Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,439, for Joseph Thurber, New Hampshire
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
N. H.
Vt.
CONTENTS
Thurber, Joseph
---- Sarah K.
NUMBER
W. 16439
Page 2

[left side]
Albany 1939
Sarah K Thurber
[widow] of Joseph Thurber
who died in April 1815
of St Lawrence Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Lieut. in the company commanded
by Captain Everett of the Regt. commanded
by __________ in the N. Hampshire
line for 8 months N.H.
__________
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 106 Dollars 66 Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
__________
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of
April 1838 and sent to A. C.
Brown, Ogdenburgh, N.Y.
__________
Arrears to the 4th of March '38       746.66 2/3
Semi-annual allowance ending Sep  53.33 1/3
__________
$800.00
__________
{ Revolutionary Claim, 
  Act July 4, 1836,
  Section the 3 --- }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 119

[right side-strike through both lines]
Adriel Ely Watertown
March 31. 1846
Page 3

Sept 8 45

[stamp] WATERTOWN N.Y. SEP 4  [stamp] 10

[illegible] Sept 8. 45
[illegible] that she was pensioned
for 8 mo service [illegible]
in Capt Everett's Comp'y
Col. J. L. Edwards
Court of Pensions
Washington

1939 Mrs Sarah K Thurber,
wid [widow] Jos [Joseph]
N York '36
Page 4

Watertown Jeff. County
N.Y. Sept 3. 1845
Sir
Mrs Thurber widow of Joseph Thurber
was a pensioner of the United States at
the rate of $106.66 and died in
Morristown St Lawrence County New 
York September 1841. Joseph Thurber
was a Lieutenant in the New Hampshire
Line in Capt. Edward Everett's Co / Col
Beadle's [Bedel's] Reg't for [illegible] of which I have the copy
of the roll. In 78 he removed to Vermont
and served as Captain & as a private
Volunteer. John K Thurber his son
requests me to enquire for what service
was rendered by Joseph Thurber his
father his mother was pensioned
I have not the christian name of Mrs
Thurber, she was on the Albany roll
and the widow of Joseph Thurber.
Will you please to give me the
information requested and oblige
Yr [Your] Ob [obedient] Servant
Adriel Ely

Col. J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington
Page 5

[stamp left side illegible]
[right side]

John K Thurber
[illegible] Sarah
Thurber
Adriel Ely
Watertown
N. York
Atty
Page 6

State of New York
St Lawrence County ss
On this 19th day of September
1845 personally appeared before me the Surrogate
of the County of St Lawrence aforesaid John
K. Thurber a resident in the County St
Lawrence in the town of Morristown and
being duly sworn according to law deposes
and says that he is one of the children of 
Sarah Thurber widow of Joseph Thurber
now deceased: that my mother the said
Sarah Thurber was a Pensioner of the United 
States at the rate of one hundred and
six Dollars and sixty six cents per annum
and died on the eighth day of September
1841; that his father the said Joseph 
Thurber after having served as Lieutenant
in the New Hampshire line for some considerable
time removed in the year 1777 or 1778
to Newbury in the State of Vermont, where
he continued to reside during the remaining
years of the Revolution and rendered
in that State several tours of service in the
capacity of Captain and as a Volunteer private,
which this deponent believes were
never taken into account in making up
his Mothers pension. He therefore prays that
such evidence as he may exhibit may be
considered and the arrears of pension to
which his mother was entitled at the time
of her death may be granted to him as said
administrator for the benefit of all her
children
John K Thurber
Sworn and subscribed on
the day and year first above
written before
Clerk Myers
Surrogate
Page 7

State of New York
St Lawrence County / It is hereby certified
that John K Thurber of Morristown
in the County of St Lawrence aforesaid
has been duly appointed administrator of
the Estate of Sarah Thurber late of said town
of Morristown deceased. It is also further certified 
that satisfactory evidence has been
adduced before me to prove that the aforesaid
Sarah Thurber was the wife of Joseph Thurber
and that the said Joseph Thurber died
on the sixteenth day of March 1815 and further
that the said Sarah Thurber remained
the widow of the said Joseph Thurber
the remainder of her life and died in
the town of Morristown aforesaid on the
eighth day of September one thousand eight
hundred and forty one; that she left
her surviving four children her only
heirs at Law who still survive and
are all of lawful age viz Kelsey L Thurber
of Oswegatchie New York John K Thurber of
Morristown New York, Betsey Campbell the
wife of James Campbell and Polly Chambers the
wife of James Chambers both of whom reside
in Canada.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of
my office at Ogdensburgh
this thirtieth day of December
AD 1845
Clerk Myers
Surrogate
Page 8

Morristown St Lawrence County
New York  September 1845
The Secretary of the State of Vermont
is respectfully requested
to furnish evidence from the rolls & Books
in his office of the Revolutionary services
of my father Joseph Thurber. The
said Joseph Thurber resided in the town
of Rumney New Hampshire until 1777. While
in New Hampshire he was on the pension of 
the United States as a Lieutenant. In 1777
he removed to Newbury in the State of Vermont
where he resided until the war closed
and long after. He was a Captain in
the Vermont State service in Col. Wait's Regt [Regiment].
and as such performed several tours of service. Capt Thurber in his life time has told
me this story "that while in service Colonel Wait reprimanded him for being on familiar
terms with his soldiers, & that thereupon he Capt
Thurber took out his commission and threw it
down at his feet resigning his commission
but Gen'l McDougal interfered & directed Thurber
to take up his commission & return to duty for no
Captain would be good for any thing except he
was liked by his soldiers" - I have appointed
Adriel Ely of Watertown N.Y. my attorney
in this matter
John K Thurber
Signed in my presence 
John K Thurber
James C Barter
Justice of the Peace of St Lawrence County N.Y.
Page 9

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier October 1st 1845

[seal affixed; illegible]

I hereby certify that there is on file
in this office a "Pay Roll of a scout from Moretown,
in the year 1780 under command of Major John Barron";
on which Roll is the name of "Capt John Thurber", with 
  [insert on side of document] see Vt. Records p. 328 
  it is not John but 
  James Thurber there [end insert]
an allowance for six days service as a Captain.

Also, "A Pay Roll of a scout from Moretown
in the year 1781"; on which is the name of "Joseph
Thurber Capt", with an allowance for three days service
as a Captain.

On neither of said Rolls is there any date given
except that of the receipt of payment, which was in 1784.
Moretown was not then a "settled" town - merely a
station.

There is also on file "A Pay Roll of Capt
Elijah Gates Company of Volunteers in Col. Benj. Wait's
Battalion in the service of the State of Vermont from the 17th
July 1781 to the 15th Decr 1781, inclusive"; on which is the name
of "Joseph Thurber" with an allowance for 89 days service as
a private commencing Sept 3d and ending Decr 1st.

Given under my hand and the seal of this Office
this 1st day of October A.D. 1845.
Ferrand F. Merrill
Deputy Secretary of State
Page 10

[left side]
131078
Sarah K Thurber

let to A. C. Brown 25 July 37
  3d March 38

[right side - blank]
Page 11

State of New York
St. Lawrence County ⎬ ss. Kelsey T. Thurber of Oswegatchie, County
and State aforesaid being duly sworn deposes & says
that he is the son of Captain Joseph Thurber, that he
was born in the year 1770 at Huntington on Long Island
& was 66 years old on the 22d day of November last. That
while he was very young & living at Rumney in the State 
of New Hampshire, his father left him to go to Quebeck [Quebec], as a Lieutenant, in the service of the United 
States under Captain Everett & Colonel Bedel.
That he has heard his father say that he did not arrive
at Quebeck [Quebec] in time to participate in the battle,
but was engaged when he arrived on the plains of Quebeck [Quebec], in throwing up breastworks of snow [&] ice.  Soon
after retreated to Mount Independence on Lake Champlain where he was
sick with the small pox. That his father was in the
service of the United States about 5 or 6 or more years
& served a part of the time as a Lieutenant & afterwards 
as a Captain. That he has seen his fathers
commission as a Lieutenant & also his Captain's
commission some twenty years ago - that both
have since been lost. That he has heard his father
say that he served under Colonels Wait & Warner as
well as Bedel. That his father died some time in
the year 1815 at the town of Oswegatchie, County of
St. Lawrence & State of New York. That Deponent's
mother, Sarah K. Thurber the wife of the said Joseph 
Thurber, is now living at Morristown & is
about 88 years old. That she has remained a widow
ever, since the death of her husband Joseph Thurber
& was a widow July 4th 1836.
K T Thurber
Sworn July 8 1837
before me
John Fine
First Judge
of St Law [Lawrence] Cy [County]
Page 12

State of New York
St. Lawrence County
Clerks Office} ss: I hereby certify that
the Hon John Fine before whom the foregoing affidavit
purports to have been taken was at the time of taking
said [illegible] affidavit First Judge of said County
duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature 
thereto subscribed is genuine.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of said
County this 13th day of July 1837
[illegible].N.Ellis
Deputy Clerk

I certify that Kelsey Thurber the above said
man is a credible witness. I have been acquainted 
with him personally for twenty
years.  [illegible]
John Fine
---
First Judge
of St. Law [Lawrence] Cy [County]
[illegible]
April 2 1838
Page 13

2246

Capt Everet [Everett]
Admitted
Lieutenant 8 Months

A. C. Brown Esq
Ogdensburgh
New York
Page 14

State of New York
St. Lawrence County} ss: On the twenty ninth day of June in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
seven personally appeared, before John Fine Esquire,
First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said county
of St. Lawrence, Sarah K. Thurber, widow of Joseph Thurber
formerly a Revolutionary soldier in the service of the United 
States, who being first duly sworn according to law,
doth depose & say that she is now eighty eight years of age,
that she was born the eighteenth day of February A.D. 1749
at Huntington on Long Island State of New York, that
she was married some time in the year 1769 to Joseph
Thurber then late of Providence Rhode Island, thinks
he was born sometime in the year 1737 or 1738, but she has no record 
of his age nor of her own & does not know where he was
born. They were married at Huntington & continued to
reside there for the space of about three years after they
were married & at the end of that time they moved 
to Rumney in the State of New Hampshire where they
lived about three or four years. That while he was living 
at Rumney & at the commencement of the Revolutionary 
war, her husband voluntarily raised a company of
men and enlisted with them in Captain Everetts company 
of Continental troops. She does not remember the
name of the Colonel nor any of the other officers, nor the
particular time when her husband entered the service, but
remembers Captain Everett as she was acquainted with
him before the war and had lived a near neighbors to
him. That her husband was made Lieutenant immediately 
after entering the service. That he started
away for Quebeck [Quebec], soon after he enlisted his men, on
a Sunday morning but she does not know the month
or year. That he was absent about ten or twelve months
when he returned on a visit and staid [stayed] three or four weeks
at the end of which time he started for the Fish kills [Fishkill].
That he was away on service the greater part of the time
during the war but was at home occasionally. She does
not know for what period of time he enlisted Has heard
him say that he was at the siege of Quebeck [Quebec] but that he
Page 15


did not arrive there until after the battle & also that
he was at the taking of Burgoyne. Thinks he served a
part of the time under Colonel Bedel. she further says
that after living three or four years at Rumney they moved to
Newbury, Vermont, thence to Moretown now called Bradford, Vt. & resided there until after the close of the war,
from thence they removed to Berlin Vermont, thence to
Plattsburgh New York, from which place they crossed over
to St. Anns in Lower Canada, thence they moved to the
town of Augusta Upper Canada, thence to Oswegatchie
County of St. Lawrence & State of New York, & thence to
the town of Morristown same County where she now resides. 
That her husband died at Oswegatchie about
in April in the year 1815, & soon after the news of peace arrived.
At the time he died he called himself 77 years old.
She does not know whether he ever received a regular
discharge from service or not. He had in his possession
two or three papers relating to his services in the army
during the Revolution, which he carefully preserved
during his life but they have and been lost - one
of them may have been a discharge but she cannot
say it was. She thinks he was made a captain at
some period of the war. He was always called Captain 
Thurber. But she does not remember at what
time he received a captains commission.
That she has remained a widow since the
death of her husband Joseph Thurber and
was a widow July 4 1836
That she is unable by reason of bodily
infirmity to attend court
   Sarah K Thurber

Subscribed & sworn
before me June 29 1837
John Fine
First Judge of 
St Law [Lawrence] Cy [County] Court [illegible]
Ogdensburgh St Lawrence Cy New York ss I hereby 
certify that I went this day to the town of 
Morristown in this County to take the examination
Page 16

of Sarah K Thurber the above named deponent. 
She personally appeared before me
and made the above declaration on her
oath in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the Act of Congress passed July 4 1836
and she [illegible] Act passed March
3 1837. I further certify that she is unable
by reason of bodily infirmity to attend Court
and that she is a credible person
June 29 1837
John Fine
First Judge of 
St Law [Lawrence] Cy [County]
[illegible]

State of New York
St Lawrence County
Clerks Office} I do hereby certify
that the Hon John Fine before whom the foregoing
affidavit purports to have been taken was at the
time of taking said affidavit First Judge of said
County duly commissioned & sworn and that his
signature thereto subscribed is genuine
In Testimony Whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
the Seal of said County this 13th
day of July 1837
[illegible]N.Ellis
Deputy Clerk
Page 17

State of New York
St. Lawrence County} ss: Asa Webster of Augusta in the
Province of Upper Canada being
duly sworn says that he was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War and served in Colonel Bedels
regiment, and that this deponent was well acquainted
with Captain Joseph Thuber during
and after the Revolutionary War. That said Joseph 
Thurber was a captain in actual service
under said Colonel Bedel. That he, the said Thurber, 
was an officer, under said Bedell and other
commandants, in the years 1775, 1776 & 1777. That
said Capt. Thurber served his country faithfully during 
that period, to the best knowledge & belief of this
Deponent. That in the year 1777 he, the said Thurber, 
lived in the town of Newbury in Vermont and
that this Deponent then lived a near neighbor to
him; and that said Captain Thurber was a married 
man when he first became acquainted with
him. That he was well acquainted with
his wife, Sally Thurber, and has seen her a
number of times since the Revolutionary War,
and that she is still living in the town of
Morristown, County of St. Lawrence & State of
New York as he is informed & believes to be true.
And further this Deponent saith not.
Asa Webster

Sworn before me this
11th day of March 1837}
Henry J Pohlman
Justice of the peace
I, Henry J. Pohlman a Justice of the peace of Morristown, 
County of St. Lawrence and State of New York
do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the
character of the above named Asa Webster and that
he is of undoubted truth and veracity.
Henry J. Pohlman
Justice of the Peace
Page 18

State of New York
St Lawrence County 
Clerks Office} ss: I do hereby certify that
Henry J. Pohlman Esq before whom the foregoing
affidavit purport to have been taken and whose name
is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate was at the
time of taking said affidavit a Justice of the Peace
in & for said County duly elected and sworn and that his
signature thereto subscribed is genuine
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of
said County this 13th day of July
1837
[illegible].N. Ellis
Deputy Clerk
Page 19

February 12, 1937.

Mr. Roger F. Williams
Chaumont, New York.

BA-J/ILL
Joseph Thurber
W. 16439

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information 
regarding the family of Sarah K. Thurber, shown in 1840 as 
a pensioner, residing in Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

The record of Joseph Thurber is given herein as found in
the papers on file in pension claim, W.16439; his widow, Sarah K.
Thurber is the pensioner cited by you.

Joseph Thurber was born in 1737 or 1738; the exact date and
place of his birth, and the names of his parents were not given. In 
1769, he lived in Huntington, on Long Island, in Suffolk County, New 
York, at which time he was referred to as formerly of Providence, Rhode
Island, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he resided in Rumney,
New Hampshire.

In 1775, Joseph Thurber raised a company of volunteers in
Rumney, New Hampshire, was appointed Lieutenant in Captain Edward
Everett's company, Colonel Bedel's New Hampshire regiment, was on the
expedition to Quebec, afterwards went to Mount Independence and was at
the taking of Burgoyne, a part of this service under Colonels Wait and
Warner, specific dates not shown. In 1777 or 1778, he moved from New
Hampshire to Newbury, Vermont, and from there to Moretown, later called
Bradford, Vermont; he was captain of a company of volunteers in 1780,
under Major John Barron, and served in that same capacity on tours in
1781.

After the close of the war, Captain Joseph Thurber moved from
Moretown, Vermont, to Berlin, in that same state, thence to Plattsburg,
New York, afterwards to Saint Anne's, Lower Canada, thence to Augusta
in Upper Canada, from there to Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence County, New 
York. 
He died there March 16, 1815, or in April 1815, aged about seventy 
years.   omit next time [refers to "aged about seventy years"]
Page 20

Joseph Thurber married in 1769 or 1770, in Huntington, Suffolk
County, New York, Sarah Kelsey, who was born there February 18, 1749;
the names of her parents were not given. They were married by a
Minister of the Church of England.

Sarah K. Thurber, the soldier's widow, was allowed pension on
her application executed June 29, 1837, at which time she resided in
Morristown, Saint Lawrence County, New York.  She died there September
8, 1841.

In 1845, the names of the children who survived Joseph Thurber
and his wife, Sarah K., were given as follows: John K. Thurber of
Morristown, New York; Kelsey L. or T. Thurber, who was born November
22, 1770 in Huntington, New York, and resided in Oswegatchie, New 
York, in 1845; Betsey Campbell, wife of James Campbell, who resided
in Canada; and Polly Chambers, wife of James Chambers, also residing
in Canada.

In 1837, Keturey (Ketury) Kelsey, widow of Nathaniel Kelsey,
Senior, of Huntington, New York, was aged about ninety years; she
was acquainted with both the soldier and his wife, Sarah, when they
lived in Huntington, New York, just after their marriage; no relationship 
to the family was stated.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER.
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 21

[left side]
1915. Feb 8: History to Mr.
Henry D. Warren.  M. 13. H
---
1937 - Feb. 12. Hist. to Roger F. Williams
ILL

[right side]
Rev WIDOW, &c.
---
File No. 16439
Sarah K. Thurber
Wid of
Joseph Thurber
Lieut Rev War
---
Act July 4th 1836
Index: Vol. M, Page 272
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

New York
Sarah K Thurber
Suspended - let to
A. C. Brown Esq July
25, 1837
to same 2 March '38.
Page 23

Susan Young's affidavit
on the application of
Sarah K. Thurber

[illegible scribble lower left corner]
Page 24

Queens County ss. Susan Youngs
being duly sworn doth depose and
say; That she is over Eighty five years
of age; that she knew Joseph Thurber
before he was married; That about the
year one thousand seven hundred and
seventy as deponent was informed and verily
believes he was married to Sarah Kelsey
by the Rev John Clayton a Clergymen of the
Church of England residing in Huntington in
Suffolk County, State of New York; that this
deponent visited the said Joseph Thurber
and his wife soon after they were reported to
have been married, when they were living
in the town of Huntington as husband and
wife, and so reputed and believed to
be in the neighbourhood where they resided; 
that deponent visited them several
times whilst they lived in Huntington, that
they had a child during that time, that
they lived in Huntington about a year and
then moved as deponent was told to Norwalk
in Connecticut, and further this deponent
saith not.
Affirmed and subscribed   Susan Youngs
before me this 18th day of October
1837. John D Feeks Judge of Co Courts in and for
the County of Queens.
Page 25

Susan Youngs the within deponent
is an inhabitant of the Town of Oyster Bay
Queens County, and known to me
John D Feeks
---
Page 26

State of New York
County of Queens} ss
I John Simonson Clerk of the County of Queens
Do hereby certify that John D Feeks Esquire before
whome [whom] the oath on the annexed instrument was
taken was at the time of administring such oath
A Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and
for the said County of Queens dwelling in said
County Commissioned and sworn and duly authorised 
to administer the same. And further that
I am well acquainted with the hand writing of
such Judge and verily believe that the signature
to the said certificate is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunt set my
hand and affixed the seal of said County the 17th
day of November 1837
John Simonson Clerk
Page 27

Watertown Jany 6. 1846

Sir
I enclose herewith the application of
John K Thurber for the arrears of 
the pension of his Mother Sarah Thurber
who was pensioned @ $106.66 per annum
and died Sept 8. 1841. The evidence
herewith shows that she was entitled
to about $16 per annum more than
the [illegible].  If all is right please send me
a certificate. It was expected to find
for more service done as Capt or nothing
would have been done about it
Yr [Your] obed [obedient] Servant
Adriel Ely

Col J. L. Edwards
Court of Pensions
Washington
Page 28

722
Pension office
March 31 1846

Sir,

The papers in the case of Sarah Thurber
for increase of pension under the Act of 4 July 1836, have been examined
and filed. The certificate of the Secretary of the
State of Vermont is deemed sufficient to establish
three day's service of Joseph Thurber as Captain in the year 1781, and an 
increase of pension for that time will be granted when
the duty of this office shall be complied with.

The 89 day's service as a private in 1781 cannot
be admitted in the face of the apparent inconsistency of 
one person serving in the capacity of Captain and as a
private of militia within the same year. The presumption is that
there were two persons by the same name. For similar
reason the six day's service [illegible] to Capt John Thurber
is refuted.

Children in their own right are not entited [entitled] to Pensions
but may receive arrears for which may be due a parent at
his or her decease. An administrator cannot receive the
unpaid balance, except as Trustee for the children all of whom must participate in such 
benefits. It will therefore be necessary to obtain the certificate [strikethrough: present before a Judge]
Page 29

of a court of record showing
the names of all the children
and the time of the death of Sarah Thurber and
transmit it to this office

Adriel Ely Esq.
Watertown,
NY

[sideways, right side]
Adriel Ely
March 31. '46
Page 30

2246
13761
1078
Capt Everett
Lieut Thurber £10.18.2
25 Apl [April] 1776 must'd [mustered] at
Montreal. [illegible] 33
22 Jun 1776 paid Dec 
[illegible] 17. [illegible] 45
[text overwrite]

[illegible] July 22
1776.

Aug 26 1775 Gen
Montgomery left to Fort
St Johns [Saint-Jean]

Lieut Pay 8 months
Page 31

13761
20 July 1837
Pension office
N.Y.
4 July '36
2246 3d Sec.

[stamp]
Ogdensburgh NY
Jul 15
Page 32

[stamp]
FREE

Hon. Joel Poinsett
Secretary at War
Washington City
D.C.
Page 33

Ogdensburgh 14 July 1837

Sir - Enclosed I send you affidavits in support
of an application of Sarah K. Thurber for
a pension, under the act of Congress passed July
4th 1836 as the widow of Captain Joseph Thurber,
a Revolutionary officer in the service of the United States.

Please to give the application your earliest possable
attention, & if there are any imperfections or informalities
in the affidavits, let them be pointed out & they
will be corrected. If there is any want of further
testimony to substantiate the claim, please to inform
me of it & if possable, it will be supplied. As this
is the first application of the kind which I have had
the honor to present to you. I do not presume that the
affidavits & proceedings will be found perfectly formal &
regular, but hope they will answer the purpose of convincing 
you of the justness of her claim.

If the Rolls of Colonels Bedell, Wait & Warner are 
found on file in your Department, Captain Thurber's 
name will undoubtedly be found on them.

I am, sir, Respectfully
Yours &c
A. C. Brown
Page 34

131078
12 April 1838
Pension Office
Mr. Luce
Mr. Luce

[text upside down]
Hon: J.R.Poinsett
Secretary of War
Washington City
D.C.
Page 35

Ogdensburgh, April 2d, 1838

Sir
Enclosed I return to you the affidavits of Kelsie T. 
Thurber and Peter Mayhew in the application of Sarah K. Thurber with certificates of their credibility.
The Witness Mayhew resides in the State of New Hampshire
But as he was formerly a resident of this town I deemed that a
certificate of the First Judge of our County who was well acquainted
with the witness, would answer & save the delay
expense, & danger of Miscarriage, of sending to the Justice of the
Peace in New Hampshire. I fear the widow will be unable
to obtain any further proof of the services of her husband - at
least for the present. I think the proofs already in the possession
of the department are sufficient to convince any man
that the claimants husband served in the Revolutionary
army a number of years, at least 2 or 3 But whether those
proofs are sufficient to meet the requisitions of the Department, 
is another question. I wish the Department would
take it into consideration that the widow labours under a
much greater inconvenience in obtaining proof of the services
of her husband that he himself would if living owing to
the fact that she cannot know to whom to apply. She must
be ignorant as to who were the companions of her husband
during his periods of service. He may have mentioned to
her the names of some of these companions at his relation
of the event of his campaigns, but what circumstance
could exist to impress those names sufficiently upon her
memory, that she should be supposed capable of recalling
them at the expiration of some Sixty years! if she should
remember one it would be extraordinary -- & where should
she look for him-- how many the chances that he
would be in his grave. If her husband himself was living
all this inconvenience would be obviated-- he of course
would know to whom to apply, of many who could testify
to his services, &, in all probability where some of them were to
be found. Or if he could obtain no proof of his services from
Page 36

living witnesses he could state such circumstances of his
service, the names of officers under whom he served, & such other
facts of all of which the widow must necessarily be in a great degree
ignorant) as would render it easy to ascertain from Record
evidence whether he served or no.- And when applied to him
the rules of the Department requiring strict proof are certainly
right. But if they are to be applied to the widow they are
far from just, & must in many cases entirely defeat the
object of Congress in passing the act under which she claims
the names of the chief officers under whom her husband served
she would be more apt to remember particularly if identified
with any act or circumstance to impress it upon her memory.
Some of these she gives. But can it be expected that she
would be able (taking into consideration as well her age as
all the other circumstances) to state the names of more
officers that she has given. Some of those who accompanied
her husband during the northern campaign she remembers
because they were persons with whom she was personally acquainted before
the war.
Although she is unable to obtain the most direct and conclusive
proof from witnesses of the services of her husband it is no more 
than might readily readily have been anticipated, when the
act was passed, as likely to be the case of a vast number of
those for whose benefit that act was intended; if it is not in
the power of the Department to ascertain from the records
whether the claimants husband as she states, or not, owing to
the rolls & other documents not having been filed-- it certainly 
is not her fault & she should not loose by it or if the
officers of the Department are unable to satisfy themselves
from Record evidence of the truth or falsity of the claim, owing
to the widow's being unable to give a full statement of facts,
circumstances & names of officers to direct them in the search
for such record proof, that also might will have been anticipated 
when the act was passed-- it certainly was to be expected 
that such would be the case of many- of almost all!
and is very far from showing that the claim is without foundation. Mrs. Thurber swears that her husband served in
the Revolutionary army a certain number of years. In this
Page 37

she cannot be mistaken and she is proven to be a person
of good character & a credible witness - her statement is
supported by the evidence of other witnesses - & by record evidence 
that he served at least eight months. Can this leave
a reasonable doubt as to the service; or is any such doubt
raised by the fact that no further proof can be obtained?
I think not. And I think when you consider the circumstances
of the case you will agree that she has furnished as strong
proof as could be expected. I must appologise for troubling
you so long-- But the widow has come to the conclusion that
whatever amount you can feel justified in appropriating to
her now will do her more good than to wait until she
may sink into her grave in the hope of obtaining more.
In fact she knows not which way to look for further proof. &
if she did, her poverty would be an almost insurmountable
barrier to obtaining it. The proof already obtained has cost a friend a 
journey to New Hampshire.

She will accept a certificate for whatever amount
you please to send it.

Yours &c
A. C. Brown

Hon: J. R. Poinsett
Page 38

[left side]
131009

[right side]
Affidavit of Ketury Kelsey
on the application of
Sarah K. Thurber


[scribble mid-page] 
G
Page 39

The affadavit of Ketury Kelsey widow of
Nathaniel Kelsey Senor of the Town of Huntington
in the County of Suffolk deceased being duly sworn
deposeth and saith that she is about 90 years of
age and that about fifty four years since she was
acquainted with Joseph Thurber and that he then
Resided in the Town aforesaid for the space of
one or more years and that he had a woman
Residing with him by the name of Sally whome [whom]
she always understood and verially [verily] believes was
his Lawfull [lawful] wife, and was so Reputed by all
her acquaintanance passed for man and wife
During the Residence in the Town aforesaid
The afforesaid Sally was delivered of a Child
and after the period of one or more years the
said Joseph Thurber and Sally whome I believe
to be his wife moved to some other place but
cannot Recolect [recollect] the name thereof

Ketury Kelsey
X her mark

further this Deponent saith not
taken and subscribed
before me the 12th of October
1837 Moses Rolph one of the
Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Suffolk
Page 40

State of New York
Suffolk County } ss I Joseph R Huntting Clerk of the County
of Suffolk Do certify that Moses Rolph Esquire
before whom the within affidavit was taken
is one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas for said County that I am well
acquainted with his hand writing and
believe that the signature to the within
affidavit is Genuine. In witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand & affixed
the seal of said County this 9th of November
1837
Joseph R Huntting Clk
Page 41

I Peter Mayhew, now of Concord in the State of New
Hampshire, but formerly of Rumney in said State, on oath
declare, that I was in the service of the United States of America
during the whole of the Revolutionary war. That I
was well acquainted with Lieut. Joseph Thurber of said
town of Rumney, and know that he served his country in
the Revolutionary War, as a Lieutenant, a part of the time
I believe in the Company of Capt Everett, in Col Moody Bedel's
Regiment of the New Hampshire Line. That said Thurber
was at the siege of Quebeck [Quebec] where he went, I believe, under the
command Lieut. Col. Wait. That after the failure at Quebeck, 
said Lieut. Thurber, who was then just recovering from the small 
pox which he took at that place, retreated with the army
to Mount Independence. At this place I left him in the
service, and do not recollect that I had personal knowledge
of him, in the army, afterwards, as I was employed most
of the time as an Express. But I did know him in the service 
to this period as I was with the same detachment to which he
belonged the whole time. Said Thurber prior to the Revolutionary 
War, lived near me in said Rumney, was then
a married man, and I think had one or two children.
About ten or twelve years since, as near as can recollect, I was at
Ogdensburg, New York, and saw Mrs. Thurber, then the widow of the
said Lieut. Joseph Thurber, and the same woman who was his
wife at Rumney prior to the war of the Revolution.
Concord, N.H. June 2 1837--- Peter Mayhew
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss. June 2, 1837 - Then Peter Mayhew personally
appeared and made Solemn Oath that the above affidavit by 
him subscribed is true.
Before me
S.A. Kimball, Justice of the Peace
Page 42

[seal]
State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office June 2d 1837
The before named S. A. Kimball
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the
County of Merrimack duly qualified
and his signature germain [germane].
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
the seal of the State
Ralph Metcalf Secy [Secretary] of State

I certify that on this second day of April, 1838, personally
appeared before me, Peter Mayhew Junior, to me well known to be
a credible witness who being duly sworn deposed & said that 
the signature to the within affidavit is the hand writing of the
within named Peter Mayhew who is the father of the deponent
and that the said Peter Mayhew was a resident of Ogdensburgh
in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York, about
ten or twelve years ago. And I further certify that I was
personally well acquainted with the said Peter Mayhew at
the time and place mentioned by his son, the above named witness,
that he then sustained an upright character and was a
credible witness, that at that time he must have been about
seventy years of age, and that I have heard nothing since tending 
in the least to impeach his character.
John Fine
---
First Judge of
St Law [Lawrence] Cy [County] NY
[illegible]
Page 43

[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
O
FEB 1 1915

Haddon Hall
Berlin Mass
Jan 31 1915
Hon  [illegible]
Dear Sir:
     In reply to 
your favor of the 29th [illegible]
for which please accept
my thanks. I would say
that I am very anxious
to learn what the
following Revolutionary
officers or soldiers had
to say regarding their
service and where it 
was performed in
Canada or elsewhere in
Page 44

the year 1776 they all
served in New Hampshire
Regt's of that I am
certain, and I am
quite sure that the
statements that they,
or their widows made
when their applications
were made will upon
examination show just
where they were engaged
that is places &c.

The first one in
Capt Joseph Estabrook
and his wifes name
was Theoda Potter and
they were residents of
Page 45

is Chaplain Augustine
Hibbard  he was from 
Claremont N.H. nor can
I give you his wife's name

If the four 
named did not draw 
pensions possibly their 
widows did so and 
their statements may 
show place & date of
service which is what
I am after

Hoping that your
records will give me 
some light on the
subject and again thanking 
you for your kindness
I am   Very [illegible]
Henry D Warren
Page 46

Lebanon N.H.     The second one
is Captain Jason Waite he also
went to Canada his place of
residence was Alstead N.H.  I do 
not know his wifes name

The third one is
Lieut James or Joseph Thurber
am pretty sure that it was Joseph
but the roll is not very distinct
he came from Bradford VT as near
as I can make out; am not
sure of his wifes name however

The last one, fourth
Page 47

Chaumont, New York
January 28, 1937
Veteran's Administration
Washington D.C

[stamp]
Received
Jan 29 1937
[illegible] DIV.
[illegible] 11

Gentlemen:
Will you kindly send
me an abstract of the
Revolutionary Pension
papers with family data
of Sarah K. Thurber   ok
who was on the Rolls in 1840
aged 91 living with John Thurber
in Morristown, St Lawrence
Co N. Y.
Thank you
Yours Truly
Roger F. Williams

Oswegatchie
Page 48

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.  3--525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., ___,19___

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Joseph Thuber
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's)  application for pension 
on file in this Bureau. W. 16439.
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
STATE.
While living at Rumney N. H. at commencement of the Revolution Joseph
Thurber voluntarily raised a company, enlisted with them, and served as
Lieut in Capt. Edward Everetts Co. Col Bedel's N.H. Regiment. In 1777 or 1778 he
moved to Newbury, Vt and thence to Moretown Vt (later called Bradford) and
served in 1781 3 days as Capt. on a scouting party from Moretown and from Sept 3,
1781 to Dec 1, 1781 as private in Capt Elijah Gates Co Col Benj Wait's Vt Battalion.
Battles engaged in, siege of Quebec; capture of Burgoyne
Residence of soldier at enlistment, see above.
Date of application for pension, June 29 1837. Her claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Morristown, St Lawrence Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, born Feb 18, 1749 at Hunting Suffolk Co. NY.
Remarks: Soldier was born in 1737 or 1738; he married in 1769 in Huntington, 
N.Y., Sarah Kelsey, he died Mch [March] 16 or in Apr 1815 at Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence
Co. NY., and she died Sept 8. 1841 in Morristown N.Y. Children: Kelsey T.
born Nov 22 1770; John K., Betsey mar. [married] James Campbell, Polly mar [married] James
Chambers.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-2856