Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2715, Jonathan Blodget, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
N.H.|Blodget, Jonathan|W.2715|
[blank]|Parney|B.L.Wt. 26402-160-55|
[end of columns]
CONTENTS
Page 2

[verso]
18.275
Maine
Jonathan Blodget of Oxford Co in the State of Maine who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Goodal (Goodale) of the Regt. commanded by [blank] in the NH MA line for 11 mo. 
______
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 36. Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of August 1833 and sent to J. G. Cole. Paris.
______
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $73.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 18.33
$91.65
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 1 Page 4 

[recto]
897
Maine
Parney Blodget widow of Jonathan Blodget 
NH who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
 Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to  commence on the [date crossed out] 10th day of December 1850.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of May 18[illegible] and sent to Hon. C. Andrews H of R
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act July 29, 1848, Page 1, Vol. A
Page 3

[verso]
135.716 Act Mar. 3/55 May 16/55
Parney Blodget widow of Jonathan Blodget, Pri
Revolutionary War
[illegible]
[overwritten: No 26403 iss May 26/56]
Me July 48-897
ad: 160 acs May 22d,/56
Boynton
RW
Moses Mason Bethel Me

[recto]
Mr. Mason, Feb. 15/56
Vol. B. 164.
Page 4

Jonathan Blodget
16808
Jonathan Blodget
Page 5

STATE OF MAINE. 
COUNTY OF Oxford ss. 
ON this 15th day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate now sitting, Jonathan Blodget a resident of Gilead in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on this oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. 
that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six in the month of February I enlisted in the service of the State of Newhampshire then residing in the town of Jaffrey in County of Cheshire and State of Newhampshire under Captain Goodale (the other officers I cannot recollect) and marched to Winter Hill in Charleston (Charlestown) in the state of Massachusetts to guard the British against Bunker Hill and in three or four weeks the British left then I went on to Bunker Hill and remained their my time out being two months
and on the first of June in the aforesaid year I enlisted in said Jaffrey and immediately marched to No. four then called but now Charlesto(w)n in said State of Newhampshire and from thence to Skenesborough, now White Hall in the State of Vermont thence down the Lake in boat to Mount Independence and was employed in building forts and in scouting parties untill the next December a term of seven months, and in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven I enlisted under Captain Stowe (I do not recollect the name of Colonel) in General John Stark's Brigade then residing in the aforesaid Jaffrey and then marched to No. four  which is now called Charlesto(w)n thence to Manchester in the State of Vermont and from thence to Ben(n)ington in said State of Vermont and remained their untill after the Battle of Ben(n)ington thence I marched to Saratoga Meadows and remained untill my time being out a term of two months.
Page 6

And the 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 applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, he having adduced the deposition of Moses Mason on oath duly administered in corroboration of his own declaration. 
/s/Stephen Emery Judge. 
I Joseph G. Cole Register ['Clerk' crossed out] of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Blodget for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 15th day of September A.D. 1832. 
['CLERK.' crossed out] /s/Joseph G. Cole Register
Page 7

Jon'a Blodget 19.981
Jonathan Blodget 
Oxford Cy Maine
Rejected - See letter 10 May 1826. 
See Letter to Hon: J. W. Ripley 12 Jan: 1828.
Page 8

State of Maine
Oxford County ss. 
On this twenty fifth day of January A.D. 1826, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas for said county in open Court the same being a Court of Record, Jonathan Blodget, resident in Gilead in said county, aged sixty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he enlisted at Cambridge & Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Month of April AD 1776 for the term of three years - as a private soldier in Captain Perkins' Company, Colonel Wyman's Regiment in the New-Hampshire line on the continental establishment; that he served a short-time at said Cambridge, from which place he was marched with said Company to Ticonderoga, & continued to serve in the State of New-York until after the taking of Burgoyne, - and being taken sick & unable to do duty, and the troops being ordered to the Southward, he received from General Gates a regular discharge, which is lost - 
And I the said Blodget do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, & that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War", passed on the 18 day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed by me subscribed
/s/Jonathan Blodget
Sworn to & declared on in open Court this twenty fifth day of January A.D. 1826.
Before /s/Samuel E. Smith, One of the Justices of said Court
Page 9

Schedule of the whole property belonging to me the subscriber viz - 
Real estate the declarant has none, and has owned none for thirty years last past.
Personal estate. 
One Cow, valued at - $12.00
One Swine - 3.00
One bed & bedding - 20.00
One kettle - 1.00
One  do. 40 years old - .50
One old broken table - .25
One pot 20 years old - .50
One old tea kettle - .50
Four very old chairs - .25
Two old spinning wheels - 2.00
Two pails - .25
One old chest - .50
3 knives & forks, & 3 plates - 1.00
3 plates, 6 cups & saucers - .45
One old tea canister - .12
One Tumbler - .12
Old baskets & other refuse articles - 1.00
$43.44
Jonathan Blodget 
The fair value of the articles in the foregoing schedule is certainly not more than forty three dollars and forty four cents - 
/s/Samuel E. Smith, Judge of C.C. Pleas -
Page 10

Schedule of the family residing with me, Jonathan Blodget who am by occupation a labourer on land, living by sustenance on land of a stranger. 
Joseph Blodget aged 20 years, who is sickly & feeble, & as soon as he arrives at the age of 21 years, will leave me. 
Roxana aged 17 years, who is married, but  is supported by me
Elizabeth Blodget aged 15 yrs, & scarcely able to support herself 
George Washington Blodget, aged 12 yrs - & does somethin, not great. 
Ruby Blodget aged 6 yrs. & not able to earn her living. 
The Wife of said applicant, who is 53 yrs old & is feeble
/s/Jonathan Blodget - 
Oxford ss. C.C.P Jan. Term 1826
Sworn to in open Court
Before /s/Samuel E. Smith a Judge of said Court 
State of Maine
Oxford County ss: Court of Common Pleas, January Term, A.D. 1826. 
I, Rufus K. Goodenow Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Oxford do hereby certify that the foregoing oath to the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of said Court, that the total amount of property, in value exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is forty three dollars & forty four cents
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed the seal of the said Court this eighteenth day of April 1826. 
/s/Rufus K. Goodenow, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Oxford County
Page 11

No ['104' '1042' crossed out] 1041
Parney Blodget widow of Jonathan Me 
Act 29 July 1848
Married 1795
Hus'd died 10 Dec 1850
Adm 11 mos pri $36:66 per annum, com'g 10 Dec 1850. 
Hon. C. Andrews.
H of R
Page 12

State of Maine
County of Oxford S.S.
I George K. Shaw Register of the Court of Probate for said County being a Court of Record, hereby certify, that Job Prince whose proper Attestation is affixed to the declaration of Parney Blodget and the affidavit of Parmenio Peabody which are hereto annexed, is Judge of said Court, and that full faith and credit are due to his acts as such in and out of Court - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name this sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
/s/Geo. K. Shaw, Register
Page 13

State of Maine
County of Oxford} S.S.
On this sixth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and fifty two personally appeared before the Court of Probate for said County Parney Blodget a resident of Gilead in said County of Oxford aged Seventy Six years who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the twenty ninth day of July in the year 1848, that she is the widow of Jonathan Blodget, who was a private in the Revolutionary War, and for proof of his service as well as the Corps to which he belonged, she would refer the Department to the declaration of the said Jonathan Blodget and the accompanying papers on which he was granted a pension of thirty six dollars and sixty six cents per annum under the Act of 7th June 1832 the Certificate of which was numbered 18.275 and has been surrendered to the Agent for paying pensions in Portland, Maine - She further declares that she was married to the said Jonathan Blodget by Rev'd Mr. Fish in the town of Marlborough
Page 14

[illegible/blank]
Page 15

and State of New Hampshire on the eighth day of October in the year seventeen hundred ninety five and that her maiden name was Goodnow before her marriage - that her husband the aforesaid Jonathan Blodget died at Gilead aforesaid on the tenth day of December in the year eighteen hundred and fifty; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the second day of January eighteen hundred viz; at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before made application for a pension
/s/X her mark Parney Blodget
Sworn to and subscribed by said declarant in open Court, on the day and year first above written
Before Me, /s/Job Prince} Judge of Probate for said County of Oxford
Page 16

This Certifies that Mr. Jonathan Blodget and Miss Parney Goodnow both of Marlborough personally before me, on the eighth day of October in the  year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, and were lawfully married by me. 
/s/Holloway Fish Clarican 
A true copy Attest, /s/Calvin Stone Town Clerk
I, William Boyden, Town Clerk of the Town of Marlborough in the county of Cheshire and State of New-Hampshire, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of the certificate of marriage to Mr. Jonathan Blodget and Parney Goodnow, as aforesaid, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows; Oct 8th 1795. 
Attest /s/William Boyden Town Clerk as aforesaid}
I William Boyden, above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the County, Town & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me. 
/s/William Boyden, Clerk of the town of Marlborough as aforesaid. 
State of Newhampshire. Cheshire S.S. June 11th 1851
Sworn to before me /s/James Wakefield Justice of the Peace.
Page 17

State of New-Hampshire
Cheshire County ss. 
I Leonard Bisco, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature of said State, for said county, do hereby certify that James Wakefield whose name is subscribed to the within certificate was on the eleventh day of June A.D. 1851. and still is, a Justice of the Peace within and for said county duly commissioned and sworn as such according to law, and that his signature aforesaid, within written, is in my belief genuine. 
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand and the seal of said court this eighteenth day of November A.D. 1851.
/s/Leonard Bisco. Clerk
Page 18

I Parmenio Peabody of Gilead in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, aged forty six years, on oath depose and say that I was well acquainted with Jonathan Blodget late of said Gilead, that he was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States that he died at Gilead aforesaid, in the early part of December in the year eighteen hundred and fifty that he left a widow by the name of Parney Blodget who still remains a widow and now resides in said Gilead. 
/s/Parmenio Peabody
State of Maine 
Oxford County} S.S.
On this sixth day of January in the year 1852 personally appeared Parmenio Peabody a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before Me /s/Job Prince Judge of Probate for said County
Page 19

Parney Blodget
Bounty Land Claim 
Act March 5, 1855
135,716
Moses Mason Attorney
Page 20

State of Maine
County of Oxford}ss.
On this twenty ninth day of March 1855 before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid personally Parney Blodgett aged seventy six years a resident of Gilead County of Oxford in the State of Maine who made oath in due form of law, that she is the [illegible] Parney Blodgett to whom under the provisions of the Act of July 29th 1848 a pension of 36 66/100 dollars per annum has been allowed for the services of her late husband Jonathan Blodgett a private in the Revolutionary war, and late of Oxford County State of Maine she further states that her pension certificate under the aforesaid act is numbered 897 bares date the twenty ninth day of January A.D. 1852 and is made payable at the Portland Maine Agency she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the Act of March 3d 1855 never having received or known herself entitled, or made application under any previous act of Congress. In evidence of her marriage and proof of service of her said husband, she respectfully refers to the proofs heretofore added now on file in the Pension Office and upon which her annuity as aforesaid was granted that since being placed on the list of Revolutionary Pensioners she has not intermarried but continues the widow
Page 21

of the said Jonathan Blodgett
She appoints as her attorney for the within identified purpose and with power of substitution Moses Mason of Bethel Oxford County Maine
/s/X her mark Parney Blodget
/s/Perley B. Heath 
/s/George W. Mills 
Sworn to subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I know the aforesaid Parney Blodgett to be the identical person she alleges herself to be a pensioner of the United States and at the date of the execution of this declaration a widow; and that I am not interested in her claim as Agent Attorney or otherwise. 
/s/William Potter Justice of the Peace 
STATE OF MAINE.
COUNTY OF OXFORD, SS. 
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court.
I, ELISHA WINTER, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, within and for the COUNTY OF OXFORD, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, hereby certify that William Potter Esquire, whose genuine signature appears to the Certificates hereunto annexed, was at the respective dates thereof, a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
Page 22

State of Maine
County of Oxford}ss. 
On this twenty ninth day of March 1855 before me the  undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, authorised by law to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Perley B. Heath and George W. Mills residents of Gilead County of Oxford in the State of Maine known to me as credible persons who made oath in due form of law, that Parney Blodgett who in their presence has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing declaration is to their personal knowledge the identical person to whom under the provisions of the act of 1848 a pension of 36 66/100 dollars per annum has been granted for the services of her late husband Jonathan Blodgett deceased a private of the Revolutionary war that since being placed on the roll of pensions she the said Parney Blodgett has not intermarried but remains and no is, a widow; that they have known her for twenty years and derive their knowledge of the facts herein named from the following circumstance to wit having lived in the imediate neighbourhood
they further state that they are disinterested witnesses
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written
/s/William Potter, Justice of the Peace
Page 23

Revy WIDOW, &c. [initials: own]
File No. 2715
Parney Blodget widow Jonathan Blodget
Pri. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index: - Vol. A, Page 66
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 24

Ex'r. INVALID. 
No. 953
['Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.' crossed out] [initials: own]
REJECTED
Jonathan Blodget
P.O. [blank]
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank]
Discharged: [blank]
Application filed: [blank]
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
Page 25

[verso]
26,402
160 acres

[recto]
19.981
Jonathan Blodget
Maine 
Act 18 1818. 
claim Rejected. 
See letters 10 May 1826 to Hon. E. Linden. & 12th January 1828 to Hon. J. W. Ripley
not cont'd
953
Page 26

State of Maine
Oxford County ss
Be it known, that on this fourteenth day of June AD 1825 personally appeared Ezra Stiles of Gilead in the County of Oxford aforesaid, who being first sworn agreeably to law doth depose & say, that Jonathan Blodget of the said Gilead served as a private soldier in the war of the Revolution against Great Britain in Capt. Parker's Company, Col Wyman's Regiment, that said Blodget enlisted at Cambridge and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the early part of the year 1776 for the term of three years, that said Blodget served as aforesaid before more than one year when the troops being ordered to the South, the said declarant marched away from New York, and was separated from said Blodget 
The said declarant served in Capt Crafts' Company, Col. [illegible] Regiment - 
/s/Ezra Stiles
Oxford ss. June 14, AD 1825
Personally appeared the above named Ezra Stiles and made oath to the truth of the foregoing  deposition by him subscribed before me
/s/Stephen Emery, Justice of the Peace.
Page 27

State of Maine
Oxford County ss:
I Rufus K. Goodenow, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts holden in & for said County of Oxford, hereby certify that Stephen Emery Esquire before whom the preceding deposition was taken, is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Oxford, and that the signature on the other page, purporting to be that of the said Emery, is his own proper hand writing. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand & affix the Seal of one of said Courts, this eighteenth day of April 1826
/s/Rufus K. Goodenow Clerk of all the Judicial Courts for Oxford County
Depo. Ezra Stiles
Page 28

I Benjamin Ladd of Belmont in the County of Hancock and State of Maine Yeoman, on oath depose and say; That Jonathan Blodget, now or late of Gilead in Maine District, served as a private soldier in the war of the Revolution, on the Continental establishment, against the common enemy. I knew said Blodget well - He belonged to Col. Wyman's Regiment and was in Capt. Parker's Company - The Lieutenant's name I think was Hunter & the Ensign was Rand - Blodget enlisted at Cambridge in Massachusetts, where he served about nine months, when his regiment moved on towards Canada, & I went with him - Blodget enlisted for three years & served, to my knowledge more than one year before we were separated, I think Blodget enlisted in the early part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy six I left Blodget with the regiment and returned to my friends on a visit how much longer he served I know not but understood he served out the term of enlistment and served accordingly.
/s/Benj'n Ladd
State of Maine
Hancock ss - On the sixteenth day of March in the year of oner Lord eighteen hundred and twenty five the aforesaid Deponent was examined, and continued and sworn, agreeable to law to the deposition aforesaid, by him subscribed, taken at the request of Jonathan Blodget aforesaid, to be used by the Hon. Secretary, in the Department of War, at the City of Washington, in an enquiry there instituted by the said Blodget setting forth that he served as a private soldier, in the War of the Revolution, on the Continental establishment, and is therefore entitled to be enrolled upon the pension list of the Soldiers of the Revolution. 
/s/William White Jus. Peace
Page 29

State of Maine
Hancock County ss. 
I Eben'r Poor, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts holden within and for said County of Hancock, do hereby certify, that William White, Esq. before whom annexed proceedings were had is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Hancock - and that the signature in the other page purporting to be that of said Wm. White is his own proper signature and hand writing
[county seal affixed] In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the County Seal, this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five. - 
/s/Eben. Poor} Clerk of the Judicial Courts for said County of Hancock.
Page 30

I Moses Mason of Bethel in the State of Maine and County of Oxford do testify and say that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six I enlisted in the Service of the State of Newhampshire in Capt -- Parker's Company and Colonel Wyman Regiment and was mustered in Jaffrey in the State of Newhampshire and that Jonathan Blodget of said Jaffrey was mustered with me on the first day of June in the aforesaid year and from thence marched to No. four then called but now Charleston (Charlestown) in said State and from thence to Skenesborough now White Hall in the State of Vermont thence down the Lake in boats to Mount Independence and was employed in building forts and on scouting parties untill the next December a term of seven months and in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven. I enlisted under Capt -- Stone (I cannot recollect the name of the Colonel) and General John Stark's Brigade and the above said Jonathan Blodget was mustered with me and after being mustered we marched to No. four which is now Charlesto(w)n thence to Manchester in the State of Vermont and from thence to Bennington in said State of Vermont and remained there untill After the battle of Bennington then the said Blodget marched to Saratoga Meadows the last term being two months
/s/Moses Mason 
Oxford ss. September, the sixth one thousand eight hundred and thirty two this day the above Moses Mason personally appeared and made oath to the tenth of of the above Deposition before me
/s/Moses Mason Jr. Justice Peace
Oxford ss I certify that the above named Moses Mason is a person of truth and veracity
/s/Moses Mason Jr. Justice Peace
Page 31

STATE OF MAINE. 
OXFORD COUNTY, SS. 
I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that Moses Mason Jr whose genuine signature is annexed to the foregoing Deposition of Moses Mason is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Oxford. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this 18th day of October in the year A.D. 1832
/s/R. K. Goodenow {Clerk of Oxford County Courts
Page 32

Jonathan Blodget
11 months $36.66
J. G. Cole Esq.
Paris Maine
Page 33

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Blodget Gilead Maine which require further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [blank] 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes 
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? ['no' crossed out]
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ['no' crossed out]
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the other under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? no device
Page 34

2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? ['no' crossed out]
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? [blank]
XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has the produced direct proof as to service, as the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no - see quere 14
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ↕Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?No See quere 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? [blank] 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ______year______months, and______days______, I served as a______; and for such service I claim a pension.”
Page 35

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of  his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
↕QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
⇨ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 36

Brief in the case of Parney Blodget, widow of Jonathan, Oxford County and State of Maine
act 29 July 1848
Claim, ("original," or ['"for increase."' crossed out])
Proof exhibited. (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance. 
Husband was a pensioner. 
Record proof of marriage
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what? [blank]
/s/S. Cole 
Examining Clerk. 
Name and residence of Agent
/s/Hon C. Andrews H of R
Page 37

[handwritten letter]
Washington Jany 10, 1851

Dr Sir
Enclosed are the papers of Widow Blodget for a pension
An early accession of her case is earnestly solicited
Please communicate to me the result & oblige your 
Obt Serv't
/s/Chas Andrus 
To the Hon Mr. Heath 
Com'r of Pensions
Page 38

[handwritten letter]
No. 135716 - 
Bethel June 2, 1856

Dear Sir - 
With regard to the application No. 136716 of Mrs. Blodget I presume that in pursuance of the act of May 14, 1856 - we shall not need to make exertion for Record Evidence of Service as the proofs now in The Pension Department will be taken as sufficient 
Please inform me if incorrect
Respy Yours - 
/s/Moses Mason
Hon. J. Minot
Comiss. of Pensions
Washington}
Page 39

I, Caleb Wight of Gilead in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, being forty two years of age, on oath make affidavit, that I was born in said Gilead and have ever lived there, that I have been well acquainted with Jonathan Blodgett late of said Gilead, deceased, who was a Revolutionary Pensioner, up to the time of his death - that the said Blodgett died on the tenth day of December last past (1850-) that I attended his funeral, and that Parney Blodgett, of said Gilead, who is an applicant for a pension for the Revolutionary services of the said deceased, is his widow. 
/s/Caleb Wight 
State of Maine. 
Oxford ss: August 9th 1851. Personally appeared Caleb Wight and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, is true
Before me /s/Moses Mason Justice of the Peace
Page 40

State of Maine
Oxford ss. 
I Wm. K. Kimball Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Oxford hereby certify that Moses Mason Esqr. is an acting Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum within and for each and every of our Counties through the State, duly appointed and qualified that the Commission of the said Mason is dated May, Eleventh, A.D. 1847. and will expire the Eleventh day of May A.D. 1843 - and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this Thirteenth day of October A.D. 1851. 
/s/William K. Kimball Clerk