Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26709, for Wm Prentice, Connecticut
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Conn. 1  Prentice, Wm. W. 26709
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9588 
New York 
Zephrah Kenyon, 
formerly widow of William Prentice who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 11 August, 1812, of Onondaga (in the State of N.Y) who was a private in the - commanded by Captain - commanded by - in the  Connecticut line for 12 months. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 40 - Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 
Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of September, 1845 and sent to E. A Brown Syracuse, N.Y 
Total amount, - $400.00 
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by W M Steuart Clerk 
Book D Vol. 1 - Page 165
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No 9253 
Zephra Kenyon 
formerly widow of William Prentice N. York 
Suspended 
Let to E. A. Brown Sept. 1843 & 
Hon H. Wheaton July 27 ’44 
to E. A Brown August 24 ‘44.
To E. A. Brown July 16 1845 
Act July 7 ‘38
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House of Reps. 
Washington City June 7 1844 
J. L. Edwards Esq 
Dr Sir 
I enclose a letter from Mssrs E. A. Brown & Johnson Hall Esqr of Syracuse, together with an affidavit relating to the pension case mentioned in the said letter, I desire you will look at this case immediately & report the result of your examination to me as early as possible. 
Very Respectfully &c 
Horace Wheaton
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Edward A. Brown 
Johnson Hall 
FREE 
[stamp] SYRACUSE N.Y. MAY 31 
Hon Horace Wheaton 
H. R 
Washington City D.C.
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Syracuse May 18. 1844 
Dear Sir,
I have sent papers to Mr. Edwards this commissioner of Pensions, relative to a Claim of Zephra Kenyon of Lafayette for a pension under Act of July 7. 1838 on account of the Revolutionary services of her former husband William Prentice.   
The proof of service for over four years has been forwarded & I suppose it is all of record in the department.   Since I have heard any thing from the case I have sent (about January last) additional papers endeavoring thereby to relieve the case of the lag that seemed to be about it.   
I am apprehensive that the only difficulty in the case arises from the that I very verdantly, as it turns out, undertook to hunt up proof of the case in proof of service & Marriage before shewing any papers which would subject her to expense of trouble.  I did make examination & there found Just perfect proof of service in the identical kind & place  of service described by her - that I immediately sent the old lady word that her case could be proved. & prepared papers accordingly. But it is gravely objected that the certificate of service for the office of the Comptroller of Conn. bears date before her declaration.  That is even so, but I have sworn that I committed no fraud & my impression is that there is nothing in the certificate to help the Declaration as to officers &c but that will shew for itself. I have a perfect
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recollection of Mrs. Kenyon's case as originally stated to me.  This appears from my affidavit now at the pension office.   
Now, Sir, will you allow me to urge you, if not inconsistent with your other duties to call on Mr Edwards & look over this case & see if you cannot from the papers shew that there is no real objection to granting the pension in this case. I am abundantly satisfied that this case is meritorious & it is either humiliating to reflect that my unskillfulness should be the means of defeating such a claim.  Mrs. Kenyons age, borne down by poverty, & is on the bank of the grave,  as I have recently learned therefore haste is all important.   
Judge Hall, with whom you are acquainted Sent Mrs. Kenyons case to me. I have requested him to write you a line upon this subject & hope you will interest yourself in this case because her case is meritorious- because her poverty & proximity to the grave, require prompt action.   I fear more than a year has elapsed since the case has been undergoing examination about ten months since it was presented to the Department.   
Moreover some itinerant pension agents assure the old lady that they have Coadjutors in the pension department who will procure her claim to be allowed if she will only allow them one quarter of her pension, for their services but that she cannot get it otherwise. This creates a perfect fever in the old Lady mind
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& keeps her in a constant Stew. 
On the whole will you call & use your best exertions to have a speedy examination of the supplemental papers made & a final decision without delay.   
If the Characters of Judge Hall & myself [unreadable] any quantity perfect good of the faith with which every is has been prosecuted this case then you and the department may rest assured that the righteousness of the claim is unquestionable.
The enclosed aft [affidavit] of Mrs. Wentworth explains itself. The old lady is very conscientious  but has miscalculated the time of a certain event & therefore it is corrected at her request. 
I am Sir Very Respectfully Your Obt Svt.
Edward A. Brown
Hon Horace Wheaton  
Washington City 
Hon. H. Wheaton 
Sir 
I am well acquainted with Mrs Kenyon the widow mentioned in the above letter of Mr Brown and knew her first husband William Prentice in his life time.  I was first applied to by the friend of Mrs Kenyon  to assist in making out her Papers procuring the proof &c and advised her to apply to Mr Brown who has be attending to her case.  I am of the opinion that the old Lady
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is entitled to the Pension claimed by her & hope you will (as soon as convenient) call on Mr. Edwardd & endeavor to satisfy him in relation to the matter.   Mr. Brown would not attempt to take any comm. in this matter which is not proper & honorable, this statement in relation to the proceedings in this case may be relied on.
Respectfully Yours Johnson Hall 
[stamp] SYRACUSE N.Y. MAY 31
Edward A Brown 
Johnson Hall
FREE
Hon Horace Wheaton
H.R.
Washington city D.C.
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Syracuse July 24th 1845 
Dear Sir,
Your letter of July 16 1845 is before me & from it I learn for the first time that the William Prentice, Whose Revolutionary services appears by record in your office, entered service in 1776. This being so it is clear enough from the papers sent you by me heretofore, those I now send also, that he was not the husband of Zephra, this claimant, in whose behalf have so long labored.   
Since forwarding to you then last set of papers, I have received from Mr. Branch & his sister, three batches of old papers, or rather the afft [affidavits] of J. & A. Branch & also two lots of old papers besides the affts were drawn by me - but were sent to the County Clerk to be certified & were late coming.  I dont find any thing to show where William Prentice of Preston was from July 1779. to Feby or March 1782 - were those a years & a half - I have no doubt he was in the army but the proof as yet, I have not found, if there be two of the name, as all seems probable from the fact that our man was but 13 years old in 1776, as you will see from the enclosed papers.   The last lot I received, was Wheeler's letter & Thomas Branch 2nd advertisement of the run away.   
Let as look at these papers in order - First, Jonathan & Alice Branches aft.   It may be proper to remark here, that I called the above named Jonathan Branch in a great hurry & while I was engaged drawing the first aft, Miss Branch Suggested that there might be some old papers among her fathers papers relative to the matter & thereupon she commenced searching & first found the Deed with Prentices name on it.   I concluded to take
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the Deed. As I progressed with her aft, she discovered the deposition of James Morgan.   I concluded to add that & finally the other paper annexed. After the affts were all [unreadable]  some other papers we found which I have before sent you.   I also discovered an old law of course which I paid little attention to then, but afterward sent for it by mail.   I enclose it here but wish the law returned to me.
These papers go to substantiate the Statements of old Mrs. Kenyon to her former husbands history &c.   
They also prove that after Mr. P. [Prentice] Returned to Mr. Branch, Branch allowed him to be enlisted to go to Stamford or Horseneck to serve on the condition that the Town of Preston would pay hard money for his Services. This was not paid Branch and to recover hard money of the Town --- 2d ---- I now call your attention to the Act of Jany 10 1782 under which the proceedings were had at Town meeting,  paper is marked “No one" & speaks for itself.   Will also the Resolution Paper “No Two” shows more about the suit & includes Prentices [unreadable] memory of the witnesses. Paper No Three same as last “No. Four” is a loose memorandum & showing claim against the Town (without date) amounting to £ 26 Paper "No Five" speaks for itself.  "No Six" ditto. Paper No Seven is more important. It is an original certificate being now of Captain Prentice served under Miles - That he enlisted March 11th 1782 and served until April 6 1783, one year twenty six days exactly/  This is conclusive of so much service he probably served before & possibly after that I am not able to discover the proof as yet
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These all papers taken together thus far & also compared with the proof already adduced establish this claim to this extent, one year & twenty six days, beyond [unreadable]. 
But I have bear favored by Mail with third batch of papers & here you have them, which substantially confirm the statements about his working for Nathan Wheeler paper "No Eight.” It seems the boy liked liberty for which he had been [unreadable].   
Here is a reward of $10 & very accurate description of him; but he came back in 1785 - as appears by endorsement on the paper.   This also [unreadable]  He came of age in Jany 1786 or before I was doubtless married according to contract, forthwith, i.e.  in 1786. He was in his sixteenth year in Jun 1779.  Paper “No Nine” is the last I have, I believe. This is a letter from Nathan Wheeler to Mr. Branch sent by Prentice to him on his return in 1786. It proves identity &c &c. 
 I suppose no further remarks needed. This evidence May give you a [unreadable]  to record proof of this particular service & possibly to his service prior to 1782 &  after 1779. 
At any rate she claims a pension for one year & twenty six days services if you do not find proof of more. 
Respectfully yours 
E. A. Brown 
Hon J. L. Edwards Comr of Pensions
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P.S. I am desirous of having you return the old law & Resolution the letter I have concluded to send alory with the other papers. 
I Suppose I am right in sending these papers on official business without payment of postage 
Yours &c EAB
Memorandum for J. L. Edwards
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Syracuse N.Y. June 30th 1844  
Dr. Sir
After a long delay I find myself at liberty to bestow a little attention upon the application of Mrs. Zephra Kenyon for a pension under the Act of 1838, on account of the Revolutionary Services of William Prentice. 
I have before me your letter dated Sept. 9 1843, from which it appears that your department is in doubt as to the identity of the William Prentice who is proved to have been a Soldier, with the one who is proved to have been the husband of the applicant.  I regret on this occasion, that a different course was not pursued in regard to procuring a certificate of proof of service prior to preparing the Declaration.  The suggestion of a trick which may have forced itself upon the mind of the Commissioner of Pensions, in relation to the times of obtaining This certificate and making the declaration, I have endeavored to explain & place the time its true light by my enclosed affidavit.   The declaration will shew for itself what ruse was made of the certificate, in preparing the declaration. My letter to the Comptr of Conn was sufficiently explicit to draw from him in a very few days the certificate together with the letter which is herewith sent.  He seemed to entertain no doubt about the identity of the person whose Services asked for the Record proof. Some of the officers names are mentioned by Mrs. Kenyon, under whom her husband served I suppose they were correctly named.  She States the place where he enlisted and as "the rolls are perfect as regards the
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service named” (by her) and "contain only the name of one William Prentice”, it seems conclusive to my mind that said William Prentice is the identical person to married the claimant in this case.  Your Conclusion to the contrary strikes me as being indirect conflict with the evidence in the case. Your letter above referred to seems to carry the idea that the claimant says she was married in 1781 & after the expiration of his service." Now I very respectfully suggest that the declaration does not apert that the marriage was Solemnized in 1781 or 1782 - with [unreadable] of positiveness. It is erroneous, if it does, there is an apertion positive - that she was not married until after his service - & within about what time after, to her best recollection she was married.  I am sure that on a careful reperusal of this part of her declaration You will not find her Statement on that point to be positive at all.  I therefore you will not be driven to the conclusion, that the person whom She married was not the person whose Services are proved.   I must be indulged while I add that old Mrs. Kenyon, from all that I have seen of her was always been extremely Cautions about stating any thing positively but what she absolutely remembered.  
As to the circumstances of identity I have further to remark, that my enclosed afft [affidavit] was drawn up with a line of relating the case from any presumption of and upon your department in first obtaining proof of service & then a widow to Match and if possible, to satisfy you that the case
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ought to stand before your mind, the same as it would if the declaration had been actually made before his letter to Connecticut on the 6th of June 1843 further upon the same point (identity).
I send the affidavit of Mr Coleman an old Neighbor therein that Claimants husband was reputed & claimed to be a Revolutionary Soldier prior to his death some thirty years ago.   
Also the affidavit of Mary Hagerty a Niece of Claimant, shewing that William Prentice & Claimant lived together as husband and wife in 1793 & that Prentice was reputed to be a soldier &c.  
Also the afft of Sophia Wentworth shewing her acquaintance from Childhood with William Prentice of the circumstances of his enlistment at Preston,  of his having a brother named Nathaniel Prentice (as she thinks in the same service,) and also another brother Simeon Prentice who was an officer, that Billings Barkweather (Witnesses & Claimants brother) served under him & other circumstances which go to shew the truth of her statement if views of reference were at hand to them where Nathaniel & Simeon actually served - Vide Part script - The time of Zephras Marriage you will see is fixed at considerably more than fifty years ago at least, all the proof on this point fails to fix any specific day of the marriage, but abundantly shows that it was after the war or very near its close.   
I beg leave to add that Mr. Thompsons Gazeteer of Vermont - page 159- Title Shaftsbury - shews that Caleb Blood was for
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many years a Baptist Clergyman in that town & that he left for Boston about the year 1807.  
I am unable to ascertain at present, any further facts in relation to this case. I hope amidst the press of cases presented for your consideration, this the will receive its due attention & Careful consideration. I think with the aid of Careful enquiry & discrimination upon the facts of the case, You will come to the conclusion that seems to be necessarily to follow from all the proofs taken together that Mrs Kenyon’s application is a meritorious one.  
I remain most Respectfully Your Obedient Servant 
Edward A.Brown 
Hon J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions 
P.S. Since writing the above, I find on examining an abstract of the census of 1840 that Billings Starkweather now of Hume, Alleghany County, N.B. The brother of Mr. Wentworth who says he served under Simeon Prentice, is a pensioner.  Perhaps a reference to his papers may have something to confirm Mrs. W. in her statements.
 yours &c. E. A. Brown 
9253
Zepha Kenyon formerly widow of William Prentice 
Act of July 7 1838
Admd [admitted] 
12 mo in 82 – 
40
Also acts 2 March 43 & 17 June 44 
E. A. Brown 
Syracuse NY
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State of Connecticut 
Windham County } ss Jonathan Branch of the Town of Voluntown in said County and State being duly sworn according to law says that he is aged Sixty Eight years upward, that he is a son of Thomas Branch of the Town of Preston (now Griswold) in said State. Deponent further says that he was during the time of the Revolutionary War, somewhat acquainted with William Prentice who had been an apprentice to deponents father, but who was then a soldier in the army. That deponent recollects seeing said Prentice on one or two occasions when, as deponent believes, he was home on furlough for a short time but not deponent is not now able to state the particular time or times when he was at home.   Deponent further says that he perfectly well recollects the fact of said William Prentice's returning home to the house of deponents said father at Preston after the war was concluded, and that he (said William) worked for Deponents father at Preston aforesaid, for some time, perhaps a year or more, after his return from the army as aforesaid deponent further says that he recollects that said William worked for Deponent's father in the summer after his return from the army & that he was employed in mowing
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in Haying time and that he was poisoned in his feet, which circumstance deponent well recollects. Deponent further says that in the fall of the same year (1784 as nearly as deponent can now recollect) said William was ingaged in helping to build a school house near the residence of Deponents father.  That during the time said William worked for Deponents father, as aforesaid a person came there and stayed over night at the house of deponents father, who called himself Captain Miles, & who deponent then understood from both said Miles & said William was the Captain under whom Said William had served some part of the time in the army during the war.   Said Miles called for the purpose of seeing said William & they appeared to be old acquaintances  that they had been in the army together.   Deponent further says that his recollection of the visit of said Captain Miles is perfectly distinct  although the particular words of the conversation  that took place between them is not distinctly recollected, yet the impression then received still retained is as above stated, to wit That said Miles & said Prentice had been in service together in the war, & that Miles was the Captain under whom Said Prentice
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had been in service in the Revolutionary war. Deponent also then understood that another person named Gates was acquainted with said William while in the army, as deponent now believes they here fellow soldiers.  
Deponent further says that after the said Prentice had worked for deponents father as aforesaid for a year or more (the precise length of time is not now recollected) said Prentice left Preston aforesaid removed to the town of Shaftsbury in the State of Vermont that deponent heard a Mr. Cook. neighbor of deponent. say that he saw said Prentice in Vermont, where said Cook had been on a visit.  This was not long after the departure of said Prentice for Vermont as aforesaid.  
Deponent further says that while said Prentice was living with the father of deponent as aforesaid said William's mother came to Preston. Soon afterwards said William left.  Deponents recollection is that the mother of said William resided in Vermont, to which place said William removed.  
Deponent further says that he has an impression that deponents father claimed to be entitled to receive the pay of said William for some of the time that he was engaged as a soldier.  Deponent further says
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that he never knew or heard of any other soldier named William Prentice except the person above described, who was a resident in the family of this deponents said father, and who had been an apprentice to said Thomas Branch, as deponent understood from said Prentice & the family of Deponents father. 
Deponent further says that he finds among the old papers the annexed Deed from Nathaniel Prentice deponents father - deponent never knew said Nathaniel, who as deponent believes had removed from Preston before deponents earliest recollection. 
Deponent further says that he well recollects the fact that his said father instituted a suit against the Town of Preston or some of the officers or citizens of said Town to recover the wages of said Prentice, as a Soldier that he said Thomas Branch claimed his pay in hard money & because that was refused, he commenced a suit in which he failed, according to deponents present recollection.   That this deponent had a brother named Ethel Branch who was a militia man at same time & at different times during the said War & further says not 
Jonathan Branch
Subscribed & Sworn before me this 16th day of May 1845 
John E. Lindley Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut
Windham County } ss Alice Branch of Voluntown in said County & State, being duly sworn, say, that she is a daughter of Thomas Brand now deceased, formerly a resident of Preston in Connecticut & in that part of Preston now called Griswold, that deponent is aged Sixty Six years & upward. that she distinctly recollects William Prentice who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war who afterwards resided in the family of deponents father.  Deponent recollects the circumstance of said William's coming from the army & of his having a gun & of his working for Deponents father, at Preston aforesaid, after the war.  That on one occasion he poisoned his feet, so that he could not work to remained in or about the house for a time.  Deponent also recollects at his mother's coming to see said William & wanting him to go home with her.  Deponent further says that she recollects to the circumstances mentioned in the foregoing affidavit of Jonathan Branch of the Captain's coming to see William & that this deponent then understood that he was the captain or a Captain under  whom William had performed service in the Revolutionary War.  Deponent also recollects that said William
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Prentice drove an ox team one winter from Preston into the State of New York to remove a married sister of this deponent. This was not but a short time after the cease of the said War. 
That this deponent now finds among the old papers belonging to her said father an old Deed from Nathaniel Prentice a Deposition of James Morgan both of which are hereto annexed - deponent further say she well recollects the circumstance of her said father being for the wages of said William Prentice, & that he claimed that the Town of Preston was to pay him for said Williams services as a soldier. & that they had not paid him.   I also recollect that Elias Brown Esquire had some thing to do with the matter of the said suit.  Deponent further says she now finds a citation in said Suit which is hereto annexed & that the Branch whose name appears on the back thereof was a brother of deponent & is now dead. & further says not. 
Alice Branch
Subscribed & Sworn, before me this 16th day of May 1845  
John E Lindley Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut 
Windham County }ss  I, John E Lindley the Justice of the peace before who the foregoing affidavits of Jonathan Branch & Alice Branch were respectively sworn to do hereby certify, that to my knowledge the said Jonathan & Alice are credible persons & in my opinion the statement made by them in the foregoing affidavit respectively are entitled to full confidence & Credit.
I further certify that the following alterations, interlineations to were made in the said afft before sworn to 1 Viz. Prentice somewhat blotted or five page & also "not" interlined on first page. “some part of the time" interlined in 2d had Sixter somewhat deleted in this certificate & “Connecticut" written over erasure.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Voluntown in said County this 16th day of May 1845. 
John E Lindley Justice of the Peace
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Windham County Clerk's office of County Court May 19th 1845 
I James H. Work. Assistant Clerk of the County Court for Windham County hereby certify, that John E Lindley whose signature is annexed to the within is at the date hereof, a Justice of the Peace within and for said Windham County, and that full faith & credit ought to be given to all his official acts. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court
 James H. Work - Assistant Clerk
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To all People to whom the Presents shall come, Greeting. 
KNOW YE, That Nathaniel Prentice of Preston in the County of New London in the Colony of Connecticut Newengland 
For the consideration of fifteen Hundred Pounds in Bills of Credit of the old Tenor in Hand paid and received to my full Satisfaction of Thomas Branch [unreadable] of Preston aforesaid 
DO Give, Grant, Bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Thomas Branch his Heirs and assigns forever one Certain Tract of Land Situate and lying in the Town Ship of Preston aforesaid with the Buildings and appurtenances thereon Butted and Bounded as followeth - Begining at a stone which is the Northeast - Corner of a Term and the Southeast Corner of Nathan Lenard Land where there stone walls adjoyn thence South about 35 degrees West thirty Rods to a meerstone thence west about 39 degrees South thirty four Rods to a meerstone thence west about 30 Degrees South forty two Rods and a Half to a meerstone Thence North 27 degrees west &
thence North 30 degrees East fourteen Rods and a half to a meerstone Thence East sixteen degrees South one hundred and five rods and a half to the Boun first mentioned and contains twenty seven acres and one Hundred and forty three rods.
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises, with the Appurtenances thereof, unto the said Thomas Branch and his Heirs and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper Use and Behoof. And also, I, the said Nathaniel Prentice Do for my self and Heirs, Executors and Administrators, covenant with the said Thomas Branch and his Heirs and Assigns, that at and until the Ensealing of the Presents, I am well [unreadable]  of the Premises as a good indefeasible Estate in fee simple and have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form as is above written; and that the same is free of all incumbrances whatsoever no farthermore I the said Nathaniel Prentice do by these Presents bind myself and Heirs for ever, to WARRANT and Defend the above granted and bargained premises to him the said Thomas Branch and his Heirs and Assigns, against all claims and Demands whatsoever.  In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the twenty third Day of January in the twenty ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George Second of GREAT BRITAIN &c KING. 
Annoque Domini, 1756 
Nathaniel Prentice
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of 
Ebon Leonard 
William Witter 
Newlondon County ss Preston January ye 23: 1756. 
Personally appeared Nathaniel Prentice the subscriber of the foregoing Inforcement and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed, before me  
William Witter Justice of ye Peace
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Rec’d this deed for record February the 2nd 1756 and the Same is Recorded in Preston 7th Book of Records in fol: 45.  Per Saml Morgan Town Clerk
Thomas Branch Ju Pd Dec’d
Capt Silas  18-8-10
J. Israil Burton   15-3-8
Joseph Smith   15-15-0
18  8  10
1    2  3
19 11 1
3-6
1-6
5-0
8-4
4-2
6
3
13 3
2-6
15-9
15-3-8-15-19-5
15-0-0
19-11-1
16-14-0
15-19-6
102-4-7
015-0-0
117-9-7
134-8-0
17-3-5
134-8-0
117-4-18
17-5-2
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I James Morgan of Preston in the County as London of Lawfull age testifieth & says that I was at meeting  of the Inhabitence of the town of Preston sometime the begin occationed by a special act of Assembly ordering the the State servise at horse neck whereupon the matter was Discorsed [discussed] how we should raise said men and it was concluded on by said meeting to Chuse [choose] a Committee to inlist said men and it was discorsed upon how & what pay we should give said men and it was concluded on by said meeting making their wages to them in hard moneys and it was discorsed upon what Bounty to give but did not conclude on any sum that was left to the Committee to agree upon themselves and said meeting was adjorned or swarn to meet again in a short time to hear the Report of said Committee & Being Present Mr Elias Brown one of said Committee report to said town meeting that he had enlisted Mr Thomas Branches Apprentis [apprentice] Boy to go into the State Servis for one years and had agreed to give him five pounds hard money Bounty and agreed with his said after that he should have forty Shillings in hard money a month for his wage and furthermore I was at another meeting of said town when the said Thomas Branch said this matter concerning his Boys wages before the said town I heard Elias Brown Esq Say that he did promise Thomas Branch the hard money for his Boys Servis and farther the Deponent Saith not. 
James Morgan
Question asked the Deponent under Oath by the Plaintiff
Had not you at that time a Company under your Command which Induced you to be more Attentive to the Observation 
Ansr: Yes
Question asked by Esqr Brown in Behalf of the Town
1.  Did you hear me say that I had Inlisted Mr. Branch’s Prentice [apprentice] & Promised him 
cant by James Morgan had not you at that time Company under your command which indeed you to be more attentive to The Observations, Ans yes Quat R 1st Quest 2nd and asked by Esqr Brown in behalf of the Town Did you hear me say that I had listed Branch's Prentice & Promised him £5 hard Money Bounty & 4 [shillings] hard money a Month, in Publick Town Meeting
Ansr Yes I heard you say in publick Town Meeting, that you had promised the Boy £5 hard  money Bounty & had promised his master 40 [shillings] month hard money.
Question 2d was it in Open Town meeting that you heard me say that had promised Mr Branch the hard money for his Boys Service & was the promise made personally or in behalf of the Town that they should pay it. 
Ansr it was in Open Town meeting & I understood you to say you had made the Promise in behalf of the Town 
Preston
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Preston  New London County February 14th 1786  
Personally Appeared Capt James Morgan Signer to the within and made Solemn Oath to the Truth of the matters contained in the Same 
Before Sam Mott Justice of Peace 
The Deponent lives more than Twenty miles from the place of Tryal.
Elias Brown Esqr was duly noted as one of the Principal Inhabitants of the Town of Preston & was Present 
Certified 18th 
S. Mott Justice Peace 
February 1786 
Wm. B. Saltonstall Clerk
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State of New York 
Onondaga County Sophia Wentworth of Syracuse in said County being duly sworn says that She has heretofore made an affidavit in relation to the claim of Mrs. Zephra Kenyon for a pension, which deponent desires to correct & explain in one particular viz. as to the time that Deponents husband Jacob Wheeler left home a short time before his death. Instead of its being "fifty years ago in November last past,” as stated by deponent in said former affidavitit was in November 1797. The mistake occurred from deponents miscalculating the ages of some of her grand children which she has since ascertained by reference to the Records of their births are not so great as she had supposed.  But deponent has no doubt whatever that the marriage of said Zephra to William Prentice did take place as early as the time stated in her former affidavit not more than two or three years after the termination of the Revolutionary war because that marriage took place several years before the marriage of deponents Eldest daughter to Phillip Smith in 1793 as heretofore stated by the said daughter (now Mary Haggerty) in the affidavit heretofore made by her.   
Deponent, having ascertained the mistake into which she had fallen in consequence of her great age & failing memory - deemed it her duty to make the
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above correction, whether the same be or be not material to the point intended to be sustained by her former affidavit. & further says not.
Sophia Wentworth her mark
Sworn before me this 20 day of March 1844 
John H.. Johnson Justice of the peace 
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Sophia Wentworth above named and that she is a credible person, and that in my opinion, her statement in the foregoing affidavit are entitled to full credit.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20 day of March 1844
John H Johnson Justice of the Peace
State of New York 
Onondaga County } ss I hereby certify that John H. Johnson, before whom the foregoing afft of Sophia Wentworth was sworn to & who signed the foregoing certificate was on the 20th day of March 1844 and still is a Justice of the peace in & for said County and that the above
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Signatures genuine purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have thereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said County of Onondaga, at Syracuse this 24th day of May 1844 – 
Lewis J Gillet, Dep Clerk (Clerk absent)
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Syracuse, New York May 31st 1845- 
Sir
I herewith forward a declaration for Mrs. Zephra Kenyon - former widow of William Prentice whose case was hereto fore received the attention of your department.  I have enclosed a Declaration for a pension under the act of 1843 for one year, with a view to save time & to explain Some obscurities in her former declaration.  The paper speaks for itself.  
Your former letters to me, especially one of Aug 27th 1844 & one of Sept 1843 [unreadable] objections 
1st to the sufficiency of the proof of the date of the marriage 
2d to the identity of William Prentice, whose services are proved, with the husband of the claimant 
As to the first objection the enclosed papers annihilate it entirely. If no reliance is to be placed on the memory of witnesses aided by circumstances calculated to fix certain dates in the memory much reliance ought to be placed upon Statements substantiated by such important facts as the death of a father, the marriage of the witness himself, & the birth of his children.   Claimant was married after the war & before the death of her father, before the marriage of her two brothers Billings & John. The said death occurred in 1789. The said the Marriages in 1792 your quotations (in the letter of Aug 27-44) from claimants former declaration do not seem to [unreadable] the quotations are not full & because you will see
Page 34

she does not there pretence to be positive as to the date of the Marriage her best recollection is stated with all candor that may be wrong may not but is be tested not by naked recollection in State of excitement by attending circumstances circumstance in this case positively stated is that she was not married until her husband William Prentice was discharged from service. This last she would be sure to remember, but a date is easily forgotten. What is the fair inference, the rational conclusion in this case. May that for some reason her best recollection of the date was not strictly correct, after a lapse of about 60 years. I believe this wise recollection is not Criminal, of the mistake is fairly accounted for.  It seems to me the Statements should be when together & reconciled if practicable. Another instance in this case, Declarant thinks Prentice enlisted at two different times, for different periods, suppose she has not recollected the exact period of his enlistment but yet there were actually two enlistments? The truth is her "best recollection” might have been suppressed. This error of recollection rather adds to, than detracts from her general accuracy or at least her credibility as to material prominent facts by William Prentice being Soldier & her marriage to him after this service & before 1794.  These are the general facts.  I have heretofore set forth fact under oath explanatory of the prop of this case, I have expected further papers evidence, but shall not now want for as my client is on the brink of the grace
Page 35

As yet there is but one William Prentice found who was a soldier, especially in Conn. “He is described as being of Preston, as belonging to & serving with the Conn forces, as being once an apprentice of Thomas Branch, & as having run away &c&c  
I accidentally found the two old papers annexed to afft within. Just as I am about leaving the house of Mr. & Miss Branch, bearing that he did have such an apprentice,  that he ran away in July 1779 & was not caught again up to 1781. From July 79 to Sept 83 is time enough for apprentice to have served four years & over as he did.  He was proverbially reconciled to his master & friendly relations established between them before  the date of the [unreadable] in 1782 when Prentice was in service at Stamford, alias Horseneck, to which place, it may be inferred that Branch sent supplies for Prentice while in Service. Other circumstances are stated by the declarant & known by the testimony which go to identify the person I humbly but respectfully insist that my former explanation of the objection to the Certificate of the Comptroller of Conn as proof of the declaration & ought to be conclusive unless I am disbelieved.  & there is no reason why the case is treated differently from what it would have been, had the declaration been completed before the certificate was heard of.  
But I submit the enclosed paper, they speak for themselves,  it may be doubted
Page 36

whether any stronger case can be proven long as there is not found but one William Prentice found in the service described.   The claimants Character is moved to be good.  Her husband was reputed to be a Soldier, up to his death; no other one of the name was ever heard of in Conn. I hope Justice will be done though she be proved to possess a Leaden foot & frail grace. 
Yours Truly
Edward A. Brown 
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Page 37

State of New York 
County of Onondaga}ss  Edward A. Brown of Syracuse in said County being duly sworn according to law says That he was present at the House of Mr Jonathan Brand & Alice Branch in Town of Voluntown in Connecticut, on the 16th day of May last & I while deponent was there, an examination was made by said Jonathan & Alice Branch, among the papers & of their late father, Thomas Branch of Preston in Connecticut  and the three old papers annexed to the affidavits of said Jonathan and Alice, were discovered, besides the old papers heretofore forwarded, by deponent, to the Commissioner of pensions. Deponent also saw at the residence of said Jonathan & Alice Branch, the annexed Copy of a law or act of the General assembly & of the State of Connecticut, which is marked "No one" together with one or two other small papers deponent further says that he received a promise from said Jonathan & Alice Branch that they would make further examination, among the papers of said Thomas Branch, & send to deponent such papers as they could find, relating to the said William Prentice who is named in their said affidavits, who was once on apprentice of the said father. Deponent further says that he has received by mail three Several packages of papers, from said Jonathan & Alice Branch with all of which are [unreadable] annexed with the exception of a printed copy of a reproduction referred to by letter, that deponent saw a large quantity of old papers in the hand of said Jonathan & Alice among which the above named papers were discovered as aforesaid
Page 38

and also from which were taken, as deponent is informed & verily believes to be true, the remainer of said papers which deponent did not see until they were received by him through the past office as aforesaid, all which papers deponent verily believes are in all respects genuine.  & further says not 
Edward A. Brown
Subscribed & Sworn to before me  this 25th day of July 1845. 
N.B. one line interlined on first page after “annexed” before sworn to 
Daniel Pratt First Judge Onan. Co. Courts 
State of New York 
Onondaga County} ss. I hereby certify that I am personally well acquainted with Edward A. Brown who this day made the foregoing affidavit before me that he is a credible person that his statements in said affidavit are entitled to full confidence & credit. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name at Syracuse in said County this 25th Day of July A.D. 1845.  Daniel Pratt First Judge Onan Co. Courts 
State of New York 
Onondaga County}ss  I hereby certify that the Hon. Daniel Pratt above named is First Judge of the County Court as aforesaid & that the several Signatures above purporting to be his are genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set his hand & seal of office, at Syracuse, this 25th day July 1845 – 
Lewis J. Gillet Dep Clk of Onondaga County Clerk absent
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Aug 3 1842
[stamp] SYRACUSE N.Y. AUG 1
Addl testimony Zephra Kenyon
FREE
Hon. J. L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
Page 40

Syracuse July 31. 1843 
Dear Sir
Enclosed support the are further papers to support the claim of Zephra Kenyon Huber, formerly  Prentice, to a pension account of the Revolutionary Service of William Prentice deceased - her former husband  
Yours Respectfully 
Edward A. Brown 
Hon J. L. Edwards Comm of Pension
Page 41

Mrs. Zephra Kenyon
Page 42

State of Vermont 
Bennington County} ss Hiram Barton of the Town of Shaftsbury in said County & State being duly sworn says that he holds the office of Town Clerk in the Town County and State aforesaid deponent further says that he has made careful & diligent search of the Records of his office & can not find therein an entry of the marriage of William Prentice & Zephra Starkweather  on said Record.   Deponent further says it does not appears from the Books of his office that marriages were usually recorded in said Town prior to the year 1785.   
Hiram Barton 
And further this deponent says not 
Sworn before me this 26 day of July A.D. 1843 
Freeborn Johnson Justice Peace 
State of Vermont 
County of Bennington} ss Nathan H. Bottum of the Town of Shaftsbury in said County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn says that he holds the office of Church Clerk in the Church called the third Baptist Church in said Town of Shaftsbury, County of Bennington & State of Vermont that he has examined the Church records & finds no entry of the marriage of Zephra Starkweather and William Prentice thereon, further that it does not appear to have ever been the Custom or practice of said Church
Page 43

to record marriages 
Nathan H. Bottum
Deponent further says not 
Sworn before me this 26th July A.D. 1843 
N. B. the word “Shaftsbury" being blotted partly before signing
Lemuel Bottum Justice of Peace 
State of Vermont 
Bennington County }ss I Samuel H. Blackmer, County Clerk of the County of Bennington in the State of Vermont aforesaid do hereby certify that Freeborn Johnson & Lemuel Bottum, the persons before whom the two foregoing affidavits of Hiram Barton and Nathan H. Bottum were severally taken are Justice of the peace in & for said County of Bennington & State of Vermont as aforesaid & that the signature to said affidavits purporting to be his are genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office & set my hand at  Bennington in said County this 26th day of July 1843 -  
Saml H. Blackmer Clerk
Page 44

Hon J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington City D.C.
Page 45

Syracuse N.Y. July 19th 1843.
Dear Sir
Enclosed I have the honor to transmit for your consideration, papers in support of the claim of Mrs. Zephra Kenyon formerly  Mrs. Zepha Prentice, for a pension on account of the Revolutionary Services of William Prentice deceased.  
The declaration is sustained by two witnesses who were present at the marriage as to the fact & time of Marriage.   
The certificate of the Comptroller of Connecticut proves over four years of  Services of William Prentice,  
Judge Hall, of our Village, who is well known to your department who has known the declarant for many years, makes an affidavit identifying the old lady &c. 
I have a certificate from Vermont showing that no records of marriage were made in Shaftsbury prior to 1785, & no Church record of  any kind on that subject at any time.  I retain this latter certificate for the purpose of procuring it to be duly authenticated.   
I would thank you to inform me as soon as may be of any other papers are wanting - I have usually proved the husbands death in a case like this in open Court as in cases of arrears of pension. I am now informed that such certificate of proof in open court is not necessary. Our court not being in Session until the last of August in this Case 
Yours &c. 
Edward A. Brown
Hon J. L. Edwards Commr &c
Page 46

State of New York, 
Onondaga County} ss Edward A. Brown of Syracuse in said County being duly sworn says that on the 16th day of May 1845 he was at the house of Jonathan Branch & Alice Branch in Voluntown in Windham County, in the State of Connecticut that said Jonathan & Alice are children of Thomas Branch formerly of the Town of Preston in the State of Connecticut. As deponent was then informed by both of them & verily believes to be true That deponent enquired of them about William Prentice, who was once an apprentice to the said father Thomas Branch & was informed by both of them that they recollected him & said Alice informed this deponent that she thought there were some of her fathers old papers in existence which related in some way to said William Prentice & at Deponents request both said Jonathan and said Alice Searched among a quantity of old papers & produced the two papers attached to this affidavit delivered them to this deponent. That deponent received the same from the hand of said Alice at Voluntown aforesaid & brought them home with him has attached the same to this affidavit & further Says not 
Edward A. Brown 
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 30th day of May 1845   
N.B. “previously” erased before sworn to 
John L  Stevens a  Judge of Onon Co Courts
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State of New York Onondaga County I hereby certify that I personally acquainted with Edward A. Brown above named and that he is a credible person & his statements are entitled to full confidence & credit.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of May 1845 John L Stevens  
State of New York 
Onondaga County} ss I hereby certify that I John L. Stevens above named is a Judge in & for said County, as aforesaid, and that the several signatures above, purporting of to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set  my hand & seal of office at Syracuse in said County the 31 day of May 1845 
Lewis J. Gillet  Dept. of Onondaga County, Clerk absent,
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the of March 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7th 1838. 
State of New York 
Onondaga County } ss On this seventh day of May 1845 personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County of of Onondaga, Zephra Kenyon, a resident of the Town of La Fayette in said County of Onondaga aged Eighty years and upward, who being first duly worn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3d March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war.   
That she is a widow of William Prentice who was a private in the Connecticut live and served therein for four years and upwards. That said William Prentice was a native of Preston in Connecticut and resided there at the commencement of the Revolutionary war. That at the time of entering the army he was an apprentice of Thomas Branch of Preston aforesaid, from whose service said Prentice ran away, before he was twenty one years of age, and enlisted into the army to get away from his said Master Thomas Branch whom he
Page 49

disliked.  That said William Prentice also had a brother Nathaniel Prentice who was a soldier in the army, and who belonged to the Connecticut Line.  As she understood & believes  & who was pensioner and died in the State of Indiana or Michigan several years ago. Deponent also States that she has heard said Nathaniel Prentice relate anecdotes of his having served in the same place at the same time with Ethel Branch, a son of said Thomas Branch.  
Declarant further states that of the officers under whom she has heard her said husband William Prentice State that he served she now recollects the names of Colonel Josiah Starr, an officer named Miles who she believes was a captain, also the names of Captain Holmes, Captain Reed, but not distinctly any captain but while that Joseph Prentice was for some portion of the time in the same service, either in the same company or Regiment.  Also that Alas Brumbley of Preston aforesaid was a fellow soldier of said William Prentice and that the said William Served during one year of the war at or near Stamford, in Conn, under the command of a Col. Canfield she believes Stamford was also called Horse Neck.  Declarant further states that after she was engaged to be married to said Prentice & after he left the army, he hired out to & worked for said Thomas Branch, to whom be had formerly been an apprentice & worked for him & others for two years or more before marriage
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Declarant further says that she saw said William Prentice at the house of her father in Shaftsbury in what was then called the "New State" now  Vermont, to which place both the father of Deponent of said William Prentice had removed from Preston aforesaid  prior to the time of his entering the army.  That declarant and said William Prentice entered into a marriage contract before the end of the war & agreed to be married as soon as he should be discharged from service. That he served to the end of the war as she now understands & remembers after conversing with her elder Sister upon the subject & reflecting upon the same, and that after his discharge, the said William Prentice & declarant hired out to service with a view of providing the means of keeping house, were married within a short time. Say Eighteen months or two years or it may be a little longer,  but the said marriage took place after the war & within a short time there after, the precise date she does not remember. That the children first born after said marriage are long since dead.  That the third Child of Declarant and said Prentice was a daughter and that she died in the County of Onondaga in July 1808 and was buried on the fourth day of July 1808. and that said daughter was named Anna Prentice and was fifteen years of age and upwards at the time of her death that declarant has no family Register of
Page 51

marriages, birth or deaths-- but she has a vivid & positive recollection of the facts connected with the age, death burial of said Anna Prentice.  Declarant further states that she is entitled to and has made application for a pension under the act of July 7th 1838 but has not yet received the same. That her declaration under the act of July 7, 1838, was prepared by Edward A. Brown City of Syracuse in July 1843  when declarant was away from home & much fatigued and she was not well able to detail the facts & circumstances of her case to fully & particularly in some respects.  Then as she was after having reflected more upon the subject & held conversation with her elder Sister with whom she was associated in early life.  That she intends this as a correction of her former declaration and an addition to it.  That she has not been able to specify dates accurately in all  cases in consequence of her age & imperfection of memory & the fact that her former husband has been so long dead.  The particulars of his service and the date of our marriage have not of late been a subject of conversation as frequently as formerly, until the subject of obtaining a pension has enlisted my attention.  Declarant further says that she cannot now call to mind any circumstances to fix in her mind the period of her marriage, but she never designed to fix upon the year
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1781 as the precise period of the marriage but when she was having her former declaration prepared, she was asked many questions about her age at that time & the time of her marriage & that from the answers given to so many questions she presumes her lawyer computed the time of her marriage to be at the time above stated or within a few years thereafter, as stated in said declaration.  That she has no doubt now that her Marriage took place between 1783 - 1786 but it is out of her power to fix upon the precise day or year, but she knows she never had any children until after her marriage with William Prentice, and about a year after, that the third child was born in the forepart of the year 1793, and that he had been married many years before that time & declarant further states that she has no means of comparing this declaration with her former one or other means of testing the accuracy it except her best recollection that she verily believes her said husband was entitled to bounty land from what she has heard him say, that she is still a widow, aged feeble and poor.  
Zephra Kenyon her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me  
Charles Annable Justice of the peace
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State of New York 
Onondaga County } I Charles Annable, the Justice of the peace before whom the foregoing declaration was this day sworn to, do hereby certify that the following erasures &c. were made in said declaration before the same was Sworn to, viz-- an erasure after “May" first page, “or” interlined,  “of" erased and "Branch" & "two” somewhat blotted, on second page,  And “not” interlined on fourth page. The word "Certificate” herein was erased before signing also "about” interlined on 2d page & on 3d page on interlineation erased. 
I further certify that the said Zephra Kenyon is personally known to me, & that she is the identical person who is prosecuting a claim
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before the pension department for a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of William Prentice her former husband  & that she is a credible person & of good character for truth veracity.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set his hand, at Syracuse in said County, this Seventh day of May 1845.  
Charles Annable Justice of the peace 
State of New York 
Onondaga County } ss I hereby certify that Charles Annable above named was on the Seventh day of May 1845 a Justice of the peace in for said County of Onondaga that the several signatures above, purporting to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal of office this 30th day of May 1845. 
Lewis J. Gillis Dep Clk
(clerk Absent)
Page 55

State of New York 
Onondaga County} ss Mary Haggerty of the Village of Syracuse in said County of Onondaga being duly sworn says, that she was aged Sixty Eight years on the twenty Second day of August 1843.  That she is a daughter of Jacob Wheeler, deceased, that during the most of the time during the Revolutionary war  & during the early childhood of this deponent, she resided in the town of Shaftsbury in the State of Vermont with deponents mother, at the house of Daniel Starkweather, the maternal grand father of this deponent. That the said Jacob Wheeler, deponents father, was absent in service, during the revolution as deponent has always understood, she well recollects the time & circumstances of his return home, when this deponent was about seven or eight years of age. Deponent further says, that when this deponent was Eighteen years of age her father & mother resided in the Town of Charlton in the County of Saratoga & State of New York, this deponent then resided at the place then & still called Stone Arabia, in the Town of Palatine, in the County of Montgomery State of New York aforesaid and that in the month of September 1793. this Deponent returned to the house of her said father & mother in the aforesaid Town of Charlton & was there married to Phillip Smith, the first husband of this deponent. That deponent well recollects she was married in the month of September next after she was Eighteen years of age  but the day
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of the month she does not now distinctly recollect.  Deponent further says that she is well acquainted with Zephra Kenyon, now a resident of the Town of Lafayette Onondaga County New York who is now making an application for a pension on account of the Revolutionary Service of William Prentice, her first husband.   Deponent further says that she was a resident in the same family with said Zephra when she was a girl & before her marriage with said William Prentice, has been well acquainted with the said Zephra ever since the Revolutionary war. Deponent further says that the said Zephra Kenyon (whose maiden name as Zephra Starkweather) attended the wedding of this deponent in September 1793, together with her aforesaid husband William Prentice.  That this Deponent does not now recollect of being acquainted with said William Prentice previous to deponents aforesaid marriage with said Phillip Smith but deponent has frequently visited at the house of the said William Prentice & Zephra his wife, since her own marriage & knows of their living together as husband and wife for many years. 
Deponent further says that the always understood that the said William Prentice was a revolutionary Soldier & Served during several years of the said War & further says not. 
Mary Haggerty her mark
Sworn before me this 12th of December 1843 
John H. Johnson Justice of the Peace
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N. B. The words "Sixty Eight" written on an erasure and also "with" "Soldier" & “12th” "Somewhat blotted & altered before signing the foregoing deposition. 
John H. Johnson Justice of the Peace  
State of New York
Onondaga County } ss  Sophia Wentworth of the Village of Syracuse in said County of Onondaga & State of New York aforesaid, being duly sworn says that She is aged Eighty Eight years on the fourteenth day of June 1843, That she is an Elder Sister of Zephra Kenyon of Lafayette, who is making an application for a pension, on account of the Revolutionary services of William Prentice the former husband of the above named Zephra Kenyon. That this deponent was well acquainted with William Prentice during his boyhood, & his father & brothers in the State of Connecticut in the Town of Preston & afterwards in Shaftsbury in the State of Vermont. One of the brothers of said William Prentice was named Nathaniel Prentice, who was also a Soldier in the Revolutionary war & deponent verily believes both William & Nathaniel Prentice enlisted at Preston & served in the army.  Deponent also says that Simon Prentice, another brother of the said William Prentice was an officer in the army & was in service, or went into service from Shaftsbury in Vermont & Billings Starkweather, a brother of this deponent. served under the said Simon Prentice. Deponent further says that she was well acquainted with the fact that William Prentice, the husband of the aforesaid Zephra enlisted at Preston & she well recollects the time of his leaving
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Preston & going into the army. That the father of said Prentice had before that time removed to Vermont said William Resided with a neighbor of the father of this deponent as an apprentice that the saw him once or twice during the war, when he was home on a visit. She well recollects of its being Well understood by the family of Deponent of the father of said William Prentice that he was absent in the army during the latter part of the Revolutionary war & well recollects of the said William Prentice coming to the house of deponents father to visit the said Zephra before her marriage with said Prentice.  She further says that she well recollects of the time & circumstances of the marriage of said Zephra & said William Prentice although deponent was not present at said marriage. She heard her father & mother speak about said Marriage & afterwards knew of their living together as husband and wife for a great number of years.  Deponent further says, that, within a short time after the war was over, & to the best of deponents present recollection, about a year after this Deponents husband had removed from Shaftsbury  but a very short time after peace was proclaimed, at the end of the war. She was informed of the marriage of her youngest sister that she received such information four her father & mother at their own house when she was there on a visit.
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Deponent further says that she saw said William Prentice within a short time after such marriage within about a year or thereabouts said William Prentice & Zephra removed into the neighborhood where deponent then lived in Galway in the County of Saratoga. Deponent further says that her said husband Jacob Wheeler left home fifty years ago in November last past & soon after his departure Deponent learned that he was dead & this deponent well knows that said Zephra was married to said William Prentice several years before the time of said Jacob's leaving home as above stated but she is not now able to remember the precise time of year of such marriage.  Deponent further says that she was always well acquainted with the said William Prentice from his childhood until the time of his removing into the County of Onondaga & knew of his being a Revolutionary Soldier, as above stated.  That said Prentices father & deponent father lived near neighbors together both before & after their removal from Connecticut to Shaftsbury in Vermont. I further that Deponent was never acquainted with any other person (who was a soldier) by the name of William Prentice & further says not. 
Sophia Wentworth her mark
Sworn before me this 12th day of December  A.D. 1849. N.B. "return " erased 
John H Johnson Justice of the peace
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State of New York
Onondaga County } ss
I, John H. Johnson the Justice of the peace before whom the above two affidavits of Mary Haggerty and Sophia Wentworth, were taken, do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Mary Haggerty and Sophia Wentworth, and that they are respectively credible persons, & possess unimpeachable character for truth and veracity, and I further certify that I am fully satisfied that the statements made by them respectively, in the foregoing affidavits are entitled to full confidence and credit.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of December one thousand Eight hundred and forty three.
John H. Johnson Justice of the Peace
Mrs Kenyon
Page 61

State of New York 
Onondaga County } ss . Ebenezer Coleman of the Town of La Fayette in said County of Onondaga and State of New York being duly sworn according to law says that he formerly knew William Prentice the former husband of Zephra Kenyon of La Fayette in said County that deponent lived near neighbor to him for five or six years previous to his death and was well acquainted with said Prentice. Deponent further says that he frequently heard said William Prentice state that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war & that he entered the service when he was quite young. Said Prentice often related anecdotes of the war and of Occurrences that transpired while he was in service.  Deponent further says that said William Prentice was generally reputed in the neighborhood where he lived to have been a Revolutionary soldier & deponent never knew that fact doubted by any & deponent verily believes that such was the fact.  Deponent further says that he knew said Prentice and Zephra his wife as early as the year 1806, and they there resided together as husband and wife & continued to do so until about thirty years ago when he died & deponent was present when he died and has known the said Zephra his widow ever since the death of said William Prentice and still knows her & she continues to reside within about half a mile from the residence of this deponent & she is now making application for a pension in the Town of La Fayette
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aforesaid. Deponent further says that said William Prentice and his wife as he always understood from them, come from Manlius in said County of Onondaga, to what was then Pompay now La Fayette when they first moved into deponents neighborhood. After the death of said Prentice the said Zepha married Simeon Kenyon of La Fayette aforesaid who died several years ago & deponent was present when he died.  Deponent further says that he never understood from said Prentice at what place in particular be served, nor under what officers & further say that both said William Prentice and said Zephra were reputed to be persons of truth and veracity and said  Deponent has full confidence in the statement of each of them
Ebenezer Coleman
Sworn before me this 16th day of Sept 1843
N.B. “died” erased and “died” interlined before signing the above afft}
Daniel Pratt First Judge of Onondaga County 
I certify that the addition of about four lines in Blue ink to said afft was made before the Same was Sworn to 
Dated Sept 16th 1843. Daniel Pratt First Judge of Onondaga County
Page 63

State of New York 
Onondaga County } ss Johnson Hall of the village of Syracuse in said County being duly sworn says that he is personally well acquainted with Ebenezer Coleman of Lafayette in said County & has known him for many years & further says that he is a man of good character for truth & veracity & deponent has full confidence in the truth of the Statement made by said Coleman in the preceding affidavit made by him before Judge Pratt on the 16th day of September 1843. Deponent further says not 
Johnson Hall
Sworn before me this 30th  day of January 1844 
Johnson Hall 
Daniel Pratt First Judge of Onondaga County Courts 
State of New York 
Onondaga County } Edward A. Brown of Syracuse in said County being duly sworn says that some time in the early part of the summer of 1843 he was called on at the office of Lawrence S. Brown Syracuse) for advice in relation to the right of Mrs. Zephra Kenyon to a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her former husband William Prentice. That on that occasion he was presented with two affidavits (one of Billings & one of John Starkweather) which have been forwarded to the Commissioner
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of Pensions. I was also informed by Mr. George W. Sherwood (who called on deponent in behalf of said Zephra) that the old lady (said Zepha) informed him that said William Prentice enlisted at Old Boston in Connecticut under a Captain Miles, that they were in Shaftsbury Vermont after he left the service, but he (Sherwood) was unable to State the precise time of such enlistment or marriage.  Deponent advised said Sherwood that there was probably a Record of the service of Captain Miles company in the office of the Comptroller of Connecticut. which would verify, service stated by Mrs. Kenyon if she were correct in her recollection.  Said Sherwood informed deponent that the said Zephra was poor & wished to have as little expense incurred as possible until he could ascertain whether he could make the requisite proof or not.  Deponent therefore consented to make the necessary enquiries before incurring any expense whatever except postages & fees for a Search in the office of the Comptr of Conn and on the 6th of June deponent wrote to the Comptroller of Conn the facts that deponent had ascertained as the Service of William Prentice above named.  About the 20th of June 1843, received the Certificate heretofore sent to the Commissioner of pensions accompanied by the letter which is hereto annexed marked "A”. Deponent further says that the only reason they be advised the course pursued in this case was to save the applicant all useless expence deponent further says that he received on or about the 6th day of July 1843 the annexed letter from said Sherwood, in answer to the
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enquiries of Gardner Lawrence Esq deponents partner,  Said letter is marked "B". 
Deponent further says that he never Saw or conversed with said Zephra Kenyon on this subject until the day her declaration was prepared by deponent & Sworn to by her before Judge Pratt, according to deponents present recollection. Deponent further says he did not understand said Zephra to State on that occasion, that she was married in the year 1781, but her statement was (as deponent intended clearly to express & set forth when he drew that part of said declaration) that she was married Sixty years ago & she believed it would be sixty years in September 1843, but he could not positively state whether she was married in the year 1781, 1782 or as late as 1783, the particular year she could not swear to.  Still she was positive that during William Prentice service in the army she made an engagement with him to be married to him as soon as he was discharged, and they were accordingly married. she believed within twelve or Eighteen months after his discharge from the army.  She repeatedly stated to deponent that her marriage was after "her man” left the army. Deponent further says that be preserved no copy of said declaration (which was drawn with all the accuracy possible for deponent, in the hurry of business) & therefore he cannot tell whether it is in any respect inaccurate in its Statements as to the time of marriage  & the circumstances which tended to fix her recollection of the time of such marriage .  Deponent further says that he has no reason to doubt and does not doubt but that the said Zephra Kenyon and every person she
Page 66

has authorized to assist her in procuring in pension have proceeded in perfect good faith and honesty to prove a fair and lawful case for a pension.  That deponent on first hearing her statement of the facts had no hesitation in advising her that she was entitled to a five years pension,  all that deponent has done or advised has been done in perfect good faith and under a conscientious belief of the truth of the main facts on which rests the claim of Zephra Kenyon for a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of William Prentice, her former husband.  & further says not.  “not” & [unreadable]  interlined
Edward A. Brown
Sworn before me this 20th of January 1844 
Daniel Pratt First Judge of Onondaga  County Court 
State of New York 
Onondaga County } I Daniel Pratt. First Judge of Onondaga County Court holden at Syracuse in & for said County of Onondaga and State of New York, do hereby certify that I am not particularly acquainted with Ebenezer Coleman whose affidavit is hereto prefixed but from testimony taken before me I am fully satisfied that he is a man of truth and veracity and that the statements made by him in the said affidavit are entitled to credit & belief
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I further certify that I am personally well acquainted with Johnson Hall & Edward A. Brown, whose affidavit are also hereto prefixed, and that they are respectively persons of high character for truth, veracity & integrity & that the statements made by each of them in the said affidavit made by them respectively are entitled to the fullest confidence and credit.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the Village of Syracuse - this 30th day of January A.D. 1844 
Daniel Pratt First Judge of Onondaga County Court
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A. Referred to in the forgoing affidavit of E.A. Brown  
Gent I forward herewith a certificate of the service of William Prentice in the war of the revolution.  Some delay has occurred in consequence of business accumulating during the recent session of our Legislation. The proof is full and ample, that he was a soldier of the Line, and is entitled to a full pension. 
The fee for this case is $2. 
Very Respectfully 
Gideon Wells 
Mssrs Lawrence & Brower
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[stamp] HARTFORD CT JUN 16
Mssrs Lawrence & Brower
Syracuse N.Y.
Gideon Wells
Comptr of Conn
Page 70

Cardiff 
B
Lafayette July the 5. 1845 
Mr Lawrence Sir  you wished find out where the said William  Prentice and Zephra Starkweather Zephiah Lady were Married, the old lady says in the State of Vermont County of Benington the town of Shaftsbury in the house of Daniel Starkweather, by Elder Blood a settled Minister in the Baptist Church about Sixty years ago. They were published in the Church some time before they were Married.  Please write and let me know as soon as you can conveniently. 
George W. Sherwood
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Geo. W. Sherwood
July 5 1843
Paid 6
Syracuse
Lawrence & Brown
[unreadable]
July 5
Page 72

State of New York  
Onondaga County}  I hereby certify that John H. Johnson, before whom the foregoing affidavits of Mary Hagerty and Sophia Wentworth were Sworn to on the 12th day of December 1843, was, on that day, a Justice of the peace, in for the County of Onondaga, and that the several Signatures to said affidavits, and to the Certificates thereto annexed, purporting to be the signatures of the said John H. Johnson are his genuine signatures. 
I further certify that Daniel Pratt, before whom the foregoing affidavit of Ebenezer Coleman, Johnson Hall & Edward A. Brown were taken, was on the 16th day of September 1843. and still is, the First Judge of Onondaga County Court holden in and for the said County of Onondaga and that the signatures to said affidavits & the certificates thereto annexed, purporting to be the Signatures of said Daniel Pratt, are his genuine Signatures. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County, at the Village of Syracuse, this 30th day of January, one thousand Eight hundred and forty four. 
Lewis J. Gillet, Dep Clerk of Onondaga County 
(Clerk absent.)
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State New York 
Genesse County}  ss Billings Starkweather of Town of Bethany in said County State, late a resident of the Town of [unreadable] in the County of Allegany being duly sworn says that he is a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States that he is now aged Eighty four years & upwards,  that he been born in Preston in the State of Connecticut. That when deponent was a small boy his father removed to the Town of Shaftsbury in Vermont.  
Deponent further says that he is a brother of Zepha Kenyon of Onondaga County, formerly widow of William Prentice, that deponent was well acquainted with acquainted with said William Prentice very soon after the close of the Revolutionary war & deponent worked with said Prentice & worked for Nathan Wheeler, of Shaftsbury aforesaid a year or more, that during said time deponent frequently heard said Prentice Speak of his having served in the Revolutionary war & that he quit the service of Mr Branch of Preston & enlisted at Preston & served in the Connecticut line, for several years, & the only place of service which I now recollect of hearing him speak of was West Point.   
Deponent further says that he was well acquainted with the parents of said William Prentice  who came from Preston to Shaftsbury to reside, about the time of the Revolutionary war
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that deponent has a perfect recollection of the fact of the marriage between said Zepha and said William Prentice.  That he was present at the house of Daniel Starkweather, deponents father in Shaftsbury, when said marriage was celebrated & saw them married that deponent is not now able to State particularly the year but the said marriage was after the close of the Revolutionary war & after the return home of both deponent & said Prentice from service.  Deponent further says that his own marriage took place at Shaftsbury aforesaid  not less than six or  eight years after the marriage of said Zepha & Said Prentice, and the Marriage of deponent took place on the  25th December in the year one thousand Seven hundred and ninety two.   
That the time of said last named marriage is fixed in deponents mind from the fact of its being celebrated in Christmas day a record thereof Kept in deponents family from which deponent's recollection is refreshed.  Deponent further says that two or three years ago a young man called on deponent for an affidavit to shew said marriage of said Zephra & Said Prentice & some few questions were asked, the particulars of which deponent does not now recollect, but the person who drew up the affidavit did not call deponents attention to any circumstances calculated to fix deponents attention upon the time of said marriage, & if this
Page 75

Deponent then stated any time of said marriage, it was a casual remark made without reflection & without supposing that any date was to be put in the affidavit, as the date when said marriage occurred. But deponent says that before making this affidavit he has been fully questioned has had his attention directed to the circumstances above named he now further says, that said Prentice was married as aforesaid at the time he worked for said Nathan Wheeler, & that he quit work for said Wheeler about the time of his marriage & perhaps did not work and for said Wheeler after such marriage, but my belief is that he did work some after said marriage after deponent left the employ of said Wheeler, he resided in Shaftsbury & at other places, at least six or eight years after Prentices aforesaid marriage, and before the marriage of this deponent  as above Stated.  
Billins Starkweather
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 3d day of May 1843 
N.B. "in" interlined in Branch, Billing Starkweather “only" interlined, "aforesaid”  erased, “work” interlined before sworn to 
W. M. Sprague a Justice of the peace in for said County of Genessee
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State of  New York, 
Genesee County } ss John Starkweather of Bethany in said County being duly sworn says that he is aged seventy seven years & upward, that he is in brother of Billings Starkweather whose affidavit is hereto prefixed , that after the Revolutionary War he became acquainted with William Prentice the former husband of Zephra Starkweather now Zephra Kenyon, who now resides in Lafayette in the County of Onondaga State of New York. That after the close of the Revolutionary War said William Prentice came into Shaftsbury in Vermont to reside & I resided there with Nathan Wheeler a portion of the time for several years but precisely how long deponent is unable positively to state.   Deponent further says that said William Prentice was married to said Zephra the house of deponents father & deponent was present.   Deponent further says that his said father, Daniel Starkweather, died at his residence in Shaftsbury aforesaid, in the eleventh day of June Seventeen hundred and Eighty nine,  that in the month of July before deponent arrived at the age of twenty four  to wit (July 1792), Deponent intermarried with Lucy Beach.  That deponent well knows the aforesaid marriage of said Zephra & said William Prentice occurred before deponents said marriage, before the death of the father of this deponent several years before either event, but the identical year of said last named marriage deponent is not now able to specify.
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2 
Deponent further says that he frequently heard said William Prentice speak of his enlisting at Preston, New London County Connecticut to serve in the Revolutionary war,  that he quit his master a Mr Branch to whom he was an apprentice about the time of his enlistment.  Deponent further says that he has heard him repeat over & over again that he did enlist at Connecticut as aforesaid & that the first (or about the first)  Captain under whom he served was Captain Miles,  I have also heard him say that he served under a Captain Reed.   I belonged to the Connecticut troops.
Deponent further says that he has frequently heard said William Prentice speak of serving at or near West Point, of his being at Old Fort Putnam (Fort Put as he called it) and of [unreadable]  himself rolling rocks & stones down the mountain into the River.  
Deponent further says that he has usually enjoyed good health & retains a good memory, & his recollection of the time of his father's death is strong, [unreadable]  by the circumstance of his leaving the Town of Shaftsbury the next year after & of deponent marriage two years after & also from the fact of his having kept up to this time a written memorandum of the births of his children which is now present. & from which it appears that Oliver Starkweather, the oldest son of deponent was born November 9th 1793. and which record is perfect correct.  
Deponent further says that said Prentice removed with his family into the County of Onondaga & State
Page 78

of New York & that he died there many years after. 
John Starkweather
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 3d day of  May 1845 
N.B. “after the Revolutionary war” on first page interlined 
“Ninety” erased before sworn to 
W M Sprague a Justice of the peace in & for said County of Genesee 
State of New York 
Genesee County } ss I. William M. Sprague the Justice of the peace before whom the foregoing affidavit of Billings & John Starkweather were this day Sworn to, do hereby certify that I am personally well acquainted with said John & that he Sustains a high character for truth & veracity & that in my opinion his statements contained in said affidavits respectively are entitled to full confidence I credit. I further certify that I am rightly acquainted with said Billing Starkweather & have taken proof of his character for truth veracity & that from such acquaintance such proof. I am fully of the opinion that he possesses a good character for truth & veracity, that his statements in said affidavits respectively are entitled to full confidence & credit
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my, at [unreadable]  in said County this third day of May 1845- 
N.B. “from” erased in this certificate 
Also "W. M. Sprague Justice of the peace" erased before execution hereof  
W. M. Sprague Justice of the Peace 
State of New York 
Genesee County } ss  I M.G. Soper Esq Clerk of said County certify that William M Sprague is a Justice of the peace as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County and subscribed my name the 3 day of May in the year 1845 
M.G. Soper Dep clk of said County
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At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, by Adjournment, on the 10th day of January, Anno Domini 1782. 
RESOLVED, by this Assembly, That there be forthwith raised for the defence of Horse Neck, or western frontiers, one Regiment of Foot, to consist of one Lieut. Colonel Commandant, one Major, four Captains, eight Lieutenants, four Ensigns, and four hundred and eighty non-commissioned officers and privates, which regiment shall be formed into four companies, each to consist of Ensign four Sergeants, four Corporals, one drum and one fife, one Captain, two Lieutenants, on and one hundred and ten privates; and that one Adjutant, one Quarter Master, one Sergeant Major, one Quarter-Master Sergeant, and one Surgeon, be appointed by the Commanding Officer of said regiment, and to continue in service until the first day of April A. D. 1783, unless sooner discharged. 
And the several towns in this State are hereby required and enjoined, to raise the number of men, to them respectively apportioned by this Assembly, on or before the fifteenth day of March next, either by forming themselves into classes equal to the number of men to them assigned, or in such other way as they shall judge most expedient, and to see them equipt and accoutred fit for the service, upon such reasonable terms as they may agree. 
And said towns are hereby empowered and required to convene for the purpose of procuring such recruits to lay taxes upon their respective inhabitants, to appoint collectors to collect and receive said tax, which they are severally authorized to do, as collectors of town-taxes by law are, to appoint committees to have the superintendency and direction of said business; and particularly to receive and appropriate for the purpose aforesaid, the monies that shall be no collected, or if the towns, or any of them, judge most expedient to class their respective inhabitants in the manner, and for the purpose aforesaid. 
And where, pursuant to this Act, classes shall be so formed, in any town in this State, the committee shall forthwith cause notice to be given to the individuals of the respective classes, to meet at time and place by them appointed, who shall thereupon meet accordingly, and thereupon, or the major part of them to meet, shall proceed to lay such rate or tax upon the inhabitants within their respective limits, as shall be necessary to procure a recruit as aforesaid, and appoint some suitable person to receive and apply the fame, upon penalty of fifteen pounds lawful money, to be collected by warrant from an Assistant or Justice of the Peace, of the individuals of such neglecting class, that shall be delinquent in the matter aforesaid, in proportion to their respective lists, directed to the collector, of town taxes of the town to which such neglecting class belongs, for the use of the town. 
And if any individual in any class shall neglect or refuse seasonably to pay to the receiver to appointed his proportion of the tax to laid, the same shall be collected in manner aforesaid, and delivered to said receiver for the use of such class; and all such further sum, in either cafe as aforesaid, as may be necessary to satisfy the legal cost. 
And if any town in this State shall neglect or refuse to raise the number of men to them assigned, by the time limited as aforesaid, such town shall forfeit and pay to the public treasury of this State, the sum of fifteen pounds lawful money for each man they shall so neglect to procure, to be collect in such way and manner as this Assembly shall hereafter direct. 
And the officers and men of said regiment, shall be entitled to the same wages and rations, as those of like rank and condition in the army of the United States are intitled to have and receive; and also that their polls be exempted from taxes as usual. 
And his Excellency the Governor is requested to have the necessary orders for mustering, embodying and marching the men to the place of their destination; and in the mean time (if need require) to detach such numbers from the militia as may be necessary for the defence of the said post and frontiers, to continue in service until the first day of April next, unless sooner discharged. 
And whereas it appears to this Assembly from returns of the State regiments under the command of Brigadier General Waterbury, that several towns in this State have neglected to raise their number of men for said regiments as apportioned to them by this Assembly, and which they were called upon to raise by the most express and positive orders, by means whereof manifest injustice is liable to take place between the several towns, which to prevent, it is further resolved by this assembly, that Col. Nathaniel Terry, Col. Gad Stanley, Col. Noah Phelps, Mr. Gideon Buckingham, Capt. Simeon Parsons, Mr. David Austin, Mr. Benjamin Coit, Mr. Henry Minor, Major William Hart, Col. Philip Burr Bradley, Mr. Jonathan Sturges, Col. John Chandler, Col. Jeremiah Mason, Capt. Elisha Child, Major John Keyes, Col. Bezaleel Beebe, Col. Nathaniel Buel, and Major Eleazer Curtiss, be, and they hereby are appointed Committees of the counties to which they severally belong, to enquire into 
Case of Elias Brown
Page 81

and ascertain the deficiencies of the several towns, in the respective counties as aforesaid; and said committees are hereby directed to give notice, through the channel of the public prints, of the number of men in which, from the returns aforesaid, the several towns appear to be deficient, as also to give notice to such towns to appear, by such persons as they shall appoint, before the committee of receive counties, at time and place by them therein appointed, to shew reasons, if any they the regard such town should not be considered just and conclusive. And the said committees shall thereupon attend, and having adjusted the number of deficiencies of the towns in the respective counties upon such sufficient light and evidence as they may obtain thereon, forthwith make return thereof to the Secretary of this State, in writing under their hands, who on receipt thereof is hereby directed to issue his writ of execution, directed to the Sheriff of the respective counties, against the Select men of the deficient towns aforesaid, to collect out of the goods or estate in due form of law, of such Select men the aggregate sum that shall arise upon fifteen pounds for every such deficiency, and the same, when collected, pay and deliver to the Treasurer of this State, taking his receipt for the same. 
And the Select men against whom execution shall issue as aforesaid, are hereby authorised and impowered to lay a tax upon the inhabitants of the towns to which they belong, in case the town, as such, is deficient (unless such town shall make provision otherwise) sufficient to raise the sum so of them collected, with costs, in the same manner as is provided by law in case execution is issued against them by the Treasurer for collection of State fixed, and in case of deficient classes in such towns, the said Selectmen are hereby authorised by warrant of distress, directed to any constable of the town, or collector of town taxes, to collect from the individuals of each deficient class, in proportion to their respective lifts, the sum of fifteen pounds money aforesaid, with a just proportion of legal costs, and all such sums as cannot be collected, from the individuals of such class or classes, or any of them, shall be paid and satisfied to said Selectmen by their respective towns. 
A true copy of Record, 
Examined, by GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary,
Prentice Conn. W.26709
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No One 
At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, by adjournment, on the 10th Day of January, Anno Domini 1782. 
An ACT for filling up this State's quota of the Army of the United States.
Be it Enacted by the Governor, Council, and Representatives of the General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the several towns in this State be and they are hereby required and enjoined by classing themselves, or otherwise, as they shall think proper, to raise such number of able-bodied effective men, for the term of the war, three years, or one year, as shall be equal to their respective deficiencies, to be ascertained as in this act is provided, by the first day of April next. 
Be it further enacted, That Col. Nathaniel Terry, Col. Gad Stanly, Col. Noah Phelps, Col. Jonathan Welles, Col. Hoel Woodbridge, Mr. Gideon Buckingham, Capt. Simeon Parsons, Mr. David Austin, Capt. Daniel Holbrook, Col. Street Hall, Mr. Benjamin Coit, Mr. Henry Miner, Maj. William Hart, Mr. John Backus, Capt. Stephen Billings,  Col. Philip B. Bradley, Col. John Chandler, Mr. Hezekiah Hubbell, Col. Nehemiah Beardsley, Capt. John Brooks. Col. Jeremiah Mason, Capt. Elisha Child, Maj. John Keyes, Mr. Constant Southworth, Maj. John Ripley, Col. Bezaleel Bebee, Col. Nathaniel Buell, Maj. Eleazer Curtiss, Capt. Nathaniel Mitchell, and Col. Epaphras Sheldon, be, and they are hereby appointed Committees, of the several Counties to which they respectively belong; and the said Committees are hereby authorized and required, without delay, to ascertain the number of non-commissioned officers and privates that the respective towns have in service, whose time of service shall not expire before the first day of March next, with a great precision as possible, from the last returns of the army, and the doings of the Committee of Assembly, in settling the claims of the respective towns, in May last, and thereupon shall give notice of the numbers in which each town in the respective counties is deficient of their respective quotas as already established; as also to notify such towns to appear before them, at such time and place as they shall appoint, to shew reasons, if any they have, why they ought not to furnish the number of recruits to them assigned as aforesaid; and the Committees hall thereupon attend on said business and make such alterations of the deficiencies of the several towns, by them first ascertained, as to them shall appear just and right upon plenary proof, carefully noting such deficiencies as have happened the year past, by death or discharge; which shall by said Committee, or any one of them respectively selected and met in joint Committee for that purpose, be apportioned at large upon the several towns in this State, according to their several lists for the year 1781; and the deficiencies to ascertained by the Committees, shall be certified to the towns in the several counties, in writing, under the hands of such Committees, who shall thereupon procure the number to them assigned, in manner, and by the time aforesaid : Provided nevertheless, that if any opposite claims shall arise between two or more counties, the same shall be determined by the Governor and Council of Safety. 
And it be further Enacted, That the several towns in this State be and they are hereby authorised and required, to convene for the purpose of procuring the recruits to them assigned, to lay taxes upon their respective inhabitants, to appoint collectors to collect said tax, who are hereby authorized thereto as collectors of town taxes by law are, to appoint committees to receive and apply the monies to collected, for the purpose aforesaid, and to have the general superintendency of said business; or, if the towns, or any of them, think best) to divide the inhabitants into as many classes as there are deficiencies in such town, including such classes already formed, who, by this act, are still holden to procure a recruit; and when pursuant to the provisions of this act, any town shall be so formed into classes, the said Committee shall notify the individuals of such respective classes, to meet at time and place by them appointed; and the said classes, to met, are hereby authorised and directed to lay taxes upon the inhabitants within their several classes, sufficient to procure a recruit for the service, and for the terms aforesaid, or any of them to appoint collectors to collect said tax, who are hereby authorised by warrant from an Assistant or Justice of the Peace, to collect the same; and to do every other matter and thing necessary to answer the designs of this act. 
And it shall be further Enacted, he and at the Selectmen of the several towns in this State, shall, by the fifth day of April next, make returns to the commanding officer of their respective regiments, of the number of recruits by such towns respectively obtained, and if there shall appear to be fill a deficiency, the said commanding officer shall forthwith issue his orders to such of the commanding officers of companies, in such towns, as shall be proper and necessary to detach peremptorily the number deficient from such town class or classes as the case may require of able bodied effective men to serve in the Connecticut line of the army, until the last day of December next. And if the Selectmen aforesaid, shall neglect or refuse to make such return, by the time limited as aforesaid, orders shall issue as aforesaid, to detach the whole number of such towns deficiency as ascertained by the aforesaid Committee; and every soldier so detached, shall be entitled to receive of the town or class to which he belongs, the sum of Eight Pounds Lawful Money; Forty Shillings whereof to be paid before marching, and the remaining six pounds to be secured to be paid at the end of the term of service on such detachment; and the detaching officer shall, if need be forthwith upon such detachment, pray out a warrant from an Assistant or Justice of the Peace of the county, not immediately interested therein, directed to the collector of the town or class, commanding him to distrain said sum, either from any one or more of the principal inhabitants of such town, or from the individuals of such class, in proportion to their respective lists for the year 1781, and the same pay and deliver to the person to detached, taking his receipt for the same. And the commanding officers of regiments shall give the necessary orders for marching and forwarding the men, so raised, in their respective regiments, to such place of rendezvous as this Assembly shall appoint; and the towns or classes shall be responsible for their respective recruits, and if they shall, in any case desert, or be mustered out their places shall forthwith be supplied by inlistment or detachment as aforesaid.
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2 
And be it further enacted, That the several classes who have or shall procure their recruits for the term of one year; or from whom a recruit hath been or shall be detached, as aforesaid, their Executors, Administrators or Assigns, shall be considered as entire and distinct classes, for the purpose of procuring a recruit, annually, for the term of three years each, if the war so long continue, and shall further be liable to be included in such classes as may be formed, for supplying such deficiencies as have or may hereafter arise, by death or discharge. 
And whereas it appears to this Assembly, that sundry towns in this State have neglected to raise their full number of recruits for the army of the United States, as apportioned to them in May last, while other towns, by strenuous and animated exertions, have procured by large premiums, their full compliment of men, for the service of the year past; by means whereof, injustice and inequality is liable to take place between the several towns, which to prevent; 
Be it further enacted, That the Committees of the several counties in this Act appointed be, and they are hereby directed to call upon the several towns in their respective counties, for a true and just account, certified by the Select men of such towns, or the major part of them, of the number of recruits raised by their towns, for the service aforesaid , that were duly mustered and approved, agreeable to act of Assembly; and thereupon the committee shall ascertain the deficiencies of the several towns, for the year past, and return the same in writing, under their hands, to the Secretary of the State; who shall thereupon issue out his writ of execution, directed to the Sheriffs of the respective counties, commanding them to collect out of the goods or estate of any one or more of the principal inhabitants of such deficient town, the sum of fifteen pounds for each and every deficiency; and when collected, to pay and deliver to the Treasurer of this State, for the use thereof. And the said deficient towns shall be held to respond the sum and damages, collected from and sustained by such principal inhabitants, and to collect the money by tax or assessment, laid upon the inhabitants for that purpose, if necessary, in case the town as such is deficient: But in case particular classes in such town are deficient to collect from the individuals of such classes as neglected to procure a recruit for either of the terms aforesaid, in proportion to their respective lifts for the year 1781, the sum of fifteen pounds for the use of such town. 
And the Commanding Officers of the respective regiments are hereby required to call on the Selectmen of the within their regiment, for the returns by them to be made; and to procure executions to be made out by the Secretary, against the towns within their several regiments, or any of them, as may be necessary, agreeable to the provisions of this Act, to the intent that the same may be carried into execution. 
A true Copy of Record, examined by 
GEORGE WYLLYS, Sec'ry. 
Wm Prentice 
Conn, W.26709