Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23107, Robert Gilchrist, Mass.
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(3—1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Gilchrist, Robert W. 23107
Chloe
CONTENTS
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11694

New Hampshire, Concord
Chloe Gilchrist decd.
widow of Robert who died on the 31st Dec. 1819 of [illegible] in the State of __ who was a private, in the __ commanded by Captain __ of the commanded by __ in the Revolution, [crossed out] for 6 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Concord, at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. Ending September 17. 1838.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of July 1854, and sent to L. D. Stevens 
Concord NH.
Arrears to the 4th of 
Semi-annual allowance ending
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by G. T. Getty Clerk,
Book D Vol. 1. Page 31
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No 15.140
Chloe Gilchrist Decd.
Widow of Robert
N.H.

act July 1 1838.

Married 
He died Dec 31 1819
She died Sep 17 1838

Harriet Temple
Lucinda Look
only children

Cmr & [illegible] pn

LD Stevens
Concord
NH
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No 1
State of New Hampshire
County of Cheshire Ss
On this seventh day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty four personally in open Court before the Court of Probate this day sitting within and for the said County of Cheshire Harriet Temple of Westmoreland in the State and County aforesaid aged forty nine years who being first duly Sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain for herself and for her sister Lucinda Look the arrears of pension which may be found due them in light of their mother Chloe Gilchrist deceased, the widow of Robert Gilchrist also deceased: that she is a child of the said Robert and Chloe Gilchrist: and that the said Robert was a soldier in the war of the Revolution that in his life time he applied for pension under the Act of 1818 and his claim was rejected; that he died in the Town of Walpole in said Cheshire County on the thirty first day of December in the year 1819 leaving the said Chloe Gilchrist his widow. that she remained a widow until her decease: and that she died in the
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Town of Walpole in said County on the seventeenth day of September 1838 leaving two children only who still survive_ to wit, the said declarent and the said Lucinda Look. that for proof of the said Roberts service reference is to be had to his Declaration hereto annexed and to the Certificate of the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts. that she claims for herself and sister the arrears that may be found due them in right of their said parents.
attest 
Harriet Temple
John H. Fuller
Thomas Fisk

State of New Hampshire _ Cheshire County ss.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid. March 7. 1854. And I certify that said Harriet Temple is a credible witness and that I am not interested in the event of the case or result.
Larkin Baker Judge of Probate
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I George Sturtevant Register of Probate in and for the County of Cheshire, New Hampshire do certify that Larkin Baker before whom the foregoing proceedings were had was at the date of the same and now is Judge of the Court of Probate for said County and that the Signature purporting to be his is his own proper & genuine Signature. That full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his attestations as Judge aforesaid.
In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and the Seal of said Court at Keene April 4. 1854. and attach herewith an original Declaration of Robert Gilchrist
Geo. W. Sturtevant
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We Lucinda Look of Walpole & Harriet Temple of Westmoreland both in Cheshire County, new Hampshire depose and say that we are the sole & surviving children of Robert Gilchrist & his wife Chloe Gilchrist. We further declare that our parents aforesaid to our knowledge did not keep a family record. 
The said Lucinda Look further says that she married Orick Look on the 28th day of April in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty nine.
The said Harriet Temple further declares that she married Ralph Temple on the third day of July in the year eighteen hundred and forty nine
Lucinda Look
Harriet Temple
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire County ss.} Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty third day of may in the year eighteen hundred & fifty four. And I certify that the above affiants are respectable persons.
Frederick Vose, Justice of the Peace
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We Lucinda Look and Harriet Temple, children of Robert and Chloe Gilchrist having heretofore testified of and concerning our family_ do further declare that the child of our said parents alluded to in the affidavit of James Hooper as being born in the year 1789 is dead that her name was Susan Gilchrist and that she died in the year 1833 Eighteen hundred thirty three that we are the only surviving children as has been stated. the said Lucinda Look further testifies that she was Born on the January 1st day of the year 1793 and is consequently aged sixty one years.
Lucinda Look
Harriet Temple
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire Ss. June 24th 1854, Personally appeared Lucinda Look & Harriet Temple & made oath to the above
Before me 
Lewis Lane Justice of the Peace
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Robert Gilchrist
Private
Col Brooke's Regiment
Massachusetts line
1780 _ 1 year
15th April 1818 _

It appears by the Roll that this man enlisted only for six months.

Rejected.
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I, Robert Gilchrist, of Walpole, in the county of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire, on oath declare & say that, on the ninth day of June in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & eighty, I enlisted in the town of Lunenburgh, in Massachusetts, for the term of one year, I then went to Springfield in Massachusetts & from thence, two days after I arrived there, I was marched with a number of continental troops to West Point, in New York, where I joined the army. This was about eighteen days after I enlisted. I was then out into the company commanded by Capt. parker, in Col. Brook's Regiment & Genl. Patterson's Brigade in the Massachusetts Line. I continued to serve in this company, except a short time that I served in Capt. Day's company of light Infantry, till my time was out, & on the tenth day of June in the year seventeen hundred & eighty one, I received my discharge signed, according to my best recollection by Major Darby, Col. Brooks being then absent. This Discharge I kept about two years, since which I do not know what has become of it. I further declare & say that I have never received any pension, & that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of the assistance of my country for support.
Robert Gilchrest

State of New Hampshire.
Cheshire Ss. April 15 1818. Then before me Elisha Huntley a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Cheshire aforesaid, personally appeared Robert Gilchrist abovenamed & made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit & Declaration by him subscribed, contains the
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truth is nothing but the truth. And, in appearing to my satisfaction that the said Robert Gilchrist did serve in the war of the Revolution against the common
enemy, in manner as by him is stated in his affidavit & Declaration, I hereby certify & transmit the testimony in his case, being his Oath & Declaration foresaid.
To the Honble
John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War. -
Elisha Huntley
one of the Justices
of the Court of
Common pleas
for said County

Cheshire Js - I, Levi Chamberlain Assistant Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Cheshire hereby certify that the Hon Elisha Huntley whose proper hand is above written is one of the Justices of said Court, duly commissioned, and that no particular impression is used as a seal by said Court.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed,  and affixed a seal in usual form as
used by said Court this 12th day of May
A.D. 1818.
Levi Chamberlain
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Revy WIDOW, &c.

File No. 23107
Chloe Gilchrist
wid of Robert Gilchrist
Priv. Rev. War

Act July 7th 1838.
Index: Vol. A, Page 274

[Arrangement of 1870]
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No 15140
Chloe Gilchrist Decd
Wid of Robert
Stevens Apr 17
NH
L D Stevens Apl 12/64
Same Apl 26/54
Same Irene June 1/54
Same Jul 8/54
July 7 1838
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3-871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A.E.P.
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
Soldier Robert Gilchrist
Additional Service Rev. War.
No claim, State records, 190
No claim, combination records, 190
REMARKS:
No O.W.war wid. or Eef.  as
above except W.F. 23107.
0-8   Chief Division
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office, Concord,
May 26, 1854
-
I hereby certify, that at the date of the
annexed attestation Frederick
Vose was a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Cheshire
in the said State, duly commissioned and qualified, and that to his
acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in
and act of Court
-
A
of
I have hereunto
affixed the Seal of the State, the
date above written.
John L. Hadley
Secutary of State.
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State of New Hampshire, Cheshire County, ss.
Be it remembered that before me Frederick
Vose a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County on this twelfth day of May A.D. 1854,
Personally appeared William Ruggles of Walpole
in the County aforesaid and made oath in
due form of Law that he is Town Clerk of
said town, and has in his custody the
Records of Marriages, Births and deaths of
the inhabitants thereof. That he has duly
searched for the record of the births of the
children of Robert & Chloe Gilchrist and
that a record thereof does not appear.
That he has likewise duly searched for a
record of the marriage of Ralph Temple & Harriet Temple (formerly Harriet Gilchrist ) & of
the marriage of Orick Look & Lucinda Lock
(formerly Lucinda Gilchrist ) and that no record of either of said marriages appears upon
the records of said town of Walpole
William Ruggles Town Clerk of Walpole
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year
first aforesaid, before me -
Frederick Vose, Justice of the Peace
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No 2
th
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office,Boston,
February 15th 1854

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 Robert Gilchrist
is borne on muster roll of the soldiers
from the Town of Lunenburg Enlisted
to serve in the Continental Army
for the term of six mos. from July 8.
1780 to January 11, 1781 6 mos 12 days
as private from Lunenberg. Served in the
Late Capt. Johns Parkers Comp. in the Seventh
Mass. Regt. commanded by Lt. Col. John Brooks
Roll Endorsed "Discharged Jany 11, 1781
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written
E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Chloe Gilchrist, deceased, widow of Robert
New Hampshire
Act July 7 1838
Admitted
6 mos Private of Juzy
at $20. per annum
from March 4 1836 to
September 17 1838 when
she died.
Certificate payable to 
Harriet Temple &
Lucinda Look
her only surviving
children -
Atty L. D. Stevens
Concord N.H.
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Breif in the case of Chloe Gilchrist, decd, widow of Robert Cheshire
County and State of New Hampshire
act July 7. 1838
Claim, ("original," [crossed out] or "for increase,") 
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Senrie - Proved by rolls
Marriage &c by parol
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Admitted by advice of the Commissioner
Name and residence of Agent
L. D. Stevens
Concord N.H.
D. Stevens

S. G. Dodge
Examining Clerk.
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[circled] Dec. in from
Chloe Gilchrist, widow of Robert
act July 7. 1838
Married before 1794 by parol evidence of
[symbol] several witnesses certified to be credible
Service of 6 mn and 12 days as private
of Infantry shown by Sec. of State Mass
Robert Gilchrist died in 1819
Chloe 17th [illegible] '38 -
The following children viz
Harriet Temple
Lucinda Look

L. D. Stevens                                  
Concord,
Mass. 

[notation off to side]
54
25
1779
10
1789

 [symbol] write for further proof of marriage
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Concord NH April 7 1854
Sir:
With this I forward the application of the heirs of Chloe Gilchrist widow of Robert for the arrears due them in right of the said Chloe under the Act of 1838-
The papers marked No 1 are the declaration of the applicants and the original declaration of the said Robert when he applied in his life time for pension under the Act of 1818. which is supported by the certificate of the Secretary of Mass No 2-
No 3 contains evidence of the date of the death of the said Robert and the identity of widow & children. From 4 t- 6 you will find evidence of the marriage of the said Robert and Chloe. 
Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
L. D. Stevens.
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Concord N.H. June 28 1854
Sir
herewith forward addition evidence on the points suggested in your last letter in this case.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
L. D. Stevens

Hon L. P. Waldo
Commr. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Concord N.H. May 26 1854

Sir
I herewith forward additional evidence in support of the claim of Chloe Gilchrist widow of Robert for pension under the Act of 1838. which I think must be satisfactory
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
S.D. Stevens

Hon L.P. Waldo
Comm'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Concord N H July 11 1854
Sir
Your letter of the 8th just relative in the claim of Chloe Gilchrist widow of Robert for pension under the Act of 1838 has been duly received
I have as requested, carefully examined the copies of the testimony filed in the case and am clearly of the decision that t meets the requirements of the Act of 1838 fully, although it may not those of your letter of the 1st addressed
The language of said act is ,"Whose marriage took place after the expiration of the last term of service and before [underlined] the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four"
Of then it is proved that the marriage took place before Jan 1st 1794 it is perfectly immaterial on what precise day [underlined] it took place.
In this case, I contend that it has been satisfactorily established that the marriage took place
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previous to Jan 1st 1794
My position then is that claimants have proved beyond a reasonable doubt all that the law requires them to prove.
I have to request that this case may, through you, be referred to the Secretary of the Interior for his decision of the question at issue, together with this letter

I am respectfully
Your Obt Servt
S.D. Stevens
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Concord N.H. April 21 1854

Sir
I herewith forward a second affidavit of James Hooker relative to the marriage of Robert and Chloe Gilchrist which is in support of the claim of the said Chloe for pension under the Act of 1838.
In this affidavit the circumstances which enable the affiant to recollect the date, are stated, also the fact that no family record of said Robert & Chloe Gilchrist was kept.
I hope this may be found satisfactory.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
S D Stevens
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I James Hooper of Wellpole N.H. depose and say that I have already given two affidavits relative to the marriage of Robert Gilchrist and my sister Chloe Hooper that I am enabled to recollect the year in which the said marriage took place in the following way. I distinctly recollect that I was ten years of age where my sister Chloe Gilchrists first child was born that I recollect that her first child was born in the month of May after her marriage which took place in the month of March. I recollect the time of the birth of the child more distinctly from the fact that the occurrence was an unusual one, and caused considerable talk in the family & elsewhere that I am now seventy five years of age and recollect that I was harrowing on the day where my said sister Chloe gave birth to her first child I have no doubt about the fact, above stated, my recollection is distinct, and I have given the means by which I am able to recollect as well as I can express it.
James Hooper
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire Ls
This twenty second day of May 1854
Sworn to & subscribed before me
Lewis Luna Justice of the Peace
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I Elizabeth D. Lane of Walpole in the County of Cheshire New Hampshire depose and say that I am Eighty three years of age. That I came from Brockton in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the month of February 1794 and then became acquainted with Robert Gilchrist and his wife Chloe that they were married before I came to Walpole. and as I have good reason to believe in the year 1789, the circumstance of the first child of said Chloe being born a short time after the marriage took place was frequently mentioned among the people. and from that circumstance I am enabled to remember that the marriage was several years before any acquaintance with them. I have no means of fixing the year but from my remembrance of what was said, and the information I rec'd from others I have no reason to doubt that the marriage took place as early as seventeen hundred and eighty nine 
Elizabeth D. Lane
Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty second day of May 1854, 
Lewis Lane
Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Cheshire County ss
I Leonard Bisco Clerk of the superior court of judicature of said state for said county of Cheshire, do hereby certify that Lewis Lane, Frederick Vose and George F. Starkweather, each of whose names are subscribed to one or more of the annexed papers were on the fourteenth day of March A.D. 1854 ever since have been and still are Justices of the Peace for said County of Cheshire duly authorized by law to take depositions and administer oaths and that their several signatures to said papers are in my belief genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of said court this sixth day of April A.D. 1854
Leonard Bisco. Clerk.
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State of New Hampshire, Cheshire County SS, -
On this fourteenth day of March in the year 1854 before me the Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared William Farnam and Eliza Farnam of Walpole in said County. who being first duly sworn according to law on oath declare that they well knew Robert Gilchrist a Revolutionary soldier of said Walpole deceased and that he died on the thirty first day of December in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen (1819) that he left a widow whose name was Chloe Gilchrist, and that she remained a widow to the time of her death, that she died on the seventeenth day of September AD 1838 leaving Harriet now Harriet Temple and Lucinda Doole her children & children of the said Robert and that they are the only surviving children of the said Robert and Chloe, and the only children of either of them. They further declare that they have been in a situation to know & be acquainted with the persons above named & that said sisters are the children of the identical Robert Gilchrist & wife Chloe Gilchrist
William Farnam
Eliza Farnam
Attest:
Lewis Lane 
Sworn to and subscribed by the said
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William Farnam and Eliza Farnam Before me
this fourteenth day of March 1854 and I
certify that they are respectable persons and
credible witnesses, and that I am disinterested
Lewis Lane Justice of the Peace
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No 4
State of New Hampshire, County of Cheshire Town of Walpole.
I William Ruggles of Walpole aforesaid testify depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in said town County & that I have the care and custody of the record of Births marriages etc & that I have made due examination and search for record of the marriage of Robert Gilchrist and Chloe Hooper, who it is supposed were married in this town about the year 1789 or 1790. I further certify that I am unable to find a record of said marriage.
William Ruggles Town Clerk of Walpole
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this fourth day of April 1854. And I do certify that said Ruggles is a credible witness
Frederick Vose Justice of the Peace
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No 5
State of New Hampshire Cheshire County SS
Be it remembered that on this first day of April 1854 before me Lewis Lane a Justice of the Peace in and for said County in said State personally appeared James Hooper and made oath according to law that he is seventy five years, a resident of Walpole in said County that he was were acquainted with Robert Gilchrist and his wife Chloe that he well recollects they were married in March 1789 that they had a child born in the month of May following on which day of its birth I was from home at work with my fathers team a harrowing for a Mr. Hall- that said Chloe was Chloe Hooper before her marriage with said Gilchrist, the said Robert - and Chloe leave two children to wit: Mrs. Lucinda Look and Harriet Temple, that he is a disinterested witness
James Hooper
Sworn to and subscribed before me this first day of April 1854 and I certify that said affiant is a credible witness and I am not-interested in the result of his testimony
Lewis Lane Justice of the Peace
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No 6
I Isaac Redington of Keene in the County of Cheshire and
State of New Hampshire Testify and declare that my age
is Eighty two years, that I well knew Robert Gilchrist
before the year 1789 in Lunenburg Massachusetts, that
I went to Walpole in this County in 1789 was there a
portion of the time up to the year 1795 when I made
that my permanent home & was in the Mercantile
business between thirty and forty years, I well remember
that said Gilchrist Married Chloe Hooper and
remember that some people were much surprised,
but I cannot state definitely the time of the
marriage. It was before the year 1794, and as
I think about the time I went to Walpole 1789
they were married in Walpole but I do not
remember the year in which Gilchrist
settled in Walpole, I knew his wife Chloe, but
was not so well acquainted with her as with
her husband, and the others of the Hooper family.
He further declares that he has no interest direct
or indirect in the result of the heirs of Gilchrist
application for pension

Witness-- George E. Adams 
G.F. Starkweather
Isaac
Redington
his mark

Sworn to and subscribed this fourth day of April 1854
Before me and I certify that said affiant is a credible
witness and respectable citizen, George F. Starkweather
Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire Cheshire County SS
Be it remembered that on this nineteenth day of April
1854 Before me Lewis Jane a justice of the Peace in and
for said county in said State, personally appeared James Hooper and made oath according to law that he is seventy
five years of age, a resident of Walpole in said county that he was well acquainted with Robert Gilchrist and his wife, Chloe
who was Chloe Hooper before her marriage with the said Robert Gilchrist and the sister of the above said Robert and Chloe were married in March 1789 which marriage was consumated by Esqr French
of said Walpole, that the said Chloe was delivered of a child on the fourth day of the following may, that he recollects it from the circumstance of being at a whichborn a harrowing on that day and on return home he was shown the new comer, that he was ten years old when he drove his Fathers team to do the said harrowing- that it was not the custom of the said Robert and wife to record births in Bible as is with many families and that there is good reason to believe that no record of the marriage or of the births of children exists,
that Mrs. Lucinda Look and Mrs. Harriet Temple are the only surviving children of the said Robert and Chloe
James Hooper
Sworn to and subscribed before me this nineteenth day
of April 1854 and I certify that the said affiant is a credible witness and I am not interested in the result of
his testimony
Lewis Lane Justice of the Peace