removed to Norwich in Vermont where he did some years [service] leaving his widow Mary Wilder, who after his death I understand went to live with her daughter in Hart-ford Vermont, and further say not
David Wright
Page 17

6326
Mary Wilder
VT
Letter to Ira Davis 27 Nov. 1844
“ “ Se. WM: 24 Many “45
“ “ Ira Davis 2 April 1845


ACT 4 July 1836
Page 18

25 days Lt in 77 Chase's  Ref
Page 19

State of New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State

I hereby certify that among the Revolutionary Rolls and papers in their office is found one purport-ing to be a “Pay Roll of Col. Jonathan Chase’s Regiment of Militia which marched from Cornish in the State of New Hampshire September 1777 and joined the Continental Army under General Gates near Saratoga” on which is borne the name of Abel Wilder as Lieutenant with an allowance for twenty five days services. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said State this 20th, day of July A.D. 1844
Henry S. Rand
Dep. Sec.
Page 20

Canaan NH 6
Dec 28

Mr Ira Davis 

Norwich Vermont
Page 21

Orange New Hampshire Dec 25th 1844
Dear Sir    I received your letter and searched the Town record accordingly and can find no record of the marriage of Abel Wilder. There is an old lady living in this Town by the name of Zeruah Waldo she says that she was acquainted with Abel Wilder in 1777 and she thinks that he was married in the year [7*] she says he married her cousin.

Please send me one dollar 
Respectfully yours
Gilbert S. Thadley {Town Clerk of Orange
Page 22

Norwich Vt Oct 8 1844
Dear Sir
I send herewith the application of Mary Wilder for a Pension under the Act of Congress of 1836. The papers sent are the declaration, certificates for service, family record, & affidavits of Jacob Wilder identifying the widow & showing service, and hope the case will be examined without delay.
Yours Respectfully,
Hon J. L. Edwards   Ira Davis
Page 23

6 days 1780
in Vermont
Militia
Page 24

State of Vermont
Secretary of State’s Office
Montpelier October 5, 1844

I hereby certify that there is on file in this office a paper purporting to be “A Pay Roll of Cast Timothy Bush’s Company of Militia employed in guarding and scouting at Stratford, at the time of the alarm at Newbury, under the direction of Col. Peter Oleott, Oct. 19, 1780”; in which Roll is the name of “Abel Wilder,” with an allowance for six days service as a private. 
Given under my hand and the seal of this Office this 5th day of October A.D. 1844
Ferrand F Merrill
Deputy Secretary of State
Page 25

6326 Mary Wilder wdow of Abel Act 4 July 1836 aomd. 5 mo. 16 pre 25 
29.54
Ira Davis Esq Norwich Vermont
Page 26

I Polly Hunt of Norwich in the county of Windsor & state of Vermont aged sixty years depose and say that I was well acquainted with Abel Wilder late of Norwich deceased, that the said Wilder died at my house on the 14th day of September A.D. 1831 & that his widow Mary Wilder is still living & remains the widow of the said Abel Wilder. 
And I also further depose & say that the paper hereto annexed contains the original family record of this said Abel Wilder, that I have known & well recollect the same, for more than thirty years & that it is in the hand writing of the said Abel Wilder deceased. 
Polly Hunt

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS } At Norwich this 24th day of September A.D. 1844 Polly Hunt who is a person of strict integrity subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affidavit,
Before Me IRA DAVIS Justice of Peace
Page 27

State of Vermont: I, Norman Williams, Clerk of 
Windsor County,.....ss.:  the County Court of the  County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that
Ira Davis is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 31st day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature hereunto attached
Page 28

Hon WM Williams
Sec. of War
Washington 
D.C.
Page 29

Secretary of State’s Office
Concord, N.H. Feby. 21. 1845. 

To the Hon Secretary of War
Dear Sir,
Having seen a letter of J.L. Edwards, Esq. directed to you and Dated Jane 24th 1845, in the case of Mary Wilder applicant for a pension in which Mr Edwards says “Mr Davis inveighs against the practiced operation of rules which have been enforced for year, and which were required and justified by the authorities of that State “ N. Hampshire) I beg leave to say that so far as my knowledge extends the authors of New Hampshire so far from justified or requiring the rules which have been established at the Pension Office with regard to the evidence of services performed by the N.H. troops in the Revolutionary War, they have uniformly condemned the rule as arbitrary and unjust and one subjecting applicants for pensions to unnecessary expense. 
I have the honor to be , [ ] 
Yours Obt Servt
Thomas P. Treadwell. Sec. of State
Page 30

Ho Reps Jan 16 '45
Hon P. Dillingham
Inclosed appeal of Ira
Davis in the pension
case of Mrs Wilder
D 14 January 17 1845
Pension Office
for report.
War Dept
amod 24 Jany 1845
9
Page 31

House of Rep 16th July 1845
Dr Ira Davis of Norwich has forwarded me the following papers relating to pension case which he has the case of and in which he appeals from the decision of the lands of Pensions to the Sec. of War 
I have debated whether to send the appeal & argument directly to the sec of war or to the Comm, that it might go through him but have concluded to send it directly to you. If it is the duty of the applicant to apply to the Comm to have the case prepared & not to you a note from you to that effect will be thankfully received. Probably however a similar note to the Comm from you, will bring up the case 
I am his obdt svt
Paul Dillingham Jr.
Hoon Wm WilkinsSec of War.
Page 32

Mary Wilder
Page 33

Norwich Vt. January 4 1845

Dear Sir,
Some months since I sent to the Pension 
Office the application of Mrs. Wilder, Widow of Abel Wilder for a Pension under the act of Congress of 1836.
In proof of the service of said Wilder I transmitted the certificate of the Secretary of Mass. showing a service of 5 1/3 months
in that State, the certificate of the Secretary of New Hampshire Showing a service of 25 days as Lieut. in 1777 in Col. Chase Regt. and the certificate of the Secretary of Vermont showing
a service of a few days in 1780, also and affidavit showing that the said Wilder lived in Mass & removed from thence to Cardigan, (now Orange) in the State of N.H. & from thence to Norwich in Vermont, and also that the present applicant is the widow of said Wilder,
In proof of the Marriage of said Wilder, I transmitted the original family record sworn to by a person who had known it for 30 or 40 years, & that it was in the hand writing of said
Wilder.
I received a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions under date of Nov. 27 1844 saying, "The Service in Massachusetts and Vermont as shown by the certificate of the Secretary's of those States is satisfactory, but the Service as Lieutenant in Col Jonathan Chase's Regiment cannot be allowed, unless it be clearly proved by persons who of their own knowledge, knew her husband as the Lieutenant named in the certificate of the Secretary of State of New Hampshire.  The certificate of the Town Clerk of Cardigan should be produced, showing what evidence, the records of his office afference of the man - reap in this case."

I have applied to the the Town Clerk aforesaid & have been unable to procure any certificate in regular form, but his letter is herewith transmitted, as is also the record of the birth
Page 34


of a part of their children, as certified by the Town Clerk of
Norwich, which is all the evidence that can be found of the
Marriage.
I am informed by the Secretary of New-Hampshire, that
the Commissioner of Pensions, refuses to acknowledge a certificate
from his office as evidence of service, while from Vermont, Mass and
Conn. & I suppose from all other States such Certificate is acknowledged
and indeed Sir in this case I furnished certificates from the Secretary of
Mass & Vermont which are received, but the certificate of the
Secretary of N.H. is rejected,
I am informed by the Secretary of N.H. that the Commission
requires from his office an entire copy of every roll upon
which the name of the applicant is found, & that in a recent case
to prove only about six months service the expense of copying
was $17.00.  He further says that he sent several copies of the same
rolls in different cases. but still when a new case comes up
another copy is required, and these copies of the same rolls are multi
filed in the Pension office, yet the Com. is not satisfied with those
already received, nor with such a certificate of the Secretary as he
daily received from the Secretaries of other States. The only reason
assigned for this practice, that I have learned, is this.-That the State of
N.H. has recalled the rolls they loaned to the War Department
some years since. But you will recollect the State of Mass has
also recalled her Rolls
It seems to me that the Com. in this matter makes an invidious
distinction, which not only involves the dignity of the State of N.H.
but subjects applicants to a needless expense, which in many
cases is indeed onerous. For these reasons I have thought best
to appeal to the Head of the Department, and respectfully ask
that the evil may be corrected
I am Sir Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant
Ira Davis

Hon William Wilkins
Secretary of War

(sidebar) P.S. I was entirely unable to find any persons who served in Col. Charles militia at the time mentioned in 1777 so that I cannot comply with the requirement of the Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 35

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 18426,
Mary Wilder
Widow of
Abel Wilder 
Lt. Rev. War 
Act: July 4th 1836
Index: Vol. M, Page 343
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 36

I Hezekiah Goodrich of Norwich in the County of Windsor
and State of Vermont aged 88 years depose & say that soon
about the close of the revolution war Lieutenant Abel Wilder moved
into this town from Cardigan New Hampshire (now called Orange)
soon after which he was made a captain in our Militia and
subsequently was elected Town Clerk in which capacity he served
many years, during which time I transacted a good deal of
town business with him and become intimately acquainted with
him.-- In this time the said Wilder informed me that in his
opinion that Bargain was taken he did service in Col Jonathan Chases
Reg and was stationed over the mountain in this State I think
he said in Pawlet, or near that place.  I do not remember how
long he said he served them but think it was a month or
6 weeks and that he was a Lieut. during that service and
I know he was always called Lieut. Wilder till after he was
made Captain. As I had in service been stationed near
that place in Hericks Reg. we repeatedly had conversations in
regard to the incidents of his service and I well remember the
facts I have related above after the death of said Wilder
his widow who I understand made application for a pension
continued to reside in this town and Hartford and to further say not.
 (signed) Hez Goodrich

Subscribed & sworn to before me at Norwich in Windsor
County this 11th day of March 1845 and I hereby certify that
Hezekiah Goodrich who subscribed the above deposition
is well known to me & that he is a credible witness.
Joel Morris, Jus. Peace
The words (and Hartford, interlined in the above were inserted before signing.
Joel Morris, Jus Peace

I Norman Williams Clerk of the County Court of the
County of Windsor in the State of Vermont do hereby certify
that Joel Morris who has signed the foregoing is a Justice
of the Peace for the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont
and that the above is his signature. In testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court this 17th day of March A D 1845, at Woodstock in the State of Vermont.
N. Williams, Clerk
Page 37

Norwich V. Mch 24 /45
Ira Davis
Pension case of Mary
Wilder
D 78. [ ] 27 '45.
Pension office
VT
Page 38


Norwich Vt. March 24 1845
Dear Sir
In Oct, last I transmitted to the Pension office the
application of Mary Wilder, widow of Abel Wilder for a
Pension, In proof of the service of the said Wilder, I transmitted
the certificate of the Secretary of Mass showing a
service of 5 1/2 months performed in that State, also the certificate
of the Secretary of New Hampshire, showing a service
of 25 days as Lieut. in Col. Jonathan Chase's Reg. in
that State, & the certificate of the Secretary of Vermont
showing a few days service in this State.
I received a reply from the Commissioner of Pensions under
date of Nov 27 1844, from which the following is an extract,
"the service in Massachusetts & Vermont, as shown
by the certificate of the Secretary's of those States is satisfactory,
but the service as Lieutenant in Col. Jonathan Chase's
Regiment cannot be allowed, unless it be clearly proven
by persons of their own knowledge, knew her husband as the
Lieutenant named in the certificate of the Secretary of
the State of New Hampshire."
From this decision I appealed to the Secretary of War
Mr Wilkins, your predecessor, on the ground of the invidious
distinction made by the Commissioner in relation to the New
Hampshire service.-- Under date of January 24 1845 I received
a communication from the Secretary of War, enclosing
a report from the Commissioner of Pensions of which the
following is a copy.
-
Sir, I have the honor to return you Mr
Dillingham's letter & Mr Davis' appeal in the case of Mary Wilder
& to remark that the appeal has no reference to the decision in this
case./ viz. proof of the identity of her husband with the Lieutenant of
Chase's New Hampshire Regiment, but may be regarded as a
general protest against the rule accepted by your predecessors.
Page 39

with reference to the evidences of New Hampshire Service, that point
is not involved in this case, for the certificate of the Secretary of
New Hampshire is filed & admitted as evidence that one Abel
Wilder did serve twenty five days as Lieutenant in seventeen hundred
& seventy seven, and Mr Davis was so informed. The proof
filed is not deemed sufficient to show that her husband, and
that Lieutenant were identical, Instead of affording that proof
Mr. Davis inveighs against the practical operation of rules
which have been enforced for years, and which were acquired
and justified by the authorities of that State.
The date of the marriage is duly established by the certificate
of the Clerk of Norwich, received with the above letters of
Mr Dillingham & Mr Davis.
I have the honor to be very respectfully Sir your obedient
Servant, J.L. Edwards

Hon William Wilkins
Secretary of War.

This Commissioner in the above report manifests some
little warmth of feeling that his decision in the case should
have been appealed from. And no appeal would have been
taken, had he not transcended the ordinary requirement as to the
character of the proof of identity. It has always been usual to admit
circumstantial or traditionary evidence in such cases, but in this inquiry
it is required to be proven by some persons "who knew of their own knowledge" that her husband performed this service stated. Now it strikes one that under such a requirement the certificate of the Secretary of New Hampshire is not reckoned at all, except perhaps to prove that there
was such a Regiment as Chase's in the service. And thus even in
this case, the some invidious course is imprudent? in relation to the N.H.
service, which I am informed by the Secretary of that State, originated
in a (illegible) of the Commissioner of Pensions.
To shew you that the statement of Mr. Edwards, that the rule which
he has adopted in relation to proof of the N. Hampshire Service, was required
& justified by the authorities of that State is entirely incorrect.--I
Page 40

enclose a letter from the Hon Mr Treadwell Secretary of New Hampshire, addressed to your predecessor Mr Wikins
I also enclose the affidavit of Hezekiah Goodrich who was
acquainted with Mr Wilder from about the close of the Revolution
until the time of his decease, and had frequent conversation with 
him in relation to his service in Chase's Regiment in 1777 and
learned from him that he was a Lieutenant in that service
I have made extensive search for some one who served in said
Regiment at the time mentioned but am unable to find any and
the proof transmitted is the best I can process, and such as has been hereto four satisfactory
Hon William L. Marcy
Secretary of War
I am Sir Very Respectfully
your obedt Servt
Ira Davis