Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8,106, Ransford Avery, Continental Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Mass.
CONTENTS

Avery, Ransford
or Rantsford
Polly
NUMBER
W. 8. 106
B.L. Wt 30.616-160-55
Page 2

10.898
Massachusetts
Rantsford Avery
of Hamdpd in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
Captain of the Regt commanded by
Col Larned in the Mass
line for 13 May
Mills & Coull
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension ifsued [issued] the 3rd day of May
18313
and Sent Re
Avery Springfield Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.
21.66
---
=
$10832
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
recorded by I H M Blain Clerk
BookE Vol 2 Page 1.

79
Hampden
Page 3


all right sent in by Polly Avery of R 
@ hereto LJ Pomery of Chester College Mass
Agreed for 500
Extract in E Dec & 
Compared
Page 4

Declaration of a Widow who has NEVER HAD a Land Warrant
State of
Massachusetts
COUNTY OF 
Hampshire SS.
On this
Seventeenth
day of April A.D. one thousand
eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County and State aforesaid,
Polly Avery
aged seventy six
years, a resident of Southampton in the State of Massachusetts who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Rantsford Avery
deceased, who was a Private Soldier in the Revolutionary War
, & received
{Company commanded by Captain} from the United States a Pension for said
service of ($43,37) thirty three dollars and thirty three 
{commanded by_ in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th of June, 1812} cents per annum, under the
 Act of June 7 1832. That she
is herself inscribed on the U.S. Pension Roll, at the same rate under act of Feb 2 1833 2nd Section, as per
Pension clf ipend Febuary 3d '56
that her said husband
at
on or about the
day of
for the term of
term of
and was honorably discharged at
on the
day of
named in actual service for the
A. D. 18
but that to the
best of her knowledge and belief, her husband never received any written or printed discharge,
188110
She further states that she was married to the said
Rantsford Every
in Montgomery on the
30th
day of January
A. D. 1816, by one Jesa Farnum, a Justice of the peace, and that her
name before her said marriage was Polly Hutchinson
that her said husband
died at Southampton on the 27 day of March
A.D. 1849, and that she is now a widow and begs to refer to the proof forwarded
in support of her claim to said Pension in proof of these statements
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be
entitled under the Act approved March 3, 1855, and prays that the certificate thereof may be sent
for her to JAMES GREGORY & SON, of Marblehead, Mass.; and declares that she has not received a Bounty
Land Warrant under this or any other Act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor.
Her X Mark
Polly Avery
Page 5

We Strong Clark and Angeline Lyman
residents of Southampton
in the State of Massachusetts
upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by
Polly Avery in our presence; and that we believe, from the appearance
and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and know
that she is now unmarried.
Strong Clark
Angeline L. Lyman
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and
year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is
the person she represents herself to be; and that I have no interest in this claim.
Rufus C. T. Pomeroy
Justice of the Peace
[this section crossed out:]
State of County
We,
and
having been duly sworn, depose and say, that we well knew
who was a
in the war of
whose widow now applies for bounty land; that we knew him for more than
years before his death, which occurred at
years ago; that we know that he died about that time, because
that we have known his said widow from his death to this time, that she is now unmarried, and that
we are disinterested.
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this
day of A. D. 18
Justice of the Peace.
County.

It is hereby certified, that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me, the undersigned, a
Justice of the Peace by the affidavits of and 
of the said County and State,
whom I know to be credible persons, and who swear that they have no pecuniary interest in the result of the foregoing application; that
the applicant
for bounty land in the foregoing declaration is now unmarried, and that she is the widow of the
late  who was a   in the war of  and that the said died at the time above stated.
In the testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand , this
day of 
185
Justice of the Peace.
Page 6

13 months at least in all

Rantsford Avery's
Additional declaration for
Pension
I Rantsford Avery who have subscribed & sworn to
the annexed declaration for a pension made before the
Probate Court on the twenty seventh day of August
last part, now do on oath further testify & declare
that he enlisted into the continental service as stated in
his original (annexed) declaration, sometime in the month
of March, in what part of the month he can not tell
being aged & his memory impaired, but he well knows &
perfectly recollects that he enlisted for a term of one
year under Capt Parks in March AD 1776 as
stated in his sd [said] declaration annexed & he also well
remembers that his record out that period of one year in actual service with the exception of about
three weeks, as he thinks, tho it might possibly have been
a month but certainly did not exceed that time
when he being sick his at New York, his Mother
was accepted as his substitute for that period-
He further states that in relation to the second period
of service mentioned in sd [said] annexed declaration,
that
he only remembers that it was in the latter part of
Summer of 1777 when he turned out to go to
Saratoga & he remembers that he remained in service
at sd Saratoga & at Bemis Heights not far from two months
& knows he was not discharged until after the surrender of
Burgoyne. His memory having partially failed by reason
of age he can not be more particular as to this last
period of services. He further states that he is well known to
the Inhabitants of Montgomery & the adjoining towns who 
Col. Orin Parks Moses Parks Edward Taylor Esq & most of inhabitants of sd [said] Montgomery & the adjoining towns who if 
called upon can testify as to his character & reputation of service
he served as a private [illeg] Washington

Rantsford Avery
Page 7

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden SS
Before me the subscribers
Judges of the Probate Court within & for the County
of Hampden aforesaid, on this twenty ninth
day of April AD 1833 personally appeared
Rantsford Avery within named & subscribed
and made oath to the truth of the within
additional declaration
Oliver B Morris Judge of the Court
of
Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden Ss.
I Justin Willard Clerk
of the Probate Court within & for said
County of Hampden, the same being
a Court of Record do hereby certify that the
Hon. Oliver B. Morris is the sole Judge
of said Court and that the name Oliver B
Morris subscribed to the above certificate is his
proper signature

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said Court this twenty ninth
day of April AD 1833
-
Justin Willard
Page 8

Rantsford Avery
8902 13 months
$43:33 per ann
To
10898
To Pensioner at
Springfield
Mass
Page 9

Commonwealth of Massachuseth
County of Hampden ss.
On this twenty seventh day of
August, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
& thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before
Oliver B. Morris, Judge of Probate for the County of
Hampden aforesaid, the said Court being a Court
of Record & now sitting at Springfield, within
& for said County Rantsford Avery of Montgomery, in said County of Hampden, aged Seventy
Seven years, who being first duly sworn accord
of
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 enlisted
into the continental service, in the Company
commanded by Capt Warham Parks of Westfield, in the
month of March in the year 1776 according to his best
recollection for one year. that he marched
from Westfield in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Company commanded by said
Capt Parks to Roxbury near Boston, he there joined the regiment commanded by Colo. Larned according [illeg] recollection he remained in service at [illeg] 
four months, & was then ordered to
New York where he served about seven months he was [illeg] 
sick, & his brother William Avery [illeg] took his place & served the remainder of [illeg]
Rantsford returned home to said
Mont [Montgomery]
Page 10

now living. The said Avery
at the time of his enlistment,
resided in Montgomery, near where he now & ever since
resided, except occasional absence,
& enlisted in the
Town of Westfield aforesaid, he did not receive a written discharge, but was permitted to return home, & his Brother William was accepted as a substitute.

The said Rantsford Avery, in the month
of August 1777 turned out as a volunteer & marched to Still Water under the command of Lieut. Rufs [Russ]
of Southampton and joining Montgomery he marched through
Pittsfield Sanesborough & Bennington. He was stationed
in Bemis Heights. The major of the Regiment was Chapin of Northampton. He was in sight of the action  when. Burgoyne was captured by was not actually engaged but assisted in taking care of the wounded. He was born in the year of 1725 [illeg]
in the State of Connecticut. His age was recorded on the great Bible. He does not know any person now living 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
pension or annuity except the present, & declares
that his name is not in the pension roll of the
agency of any state-
Rantsford Avery
And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion, after the investigation of the matter &
after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant
was a revolutionary
soldier, & served as he
States
Page 11

was
with him in the service. 
He never received
written discharge - He annexed in support of his
declaration, the Depositions of Effraim Avey Zadock Bosworth
& Sylvester Squire
Page 12

I Ephriam Every of Montgomery, in the County
of Hampton & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do
testify & say that I am in the seventieth
year of my age. My Brother Rantsford Avery & myself have lived in what is now Montgomery
for more than sixty years my Brother Rotsford
Avery was always called between seven & eight
years older than myself. My said Brother
enlisted into the continental service as I understood in the month of March in the year of
our Lord one thousand
seven hundred & seventy six for one year in the Company commanded by Capt. Warham Parks - He was gone almost a year from home & returned sick & my brother
William Avery went & took his place to serve out
the remainder of his term - William Avery is
not living - The
said Rantsford Avery, afterwards
Went out on militia tour, when Burgoyne
was taken I believe he went in the month of Augustin the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven & returned
some time after the Capture of Gen
Burgoyne & his army I think he was absent
as much or more, then two
months during this last service.
Ephraim Avery

Hampden Ss. August 23rd 1832 then Ephraim Avery aforesaid, who signed the above before me, with whom I have been personally acquainted & who has married
Sally [illeg] & is considered a man of strict truth
veracity personally appeared & made oath to the truth
Page 13

truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed
Before me
William Blair Justice of the Peace
I Zadock Bosworth of Montgomery in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts do certify & say that I am Seventy one years of age
have been acquainted & lived near Rantsford Avery of said Montgomery for more than sixty years. I was present when he enlisted into the continental service for one year under Capt Warham Parks, I saw him
sign his name. I believe it was in the winter of
1776 he was absent the greater part of year & returned sick 
Said Avery turned out with the militia
in 1777 before the Capture of Burgoyne & returned after Burgoynes defeat. I believe he was [illeg]
Zadok Bozworth

I Sylvester Squier of Montgomery in the
County of Hampden do testify & say that I
am in the eightieth year of my age Rantsford Avery of said Montgomery was absent
from home almost a year in 1776 it was years [illeg] [after]  said he had gone into the army with Capt Parks - Said Avery was absent several months in the fall of 1777 about the time of the Capture of Burgoynes army it was generally  said he was in service. When Burgoyne was taken I have often heard him tell many [illeg] pertaining it
Sylvester Squier
Hampden ss August 4th 1832. Then
Page 14

the aforenamed Zadock Bozworth, & Sylvester
Squier, who are personally known to me, & who are credible witnesses
personally appearing signed the foregoing affidavits, & each made solemn oath to the
truth of the affidavit by him subscribed, Before me
William Blair Just of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court Record in the County of Hampden do
hereby certify that William Blair Esqr. before whom the foregoing depositions were verified is a Justice of the Peace for
the County of Hampden and that his name thereto & wordly
subscribed is his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common
Pleas Court at Springfield in this twenty seventh
day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand Eight Hundred thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk
Page 15

4908
Massachusetts
Polly Avery,
widow of
Mass Rantsford Avery
who served in the Revolutionary
, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
43 dollars
33 cents per annum, to commence on
the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued
3d day of February 1853
and sent to

Jas. Gregory & Son
Marblehead
Mass
Recorded
on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, Page 27 Vol A
page (32)
Page 16

State of Massachusetts
County of
Hampshire
On this Six day of June A.D. 1834 personally
appeared in open court before the Court of Probate, in
and for the said County of
Hampshire, Polly Avery
a resident of Southampton,
 in the said County and
State, aged Seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the law of the United States, [illeg]
the third of February, 1833.
That she is the widow of Rantsford Avery, who was pensioned as a private in the Army of the Revolution, at the rate of forty three dollars and
thirty three cents, per annum, under the act of June 7, 1832having been placed on the pension roll, May 3d, 1833, and his pension having been paid at Boston Mass.
And she begs to refer to the evidence
upon which he was pensioned, in the Pension Office, Washington in proof of her title to the benefit of the said law of February
3d 1859.
That her said late husband performed service to the amt of not lefs [less] than twenty months, but was unable
at the time of his application to prove the full amt.
She further declares that she was married to the said Rantsford Avery, on the Thirtyth day of January eighteen hundred and Sixteen
and that her said
husband died on the Twenty Seventh day of March A.D. 1849
that she was not married to to him prior to the second day of January eighteen hundred, but at the time above stated. She further declares that she is now a widow,
Polly Avery
Her X Mark
Sworn to 
Witnessed
by Henry L Edwards
Jeromus L Pomeroy
Page 17

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year
first above written, before me
Ithaman Conkey, Judge of said Probate Court

I Argalus Pomeroy of
Southampton
in the County of Hampshire
& state of Mafsachusetts [Massachusetts]
do on my oath testify and declare, that I
am in the fifty Eight year of my age that I was
well acquainted with Rantsford Avery late of Southampton
a Revolutionary
Pensioner of the United States
who died on or about the Twenty Seventh day of March
A.D. 1849
That said Rantsford Avery left a widow named
Polly Avery, who signed the Declaration hereon
And I do well know that said Polly Avery
is now a widow
and has not intermarried
since the decease of her husband Ransford Avery aforesaid
Argalus Pomeroy
Subscribed & duly sworn to before me, this
Second day of May
AD. 1854 and I certify
that said Argalus Pomery is a credible witness,
and personally known to me
Rufus L. Pomeroy
Justice of the Peace
Page 18

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HAMPSHIRE SS.
I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth
for the County of Hampshire, do certify, that
Rufus L. J Pomeroy Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the
paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the
Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and
acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit
is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and
that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Rufus S. J Pomeroy
and believe his signature to said
certificate is genuine: also that the instrument hereto annexed, purports to be
duly executed and acknowledged, according to the laws of this Commonwealth, for
the purposes therein expressed.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and
affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said
Commonwealth, this Sixth
day of June
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four
Samuel Wells
Clerk.
Page 19

I, Samuel F. Lyman Register of the
Court of Probate within and for said 
County of Hampshire do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings before said Court in the
matter of the application of Polly
Avery for a pension
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and the Seal
of said Court this sixth day of
June A.D. 1854
Saml F. Lyman Regr of Probate
Page 20

B.S. sf
Pomeroy nam
authenticated in the
proof of marriage it
will not be necefsary to
authenticate this as proof
of death & orders heard is
already on Declaration
& this may thus be sent as it is
WR Eang 77
Page 21

Town of Southampton
County of Hampshire
State of Massachusetts
Died at Southampton
March 27th 1849
Ransford Avery
aged 94 years
Southampton Mass
[June] 26th 1854  Jonathan W Judd
Town Clerk
attest a true copy
When written out in full apears thus
died at
Southampton March
twenty seventh in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty
Nine Ransford Avery aged ninety
four years
Attest
Jonathan N. Judd
Town
Clerk
Attest A true Copy
Southampton Mass
June 26th 1854
Hampshire SS
Subscribed & sworn to before
in this 26 day of June AD 1854
RSF Pomeroy

Justice of the Peace
Page 22

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston
January 24th 1855

I hereby Certify, That
at the date of the
annexed attestation David Allen
was a Justice of the Peace of the
Peace for the County of Hampden
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted;
and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and
credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 23

State of Massachusetts
County of Hampden
January 6th, 1855
I David Allen, a Justice
of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
hereby certify that William Herrich & Louisa
Herrich of Montgomery, in the County & State
aforesaid, (the identical persons who, on the 26th day of September A.D. 1854, made oath to a form for proof of marriage of Polly Avery, an applicant
for a Pension under the Act of Feb 3d 1853 as
the widow of Rantsford Avery) are persons
of truth & veracity & reliable & credible
witnesses

Attest
David Allen Justice of the Peace
Page 24

180110 Act March 8/53
James 2 g/55
Polly Avery ind
Rantsford Avery
Private
Rev
War
Pension

Jessie
Leg 53 -4908
ad 16 oac from 4/56
Boynton
James Gregory & Son
Marblehead
Mass
Page 25

Revy
WIDOW, &c.
-
File No. 8106

Polly Avery
Rantsford Avery 
Privt Rev War
Act: Feby 3d 1853

Index:-- Vol. A
Page 23
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 26

30.616
Rev War
2D 30 yr Rept Co
3 to death 27th March 49
1 to Wm Jioen
Boynton
Page 27

5815,

Polly Avery
wid of
Rantsford
Set to [illeg] Jas Gregory & son  Dec 16/54
Act/53
Page 28

Polly Avery
wid
Rantsford
Boynton
Dec 15/54
FREE
Hon Loren P Waldo
(Commifsion of Pensions)
Washington DC

MARBLEHEAD
Mass
DEC 13
Page 29

Pension Office
Jany 30th 1855,

Sir 
Please Certify the time
to which the within named
pensioner was paid on the
date of his death.
Very Respectfully
L  P Waldo
Commissioner
n m 49

R. J. Atkinson, Esqr
Third Auditor Treasury
Boynton
Rantsford Avery paid to 4 Mar 1849
Rob J stinson
Auditor
Page 30

Polly Avery
wid
Rantsford
Boynton
Jan 29/55

MARBLEHEAD Ma
Jan 26
FREE
Hon Loren P Waldo

(Commifsioner of Pensions)
Washington DC
Page 31

Dec
Polly Avery
wid of
Rantsford
Hampshire CO Mafs
Act/53
$43.33/100 per Ans
Com Feby: 3 1853
Rev
Jas Gregory & Son
Marblehead

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 32

Ransford Avery
Gregory
Letter
Aug 15 1854
Page 33

State of Massachusetts
County of Hampden
On this twenty six day of September A.D. 1854 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County. William Herrick and Louisa Herrrick
residents of Montgomery in the County & State aforesaid
who being duly sworn according to
law, declare
that they have been for more than thirty years
past, personally acquainted with Polly Avery
of Southampton in the County & State
aforesaid,
who now applies for a Pension as the widow
of Ransford Avery, decd late a Revolutionary
Pensioner of the United States,
That during all this period, she lived with said
Ransford Avery as his true & lawful wife, (known
and acknowledged as such by all their acquaintance)
up to the 27th day of
March, AD. 1849, the date
of his death,
Wm Herick
Louise Herrick

Witnessed by
David Allyn
Jeromus Pomeroy

Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, on the day and year first above written, and I certify that the Record
of the Town of Montgomery aforesaid do not contain the marriage
of said Polly Avery.
David Allyn Justice of the Peace
Page 34

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, December 12th 1854
I Hereby Certify, That at the dates of the
annexed attestations Rufus L.J. Pomeroy
was a Justice of the Peace for the
County of Hampshire and David
Allen was a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Hampden
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted;
and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and
credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the
Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 35

180110
Page 36

Marblehead, June 26th 1855
Honored Sir;
At the request of the claimants
we have the Honor to forward herewith
vis several claims, being the claims of
James Dexter
Aaron Spofford
Naomi Thomas, widow of Salmon Thomas,
Nancy Williams, widow of John Williams
Miriam Sanford, widow of Halsey Sanford
& Polly Avery, widow of Rantsford Avery 
all claiming the benefit of the Bounty
Land Act of the 3d of March last
We are, with great respect,
your Honests humble servts
James Gregory & Son
Hon Loren P. Waldo
Commifsioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.
Page 37

Marblehead, Mass 
Dec 13th 1859
Honored Sirs
We have the honor to enclose herewith the 
Declaration of Polly Avery
claiming Pension under
Act of Feb 1853
with great respect
Your Humble Servants
James Gregory
& Son 
Hon Loren P Waldo
Commifsioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 38

Marblehead
Mass
Jany 26th 55
Honored Sir
In reply to your
Honors favor of 16th  ult calling
for of
Credibility of Wm & Louisa Hench
witnefs
claim of Polly Avery
we have the honor to
enclose herewith
the evidence
required
with Great respect.
Your Honors hum servts
James Gregory & Son
Hon Loren P. Waldo
Commissioner
of
Pensions,
Washington D.C.
Page 39

Brief in the case of Polly Avery widow of Rantsford
Hampshire County and State of Mafs
act 3d Feby. 1853
Claim, (original, or for increase)
Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance
Husband was pensioned under the Act of 7 June 1832, the rate of
$43.33/100 per Two witnesses testify to 30 years reputation
of Marriage & Cohabitation. Pensioner died 27 March 1849.
as per the Affidavit of three credible affiants & report of the [illeg] auditor
Widowhood identity is established by the affidavits of a Credible Witness
(If for increase. )
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Jas. Gregory & Son
Marblehead Mafs
Name and residence of Agent
Mass:
S.C. Boynton
Examining Clerk
Page 40

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office
Boston, May 31, 1855.
I Hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestatation hereunto annexed,
Rufus L T. Pomeroy was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampshire
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that
to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and
ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written

E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.