Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7958, for Parle Parkhurst, Vermont
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(3-1776)
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Vt.|Parkhurst, Parle|r. 7958|
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CONTENTS
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Parle Parkhurst.
Vermont
7958
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 
State of New Hampshire
County of Sullivan } ss
On this 15th day of February 1837 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the County of Probate now sitting Parle Parkhurst a resident of Weathersfield in the County of Windsor and state of Vermont aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as  herein stated. In the month of Dec'r 1779 he enlisted for the term of two years under one Captain Chick at Claremont N. H. and entered the service on or about the 15th day of March 1780 under Capt Jesse Safford and first marched to Bethel in the State of Vermont when was sometime stationed. - was afterwards ordered to several other places in said State of Vermont. - well recollects being at Barnard, Pittsford and Corinth but cannot state how long at each place - And was also engaged at Royalton when burnt by the Indians in Oct 1780. - was also engaged for some length of time at Corinth and then helped to build a fort And was there discharged on or about the 20th day of December 1781 having served 21 months and 16 days actual service as a Sergeant. - We had two lieutenants to our company. - Lieutenant Moses Evans and Lieutenant Thomas Lyon, and Ensign Smith. - The first year we were under the command of General Bellows, next under Gen. Wait. - 
Has no documentary evidence of the services above named nor has he been able to find living any of the persons who served with him during the time above named. 
He states in reply to the first interrogatory put to him that he was born in Plainfield Connecticut July 30th 1761. - To the second. That he has no other record of his age than that of an Almanac record. - To the third. - that he was living at Claremont N. H. when called into service and that he has since lived at Windsor and Weathersfield Vt. where he now lives. To the fourth. - that he enlisted as above stated. To the fifth. - Names General Wait, Col Safford Capt Cox Capt Briggs and Capt McGregor. - To the sixth. - That he did receive a written discharge from Gen Wait but has lost the same. - To the seventh. - that he is well known in his neighbourhood by ['the Rev'd' crossed out] Joseph P Upham Esq and Asa Upham Esq of said Weathersfield who can testify as to his character for truth and their belief of his service as by him stated -
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state. The reason why he has not before made a declaration is, that he has waited in the hope of finding some of his companions in Arms for Witnesses. And the reason for now making it in N. H. is because Weathersfield Vt and Claremont N. H. are only separated by the Connecticut river, and it is now much the most convenient doing it on the N. H. side before Judge P Upham. - The Rev James Converse being now confined by sickness is the reason for his not attending court and giving his certificate
/s/X his mark Parle Parkhurst
Sworn to and subscribed the 15th day of February 1837
/s/John L Putnam Judge of Probate

We Joseph P Upham residing in Weathersfield Vt and Asa Upham residing in said Weathersfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Parle Parkhurst who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. - 
/s/Joseph P. Upham
/s/Asa Upham
Sworn to and subscribed the 15th day of February 1837
/s/John L Putnam Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court certifies that it appears to them that Joseph P. Upham who has signed the preceding certificate has been a last Place resident in said Weathersfield and that Asa Upham who has also signed the same is a resident on the same Weathersfield and credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
/s/John L Putnam Judge of Probate.
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I, Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Parle Parkhurst for a Pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 15th day of February 1837.
/s/John James Gilchrist Reg'r of Probate.
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Parkhurst, Parle
Vt. R 7958
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Dec. 22 1781
I Parley Parkhurst was discharged at Corinth from the Continental service in Capt John Benjamin's company & 2nd Sergeant from Twenty four months & Sixteen days. by Gen. Benj. Wait
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State of Vermont
Windsor County, ss. } On this Eleventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ['and' crossed out] thirty nine, personally appeared before the Hon. the Probate Court for the District of Windsor in said county of Windsor, Parley Parkhurst, a resident of Weathersfield in the County of Windsor and state of Vermont, aged seventy six years on the thirtieth day of July now last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following additional Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. 
That he is the identical person who made his Declaration for a Pension under the aforesaid Act, in the year, eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before the Hon. the Probate Court for the County of Sullivan in the state of New Hampshire, and was in part supported by the affidavits of Rufus Root, William Bennett, Samuel Spencer, and Richard Noble; that he was enlisted at Claremont in the state of New Hampshire, by Capt. Chick, for two years, in the Continental Army, in December, seventeen hundred and seventy nine; that in February, 1780, he marched under Lieut. Moses Evans, to Haverhill, N. H. that he remained at said Haverhill & Newbury, Vt. until some time in March, when he went with the company to Pittsford, Vt. that the company went by the war of Windsor, Vt, at which last mentioned town Capt. Jesse Safford took command of the company; that the compnay marched from said Windsor, through Weathersfield, Cavendish, Plymouth, crosed the Green Mountain either in Mount Holley or Shrewsbury, ['and' crossed out] and passed through Clarendon and Rutland to Pittsford aforesaid; that he remained at a Picket Fort at said Pittsford, (the name of the Fort he has forgotten) until about the latter part of July, 1780; that whilst at Pittsford, he was occasionally on scouts to Hubberton, and other places in the westerly part of Vermont; that he well recollects that on the 30th day of July, 1780, he was on a march from said Pittsford to  Bethel, Vt. that being the day he was eighteen years of age; that the company arrived at said Bethel in the fore part of August, 1780, where he remained during the winter of 1781, and assisted in building a Fort, which was called Fort Fortitude, and was on the north side of White River; that about the last of March or first of April, 1781. he left Bethel with the company and marched to Newbury, Vt. on the west bank of Connecticut River, where he staid but a short period; that he left Newbury in April and went with the Company to Corinth in the state of Vermont, and assisted in building a Fort, which was called Fort Independence; that he remained at said Corinth until the 22nd day of December, 1781, when he was discharged and returned home; that whilst at Newbury, in April, 1781, he was honoured with a warrant of second Sergeant, and served in the capacity of Sergeant to
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the end of his term, as aforesaid. And he further declares that he was in the company commanded by said Jesse Safford until December, 1780., when Capt Safford left the Company, and Capt. John Benjamin took the command, and continued to command  said company until he was discharged as aforesaid; that the Lieutenants under Capt. Safford were Moses Evans and Thomas Lyon, who also served in the same capacity under Capt. Benjamin; that Rufus Root was an Orderly Sergeant in 1780, and in 1781, Richard Noble, John Trisket and himself were Sergeants; that he recollects the names of Timothy Richardson, Theophalus Clark and Joseph York who were Corporals, and two brothers by the name of Lockwood, one's name was Abraham and the other he has forgotten; who were privates; that he also remembers the names of other Privates, to wit, Jerry Virginia, David Lombard, William Bennett, Thomas Emons, Samuel Spencer; that the Field Officers were in 1780, Gen. Benjamin Bellows, & Col. Benjamin Wait, and in 1781, Gen. Benjamin Wait, & Col. Safford; that whilst he was stationed at Bethel, the Indians burned Royalton, in Vt. on the 16th day of October, 1780; that he has no recollection to have ever received any Discharge except the enclosed, which he received at Corinth the day he left the army, and which he accidentally found a short time since in looking oveer a bundler of his old writings, and which he readily recognized to be the same paper handed to  him at Corinth at the time above stated; that he believes this paper is in GEn. Wait's hand writing, and is as follows.
"Dec. 22nd 1781,"
"I Parley Parkhurst was discharged at Corinth from" "the Continental service in Capt John Benjamin's Company" "& 2nd Sergeant, from twenty four months & sixteen days," 
"by Gen. Benj. Wait."
that in addition to the names which he recollects as above stated, he well remembers the names of two Indian Pehill and Tumelich, who constantly accompanied the party during the two years as aforesaid, and served the Company as Guides when marching in the woods, and were also guides to scouting parties; that on one occasion, on a scouting party of about seventy five, under command of Lieut. Thomas Lyon, in the month of November, the weather being thick and foggy, the said guides got lost, and recourse was had to a Pocket Compass which the declarant then had with him, and which he now owns. 
/s/Parle Parkhurst
Sworn to and subscribed by the said Parley Parkhurst, om this eleventh  day of March, eighteen hundred  and thirty nine, Before me /s/Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of s'd Probate Court
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I Parle Parkhurst of Weathersfield in  the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, a soldier of the Revolution and an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 depose and say that I made a declaration before the Hon. John L. Putnam in order to obtain the benefit of said Act on the 15th day of Feby 1837 which is now pending at the War Department wherein I set forth, according to my best recollection, that in the month of December 1779 I enlisted for the term of two years under one Captain Chick at Claremont N. H. and that I entered the service on or about the 15th of March 1780, under Captain Jesse Safford, and first marched to Bethel in the State of Vermont where we were sometime stationed, and from thence ordered to various other places in the vicinity thereof, and that I continue to serve till I had rendered 21 months & 16 days actual service as a Sergeant, and that I was discharged at Corinth in said State of Vermont on or about the 20th of Dec'r 1781. That declaration I am satisfied is in the main, correct; such certainly so, so far as regards the length of time that I served - I may have been under mistakes in reference to some particulars. - 
In my declaration aforesaid, I stated that I first marched to Bethel in the State of Vermont - In this particular I was under a mistake, which I now wish to correct. My first service commenced at Pittsford instead of Bethel at the time specified in my said declaration, to wit. in March 1780. At Pittsford we were stationed some little time and were from there ordered to Bethel where we were stationed and where I served under the command of Capt. Jesse Safford and as I now think Col. Allen's Reg't till after the town of Royalton was burnt by the Indians and until the last of November on first of Dec'r 1780, a period of nine months or thereabouts when Captain Safford and his company were discharged. - I with some others remained in service at said Bethel under the command of another Captain, to wit.
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to wit. Captain John Benjamin then of Windsor, under whom I continued to serve till the Spring following when we were ordered to Corinth, where under said Capt Benjamin and one Captain Zera Thompson I served till discharged on or about the 20th Dec'r 1781, the time stated in my original declaration, - And in explanation of other things in my former declaration, I further depose and say, that I did not in that paper mean to represent or to be understood that I enlisted or served under New Hampshire Officers - It was not the case - It is true that I enlisted in New Hampshire under Capt Chick who was then stationed there, as a recruiting officer. - I at the time belonged to Weathersfield Vt. and enlisted to serve when and where call'd upon so to  do - And not being called into actual service till the 10th of March 1780, I did not till then commence - In my former declaration, I stated that the first year we were under Gen'l Bellows, the second under Gen'l Wait - In this I still think I was correct for I believe at that time New Hampshire & Vermont were considered the same - or nearly so as it respected Military jurisdiction. - When I made the declaration aforesaid, I had not for a long time seen Rufus Root Esqr. and had forgotten that he was a part of the time engaged with me in service - nor did I then recollect any others 
whose testimony I could obtain in support of my claim
/s/Parle Parkhurst
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss } Windsor, July 20, A.D. 1837 - Then Parle Parkhurst, of Weathersfield, in the County of Windsor, personally appearing before the undersigned Thos. M. Pomroy  a Notary Public, by legal authority, appointed and sworn, residing in Windsor aforesaid, made solemn oath that the foregoing
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affidavit, by him subscribed, is just and true - and further the said Notary certifies that he is not personally acquainted with the subscribing deponant, but from enquiry, is satisfied, that he is a credible witness.
[notarial seal affixed] In Witness Whereof I hereunto affix my Notarial Seal, the day and year above written. 
/s/Thos. M. Pomroy
Notary Public.
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State of Vermont
District of Windsor ss. } Probate Registry for said District - 
I, Salmon F. Dutton, Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Windsor aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing Declaration and certificate thereto annexed contains the additional proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Parley Parkhurst for a Pension. 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office, this twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, at Cavendish, in said District.
/s/Salmon F. Dutton, Register -
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I Samuel Spencer of Windsor in the County of of Windsor and State of Vermont Do testify and say, that in the month of December. 1779. Captain Chick was stationed in Claremont in the State of Newhampshire, as a recruiting officer. and I was present and saw Mr. Parle Parkhurst enlist as a soldier, and minute man for the term of (as I believe) two years, and I was knowing to said Parkhurst afterward being called into service on several excursions. and to his performing considerable service during the time, but I can not recollect precisely how much, or what length of time he did actually serve. And I at that time always understood him to be a good faithfull soldier. 
/s/Samuel Spencer
Windsor Vt. May 11th 1838. Personally appeared Samuel Spencer signer of the foregoing affidavit and made solemn oath, that the same is just and true. before me. 
/s/Darius Jones. Justice Peace
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I Samuel Spencer of Windsor in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont do testify and say that on reflection since I gave my former deposition, I do recollect that Parle Parkhurst the same who is named in my former deposition, died to my knowledge, continued his services as a Soldier, during the year 1781. This I recollect from the circumstance of his going ['to' crossed out] to the town of Corinth, to assist in building the fort at that place. And this was built the next year after the burning of Royalton by the Indians, which took place in October 1780. And I distincly recollect that when said Parkhurst returned home. he informed me, that his time of enlistment had expired, and he took his discharge in the fort at Corinth. - 
/s/Samuel Spencer
Windsor Vt. Aug. 13h 1838. Then personally appeared Samuel Spencer the subscriber to the foregoing affidavit, and made solemn oath that the same is just and true according to his best recollection, before me. 
/s/Darius Jones, Justice Peace

For Parle Parkhurst of Weathersfield Vt.
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25

Jno Bryant Esq.
Meriden New Hampshire
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[handwritten letter]

Secretary of State's Office
Vermont - Montpelier Dec. 9. 1839

Sir,
Enclosed is all the evidence of the service of Mr. Parkhurst to be found in the imperfect collection of papers in this office. The first name in the 2d Roll is not legible; it may read "Parle" as well as any thing. I have imitated the writing. - 
Respectfully
/s/F. F. Merrill
Depy Secy of State

John Bryant Esq.
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That Declaration I am satisfied is in the main correct; most certainly so, so far as regards the length of time that I served - I may have been under mistakes in reference to some particulars - In my declaration aforesaid I stated that I first marched to Bethel in the state of Vermont - In this particular I was under a mistake which I now wish to correct - My first service commenced at Pittsford instead of Bethel at the time specified wrong said Declaration to wit in March 1780 - At Pittsford we were stationed some little time and were from there ordered to Bethel were we were stationed and where I served under the command of Capt Jesse Safford as I now think Col Allens Reg't till after the town of Royalton was burnt by the Indians and untill the last of November or 1st of Dec'r 1780 ['when Co' crossed out] a period of nine months or thereabouts when Captain Safford and his company were discharged - I with some others [illegible] service at said Bethel under the command of another Captain to wit Captain John Benjamin then of Windsor, under whom I continued to serve till the spring following when we were ordered to Corinth where under said Capt Benjamin and one Captain Zera Thompson I served till discharged on or about the 2nd Dec1781 the time stated in my original Declaration - And in explanation of other things in my former Declaration I further depose and say, that I did not in that paper mean to represent or to be understood that I enlisted or served under N. Hampshire officers - It was mot the case - It is true that I enlisted in NH under Capt Chick who was then stationed there as a recruiting officer - I at the time belonged
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to Weathersfield Vt and enlisted to serve when and where called upon to do so - And not being called into actual service till the 15th day of March 1780. I did not till then commence - In my former Declaration I stated that the first we were under Gen. Bellows, the second under Gen'l Waits - [illegible] I still think I was correct for I believe at that time NH and Vermont were considered the same or nearly so as respected military jurisdiction - 
When I made declaration aforesaid, I had not for a long time seen Rufus Root Esq. and had forgotten that he was a part of the time engaged with me in service - nor did I then recollect any others whose testimony I could obtain in support of my claim
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State of Vermont, Treasurer's Office Windsor Feb. 15. 1838
I Allen Wardner Treasurer of said State do hereby certify that there is on file in this office a paper purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Lieut. Asahel Smith's Company of Militia that marched to Fort Fortitude October y'e 20 1780 by order of Lieut Col'o Safford." I further certify that the name of Pearl Parkhurst appears upon said Roll with an allowance for twenty days service at one shilling & four pence per day annexed - and I further certify that on the 13th April 1781 said Roll appears to have been sworn to before John Fosset afs'd and that on the same 13 April a certificate of approval & order for payment appears to have been entered upon said Roll over the signatures of Tho's Chittenden & John Fosset, Committee, and that subsequently on the 20th of said April said Roll appears to have been period by the Treasurer - 
I further certify that the following described papers (four in number) purporting to be Pay Rolls duly approved & paid are on file in this office - First - "A Pay Roll of Capt. John Benjamin's Company in Col'o Benj.a Wait's Battalion in the service of the State of Vermont, commencing y'e 1 day July 1781 &  ending the 30 day of Nov'r 1781 inclusive" service allowed & paid for on this Roll varying from 97 to 153 days. - Second - "True List of (the names & sums of) Cap't John Benjamin's Pay Roll of himself & company for services in the State of Vermont from the beginning of the Campaign 1781 to the 30 June in said year inclusive, taken from the original Roll in the Pay Master's Office" The length of service upon this Roll not stated, but the sums paid to the privates are put down against their names respectively, & varying in amount from one pound six shillings & eight pence to Eight pounds - Third - "Pay-Roll of Capt. Jesse Saffords company of militia for their service in the late alarm" The service in this Roll appears to have been performed in the month of March, year not stated - The Roll, as appears of  record, was sworn to on the 10 May 1781 - was approved & paid on the 25 of June following - Length of service paid for, four to seven days.
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Fourth - "Pay Roll of Capt Jesse Safford's Company of Rangers, Major Ebenezer Allen's Detachment, Raised for the defence of the State of Vermont, commencing January y'e 1 December AD. 1780 both days included" Length of service allowed & paid for on this Roll varying from one month and twenty six days to Ten months and twelve days - I further certify that the name of Pearl Parkhurst does not appear upon either of the four Rolls above described, nor upon any other Roll in this office except the Roll of Lieut. Smith as set forth above - And I further certify that there is no Roll to be found in this office bearing the name of Capt Zera Thompson
/s/Allen Wardner, Treasurer of Vermont
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I, Jonathan Parkhurst of Windsor in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont depose and say that I have seen and heard read the affidavit of Parle Parkhurst this day made before Thomas M. Pomroy Esqr. setting forth the services he rendered the country in the time of the Revolution to the amt. of 21 months and 16 days as a Sergeant which I verily believe to be true, for I had knowledge of the same at the time of its performance; That is, I know that he went away as a soldier and returned at the times by him named in his said affidavit
/s/Jonathan Parkhurst

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss } Windsor July 20, A.D. 1837 - Then Jonathan Parkhurst, of Windsor, in the County of Windsor, personally appearing before the undersigned Thos. M. Pomroy, a Notary Public, by legal authority appointed and sworn, residing in Windsor aforesaid, made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed is just and true - And further the said Notary certifies, that he is not personally acquainted with the above named deponent, but from enquiry, believes him to be a credible witness
[Notarial seal affixed] In Witness Whereof I hereunto affix my Notarial Seal, the day & year above written. - } /s/Thos. M. Pomroy Notary Public.
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Affidavit of William Bennet on Pension case of Parle Parkhurst -
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Woodstock Dec 15. 1837

This may certify that I William Bennett of Woodstock in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont as pentioner of the Revolution.
Do depose and testifie and say that I was knowing to Mr Parle Parkhurst Doing Duty with me. in the Vermont troops in Capt Saffords Companies in one campain of Nine Months. in the year 1780 from the first of April to the first of January the same year I have know knowledge of Mr. Parkhurst Being out any Longer than one Campain - 
/s/William Bennett
Subscribed and Sworne to By me - 
/s/Asa Upham Justice peace
I certify that the above named Asa Upham is a Justice of the peace 20. Dec 1831 /s/H Everett
Solomon Evanson, referred to in your letter of Nov 1. is dec'd /s/H. E. 

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss } I Asa Upham of Weathersfield in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, do testify and say that the said William Bennett the Deponent as above is a credible witness.
Feby 10' AD 1838. /s/Asa Upham
Sworn to before me /s/CH Hopkins Justice of the Peace.
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I, Rufus Root of Windsor in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont a Soldier of the Revolution, and pensioner of the United States depose and say, that I became acquainted with Parle Parkhurst of Weathersfield in said Windsor County previous to the War of the Revolution.
I have seem the affidavit this day made by him before Thomas M. Pomroy Esqr. a Notary Public in and for the State of Vermont in which reference is had to the service he rendered the country in the Army of the Revolution - wherein he states that he served in all 21 months and 16 days, which I believe to be true. - I served in the same company with him, that is Captain Safford's, during the time he mentions in 1780. - I also afterwards served a short time with him in Capt Benjamin's Company as a substitute for my brother Abel Root in 1781. - David Lumbard who was also in the same service is still living, but has become so weak in mind as to be hardly capable of giving testimony at the present time
/s/Rufus Root
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss. } Windsor July 20, A.D. 1837. - Then Rufus Root, of Windsor in said Windsor County, personally appearing before the undersigned Thos. M. Pomroy, a Notary Public, by legal authority admitted and sworn, residing in Windsor in s'd County, made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is just and true - And further the s'd Notary says, that he has been personally acquainted with the above named Rufus Root for many years, and that he is a credible witness 
[Notarial seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof I hereunto affix my Notarial Seal, the day and year above written.
/s/Thos M Pomroy, Notary Public.
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State of Vermont

Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier Dec. 9. 1839

I hereby certify that there is on file in this office a  paper purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Lieut Asahel Smith's Company of militia that marched to Fort Fortitude October y'e 20the 1780 by order of Lieut. Col. Safford," on which Payroll is the name of "Pearl Parkhurst," in the list of privates, with an allowance for twenty days service.
Also "A Pay Roll of Capt. Joseph Parkust's (Parkhurst) Company of Militia for the service in the alarm in August the 9th Roialton August y'e 10th 1780" - 
on which Roll is the name of "Parle Parkust." with an allowance for six days service as a private.
I further certify that the above Pay Rolls appear to have been duly approved and paid by the proper authorities of Vermont.
[official seal affixed] Given under my hand and the seal of this office this ninth day of December A.D. 1839.
/s/Ferrand F. Merrill
Dep'y Secretary of State.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 
State of New Hampshire
County of Sullivan - } ss
On this 15th day of February 1837 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting Parle Parkhurst a resident of Weathersfield in the County of Windsor and state of Vermont aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 - 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. In the month of Dec'r 1779 he entered for the term of two years under one Captain Chick at Claremont N.H. and entered the service on or about, the 15th day of March 1780 under Captain Jesse Safford - and first marched to Bethel in the State of Vermont where he was some time stationed - was afterwards ordered to several other places in said State of Vermont, well recollects being at Barnard Pittsford & Corinth but cannot state how long at each place - And was also engaged at Royalton when burnt by the Indians in Oct. 1780 - was engaged for some length of time at Corinth and there helped to build ['as [illegible when' crossed out] a fort and was there discharged on or about the 20th day of December 1781 & having rendered 21 months & 16 days actual service, as a private. - 
- We had two Lieutenants to our company - Lieutenant Moses Evans & Lieutenant Thomas Lyon, and Ensign Smith - the five years we were under the command of General Bellow. next under Gen Wait. 
- Has no documentary evidence of the service above named nor has he been able to find living any of the persons who served with him during the time above named. 
He states in reply to the first interrogatory put to him. that he was born in Plainfield Connecticut July 30th 1761 - To the second. That he has ['an' crossed out] no other record of his age than that of an Almanack record - To the third - That he was living at Claremont NH when called into service & that he has since lived at Windsor & Weathersfield Vt where he now lives - To the fourth - That he entered as above stated - To the 5th Names General Wait Col Safford Capt Cox - Captain Briggs & Captain McGregor - To the 6th That he did receive a written discharge from General Wait but has lost the same. To the 7th That he is well known in his neighbourhood by the Rev'd [blank]
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He hereby every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state and The reason why he has not before made a declaration is, that he has waited in the hope of finding some of his companions in arms for witnesses. And the reason for now making it in NH is because Weathersfield Vt and Claremont NH are only separated by the Connecticut river. and it is now much the most convenient doing it om the NH side before Judge Putnam 
Sworn to and subscribed the 15th day of February 1837
We [blank] residing in Weathersfield Vt and [blank] residing in said ['same' crossed out] Weathersfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Parle Parkhurst who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
['Sworn and subscribe' crossed out] Sworn and subscribed the 15th day of Feby 1837

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department. that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court certifies that it appears to them that [blank] who has signed the preceding certificate is a [blank] resident in said Weathersfield and that [blank] who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Weathersfield and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Register of the Court of Probate do hereby that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Parle Parkhurst for a Pension
- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 15th day of Feby 1837
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[handwritten letter]

Windsor, Vermont, August 17th, 1839.
Sir.
Your favour of the 29th ult. acknowledging the receipt at your Office, of "an amended declaration of Parle Parkhurst, made before" me "as Judge of Probate, in March last;" and also "a paper purporting to be an original discharge of the said Parkhurst from the Army in 1781," has been received by due course of mail.
You will accept my grateful thanks for the suggestion, that "an imposition has been practiced upon" me "and a fraud attempted upon the Government by means of" said "discharge," and I assure you that nothing on my part shall be wanting to ferret out the forgery, and will forward to you "such information touching this paper and the parties connected with it," as I may be able to obtain.
I should have answered you letter sooner, but for the hope of being able to communicate, before this time, some information respecting the suspected forgery. - I went to Weathersfield a day or two since and called on Mr. Silas Read, a very respectable  farmer with whom said Parkhurst resides, to whom I introduced the subject of the discharge in question. 
Mr. Read said, that all he knew of the discharge was, that Parkhurst showed it to him last winter and pretended he had just found it in looking over a bundle of old papers; that he read and examined it, but was not fully satisfied of its authenticity. On my suggestion that the discharge was considered by the Department, a forgery, he said, that if it was a forgery, he did not known who made it, but one thing was certain, Parkhurst could not write. He further said, that the handwriting seemed to look familiar to him, and that he told Mrs. Read at the time, that he had some suspicion that a certain man in Weathersfield might have written it. - On my requesting the name of the person on whom his suspicion seemed to rest, he frankly told me that his name was Nathan Filley, and resided some three miles distant. 
I then requested Mr. Read to procure and forward to me by mail, some of said Filley's hand writing, which, when received, shall be immediately transmitted to you. 
I should do injustice to Mr. Parkhurst, to close this communication without saying, that so far as my enquiries have extended, it seems to be the prevailing opinion, among the older class of citizens, that he was a soldier of the Revolution; that the story which he now relates of his revolutionary services is not new; and that he is and has been reputed to have served in the Army of the Revolution.
I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient and very humble servant
/s/Thomas F. Hammond.
J. L. Edwards. Esq. Comr, of Pensions.
Washington City, D.C.
Page 30

[handwritten letter]

Corners Vt May 15, 1838
Jack K. Poinsett Esqr

Dr Sir.
Your letter respecting the inquiry about the proof and time which I served in the revolutionary war. I will endeavour to answer. 1st I obtained the affidavit of Rufus Root & Wm Bennet and have forwarded the same to you, but these seem to be another trouble - about the matter, you now require that applicant prove by the roll the time which he was in actual service - 
I find that I am put down only twenty days on the roll - but was in the service twenty months - instead of twenty days - will forward to you Samuel Spencer's afadavit respecting the time which I enlisted for and show by him that I was called out in several different times into the service of the continental ['service' crossed out] Army - I find by examanation there is several who enlisted in the same company with me, and who are not on the rolls, now are drawing a pension - 
I do hope and pray that will take into serious consideration my case, and grant me a pension, as I am in needy circumstances - and in equity ought to have it, 
I wish you to notice this, so for at any rate to give me an answer. as early as possible - please direct your letter to this office - 
Yours Truly
/s/Parle Parkhurst
Page 31

[handwritten letter]

Corners Augt 15. 1838

To the War Dept
Enclosed is Samuel Spencer's deposition which is all that is required of me to draw a pension which is justly due to me by law
Your Obt Servt
/s/Geo F Davis for Parle Parkhurst
P.S. Direct to Comm's Windsor Co Vt
Page 32

[handwritten letter]

War Department
Pension Office
August 24 1838.

Sir, 
I have received the explanatory affidavit of Samuel Spencer, in relation to your alleged revolutionary services, and have placed it upon file with your papers.
The Department requires the best evidence in support of claims under the pension laws, within their reach. In my letter to you of June last, I referred you to the Treasurer of the State of Vermont, in whose office are to be found a mass of revolutionary records, for such proofs as they might supply. It does not appear from your last letter that you have complied with this direction. The claim will therefore remain suspended until the result of that application is made known.
I am, respectfully, your on. serv.
/s/J L Edwards

Mr Parle Parkhurst
Corners Wethersfield
Vermont.
Page 33

[handwritten letter]

Meriden N. H. July 21, 1837

Sir
At the further request of Parle Parkhurst I  herewith enclose his affidavit together with affidavits of Rufus Root Esq and Mr Jon'a Parkhurst in support of his claim under the Act of Congress of June 7. 1832 now on file at the Department - 
Very respectfully yr obt serv't
/s/John Bryant
Page 34

[handwritten letter]

Meriden N.H. March 1. 1837

Sir
At the request of Parle Parkhurst  I herewith send his Declaration for a Pension under the Act of June 7 1832. It is his desire that the result of his application be communicated to me
Respectfully Yr Obt Serv't
/s/John Bryant

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 35

[handwritten letter]

Washington 20. Dec 1837

Sir
Inclosed is the deposition of William Bennett - as an additional proof in the case of Parle Parkhurst.
I am respectfully &c - 
/s/H. Everett

J. L. Edwards Esq
Page 36

[handwritten letter]

Washington 23. Dec 1837

Sir
I return the Papers of Parle Parkhurst - I sent an additional affidavit on the 20 - without recollecting that I had the original papers - I hope you will find the case more satisfactorily made
respectfully Your ob Serv't
/s/H. Everett

J. L. Edwards. Esq
Com'r of Pensions }
Page 37

March 1780, enlisted, was at Bethel, Barnard, Pittsford County
served 20 mo's as a Sergeant 
Moses Evans & Tho Lyon Lieuts
Jesse Safford Capt
Rufus Root says he was with him
Sam Spencer  "   "
Jon'a Parkhurst
Wm. Bennett 9 mo 1780 together

Saffords rolls are found from Jan'y 18. 1:Dec 1 1780, continually; and Parkhurst's name is not on it.
['Safford's' crossed out] pay roll Lt held by order of Capt Safford ['2 days Oct 1778' crossed out] 
[illegible] - Oct 1780. Parkhurst ser'd 20 days.
Page 38

For the reason that I have already expended much time and money for old Mr P. I do hope you will be successful in getting his claim allowed - To enable you to better understand his case I herewith send the copy of his original Declaration. and his amended one afterwards sworn to before T. M. Pomeroy Notary Public in Windsor, which you will please to keep and return to me - If you obtain a certificate, as I trust you will, please forward it to me. /s/JB
Dec 14, 1839
Page 39

File with Parle Parkhurst papers Vermont
Act June 7 1832
Rejected.
Page 40

File with Parle Parkhurst's papers Rej'd Vt. June 7 32. for handwriting and signature of P "Benj'a Wait Lt Col'o Comd'r," see papers of Alice Williams widow of Jeb. NH. act July 7 1838
Page 41

Copy
Parle Parkhursts affidavit made before T. M. Pomeroy Windsor July 20, 1837 -
Page 42

Parle Parkhurst Ver't
Sus. see let Jn'o Bryant Apl 28 1837
Suspend all action on M Bryant case
let Hon H Everett Nov 1. 1837. do to same Dec 4. 1837, to same Dec. 28, 1837
To claimant June 8 1838
 do - Aug't 24 do
Act 7 June 1832
Hon H. Everett 31 Jan'y 1839 '39
[margin note" T. F. Hammond 29 July - do to same 27 Aug 1839
Page 43

Fraudulent
Rejected.
See forged discharge within Lt Hon H Hubbard 21 Dec '39
See papers of Alice Williams NH Act July 7 38
Page 44

['Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1878.' crossed out]
7,958
P. O. [blank]
Parle Parkhurst
Service: [blank] 
REJECTED
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank].
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank].
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank].
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P. O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized. [blank] Contract.