Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13,742, John Bonner, N. H.
Page 1

Service
New Hampshire
Bonner, John  Number W 13,742
Moors, Sarah
Former Widow
Page 2

[two columns}
[left column]
6212
Massachusetts
Sarah Moors widow of John Bonner New Hampshire who served in the Revolutionary War as a private 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of February 1854 and sent to L.M L.M. Drury Canandaigua New York
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 84 Vol. 2 
[right column]
1884 January 3rd John R. Miller of Peterboro New Hampshire- sent history prior
Page 3

Middle
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS
On this twenty ninth day of April
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and fifty two personally appeared appeared before
Nathan Crosby Judge of the Police Court of
Lowell in said County of Middlesex Sarah
Moors aged about 86 years a resident of the town of
Chelmsford in said County of Middlesex 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 of the
Act of Congress passed July 4th A.D. 1838.
This declarant states that she
is the widow of John Bonner who was a soldier
in the War of the Revolution, that Declarants
husband the said John Bonner was at the time
he entered the service, a resident of the town of
Hollis in the County of Hillsborough in the
State of New Hampshire, that in the month of May
A.D. 1781 he enlisted from said Hollis for during the
war, and served as declarant is informed
and believes until the end of the was, as by the
annexed certificate from the office of the Secretary
of the State of New Hampshire, reference being thereto
had, will more fully appear,
this Declarant further states
that her maiden name was Sarah Brookes, that
she was married to the said John Bonner in
Page 4

said Hollis on the twenty sixth day of October
A.D. 1786 as will more fully appear by reference
the record proof of the same hereto annexed.
at declarants husband the said John Bonner
died in the month of August A.D. 1804.
this declarant further
states that after the death of her said husband
the said John Bonner she again married
man by the name of
Elias Whitcomb who died in the month of December A.D. 1828 that after the death of her
second husband the said Elias
Whitcomb she again married a man by
the name of Timothy Moors who died
in the month of July A.D. 1845
since which time declarant has not
again married but remains a widow
Subscribed and sworn to
the day and year first above written
Sarah Moore, X her mark
Nathan Crosby Justice of police Court
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS
I Nathan Crosby Judge of
the Police Court of Lowell in said County
do hereby certify, that the aforesaid Declarant
Sarah Moore by reason of old age and
bodily infirmity is unable to appear in
Page 5

open Court. I further certify that satisfactory
evidence has been exhibited before me, that
John Bonner the husband of the aforesaid
Declarant died in the month of August
A.D. 1804, that said Declarant again married
Elias Whitcomb who died in the
month of December (14th) A.D. 1828
that said declarant again married Timothy
Moors who died in the month of
July A.D. 1845
since which time said
declarant has not again married but has
remained and still remains a widow
Witness my hand and the seal of
said Court, which is a Court of Record
this Twenty ninth day of April
A.D. 1852
N. Crosby [illegible] Acting Clerk
Page 6

State of New Hampshire
Secretary of State’s Office
I do hereby certify,
that from an
examination of the Books and Documents,
relating to Military Services in the war
of the Revolution, which remain in this
office, it appears, that the name of John
Bonner is borne upon a list of war
and three years men for the town of
Hollis, May 29, 1781.
And upon an “account of state bounties for continental soldiers who enlisted in the year 1781 for three years or during the war: is borne the name of John Bonner-“when enlisted”, May 29, 1781.
And upon "A return of the men
named that are engaged during the
war for the town of Hollis while in
the service for said town" is borne the
name of John Bonner.
Signed by "Jonathan Fox Selectmen of said Hollis.
Hollis June 8th 1781.
Page 7

And in Reid's Regimental Ledger
Page 215 is the following:
" 1784 September 9
John Bonner Hollis 8th Company Dr.
Certificate Mr. Josiah Rogers,
Order to Samuel Walker 14..2..8.
1781, May 29th
Contra
Pay 7 months and 2 days in 1781, 14.. 2.. 8.”
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said
State, this ninth day of
April 1852
the
John L. Hadley
Secretary of State
Page 8

Pension Office
Nov. 26th 1853
Sir,
The additional evidence in the
case of Sarah Moors, formerly widow of John
Bonner, of Mass. has been received
This evidence only goes to shew that one
John Bonner was taxed by the town of
Hollis, between the years 1780 & 1790,
and that but one of that name is found
upon the town records. But he is not
identified with the soldier of the certificate
of the Secretary of State of
N. H.
Sarah says she was married
three times, viz:
to John Bonner 2nd
Elias Whitcomb and 3d to Timothy Moores.
The date of her intermarriage with Bonner
is shewn by the records of the town of
Hollis. But the date of his death
as also the dates of her marriage with
Whitcomb and Moores, and of their death
have not been proved; none of the witnesses
having related a single circumstance, by
Page 9

which to test the accuracy of their
recollection. It has been shewn that
her marriage with Bonner occurred on
26th Oct. 1786. John R. Miller, in his
letter to you of the 8th March 1832 gives
a copy of Sarah's family record, taken
by himself, by which it appears that her
eldest child Sally Bonner was born
the 11th of March 1787, or just four
months and thirteen days after the
Marriage. This is so much shorter
than the usual period of gestation, that
think she should make some
explanation
Very Respectfully
L.P. Waldo
Commissioner
D.M. Drury, Esquire
Canandaigua New York
Page 10

John Bonner and Sarah Brooks
both of Hollis were married October twenty
sixth seventeen hundred eighty six
by Reverend Daniel Emerson
I hereby certify that the above is a true
copy from the records of the town of
Hollis in the County of Hillsborough and
State of New Hampshire with the exception
that the date which is written October 26th
1786
Edwind Emerson Town Clerk
Attest A True Copt Ed Emerson
Town Clerk of Hollis
I hereby certify that I am Town Clerk
of said Hollis and that the above certificate
by me subscribed as Town Clerk of Hollis is
true
Edwind Emerson
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough sc- April 3rd A.D. 1852. personally
appeared the above named Edwind Emerson
and made oath that the above certificate by
him subscribed are true Before me
B. M. Farley Justice of the Peace
Page 11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE County of Hillsborough. Perley Dodge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that B. M. whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that his commission is dated on the twentieth day of May A. D. 1847, and will expire in five years from that date; that all official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Court of as is a Court of Record. Given under my hand and seal of office at Amherst this 19th day of April A. D. 1852. Perley Dodge Clerk
Page 12

I, Asenath B. Miller, wife of Jesse Miller
of Peterborough, in the County ofHillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, on oath
depose and say as follows: My maiden name
was Asenath Bonner I was born at Hancock
New Hampshire, May 29th 1776. My father's name
was John Bonner, I have ealways understood that
my mother maiden name was Sarah Brooks, and
that my father married her at Hollis New Hampshire:
My father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution
and I can remember of hearing him relate incidents
which happened to him while serving in the war.
was over eight years when he died I recollect
it distinctly. He was choroner [sic] at Hancock. About
three years after my fathers death, my mother
married Elias Whitcomb, and move with him
to Ashby, Massachusetts, Mr. Whitcomb died in
the year 1828, I think. After his death my mother
remained a widow about four years and then
married Timothy Moors of Hancock aforesaid.
my mother lived with the said Timothy Moors
till his decease, about seven years since. She is
now living with her son in law Mr. Otis [illegible] at
Chelmsford, Massachusetts. where she has made it her home
since the death of her last husband, the said Moors,
Dated at Peterborough, December 26, 1813.
Asenath B. Miller
Page 13

The State of New Hampshire Hillsborough SS Personally appeared Asenath Miller and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is true, before me, who hereby certify that the said Asenath Miller is a credible witness December 26, 1813. Chas. G. Cheney Justice of the Peace
Page 14

John R. Miller
John Bonner
Letter received March 13
Page 15

Peterborough March 8, 1832
Dear Sir:
L.M. Drury Esquire
Yours of the 1st instant is before me, and I
will give you what information I can in
relation to the marriage of Mrs. Bonner, and
the births of children. Mrs. Bonners maiden name
was Sarah Brooks, and she was married to
John Bonner, near the close of the year 1786
This I copy from a record kept in her family
Bible. I suppose her marriage was also recorded
in the clerk's office of the Town of Hollis, New Hampshire
The following from her record is the
order of her children, and the date of their
births, which may be found recorded in the
Clerks office of the town of Hancock;
Sally Bonner, born March 11, 1787
Mary Bonner, born   June 23, 1789
John Bonner, born	July 14, 1791
Samuel	 Bonner, born October 6, 1793	
Adenath	 Bonner, born May 29, 1776
David	 Bonner, born	 July 26, 1798
Susan	 Bonner, born July 23, 1800
Lovina	 Bonner, born 	November 24, 1802
Martha	 Bonner, born 	May 4, 1803
I am not aware that there are any
Page 16

witnesses to her marriage now living. In
fact there are but few persons who live to
the advanced age she has. you will find
the dates as I have given them to you
by writing to the clerks of the towns to
which I have referred you
I cannot think of anything
further that will assist you, and hoping
this will be satisfactory, I hasten to
Your Obedient Servant.
John R. Miller,
L. M. Drury
Page 17

Revolutionary WIDOW, etc.
File No. 13742 
Sarah Moors
 Widow  
John Bonner 
Private Revolutionary War --- Act: Feb 2, 1848 Index: --Vol. M, Page 62

{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 18

9484
Massachusetts
Sarah Moors
widow of
John Bonner
who was a
private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843
Certificate of Pension issued the
9 day of February 1854
and sent to
L.M. Drury
Canandaigua New York
March 3d 1843
Act of JUNE 17, 1844.
Recorded in Book A, Volume 2, page 34
Page 19

Letter to L.M. Drury 
December 19, 1853

No 14667. Sarah Moors[illegible] [illegible] John Bonner Massachusetts
Letter L. M. Drury, Aug 6/52 [1852] 
Same May 4. 1853 
Same May 11, 1853
L.M. Dury 29th July 1853. 
L.M. Drury 26th November 1853 
July 7. 1838
Page 20

Washington May 12, 1853
Honorable L. P. Waldo;
Dear Sir;
Will you pardon me for addressing a 
note to your individually, for I fear if 
I did it to you officially it may
not be seen by your personally.
I have received a report from the
Clerk to whom you referred the
case of Sarah Moors and it does
seem to me that he has made
greater mistake in the facts the
the other clerk did in the law.
If an examination of my brief
in the case could be made by yourself, or the Chief Clerk, I would
willingly acquiesce in the decision
of either, whatever it might be
Page 21

for I have perfect confidence
not only in
ability but to
disposition of each to be just.
But in the report now made
by the clerk. I cannot feel satisfied that justice is done, for
I believe that a full pension
should be granted-instead of
one for 7 months and 2 days
service only.
If you
could find time
to examine
my brief in the
case, and should come to a different
conclusion from
myself
I would willing
acquiesce
and could then believe that I 
may have been taken in
my
view of the case
It was to present the
Page 22

points to you in the case, and
to have you or the chief clerk
examine the two other little
cases left with you, that I
came here now at all, and
I should esteem it not only as a
favor, but be satisfied that
justice is done, if could
give this case of Sarah Moors or my brief in it, a personal
examination-
the letter of the clerk. I have
sent to you officially, and
my apology for writing this
note is, that I go away early
in the morning before I should
be able to see you-
I am yours truly
L.M. Drury
Page 23

Canandaigua, New York. 
Nov 14, 1833
 Herewith you will receive additional testimony in the case of Sarah Moors formerly widow of John Bonner of Massachusetts under act 4th July 1838.
 In your letter of- May last it was required to there from the Records and Hollis that there was but one man of the name of John Bonner of that town- 
The certificate of the Town clerk now adduced shows that fact-
I desire to call attention to the letter of Christopher G. McChesney which accompanies these papers-
you will perceive that another time of service is credited to John Bonner in addition to that given by the Secretary of the State of New Hampshire.
There is in the pension office a list of settlement certificates similar to that which is in the possession of Mr McChesney I desire that you may refer to it. The certificate of the Secretary of New Hampshire shews service to the close of the
Page 24

year 1781 - for which Bonner received a certificate - beyond that time the records of that State show no service - The other certificate on the final settlement which is for additional service rendered after the close of the year 1781 - 
The evidence shews that Bonner enlisted for three years-
 I desire that a careful examination of the proofs filed in this can should be had
respectfully  
Your Obedient Servant.
L.M. Drury 
Honorable L. P. Waldo 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 25

Washington. May 12th 1853
Sir,
on the other page is the report made
by a clerk in the case of Sarah Moors-
He proposes to admit only 7 months and 2 days
service, while it is claimed that a full pension
of 2 years should be allowed.
If this was your
own decision, made upon an examination of the
facts. I would acquiesce in it and not trouble you
with the matter again
But it does appear to me
that a full pension is due, and a one Clerk
has made a mistake in the law, another may
have made one in the facts. I would esteem
it as a favor if your duties would permit you
to examine personally, the brief submitted by
me in the case, and if then, you are of the
opinion that the Clerk is correct in his report
I shall be satisfied, and shall believe that
I may be mistake in my views of the matter.
I am very respectfully yours
L.M. Drury
Honorable L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 26

Pension Office May 11. 1833 
Sir,
I have examined the case of Sarah Moors formerly widow of John Bonner of Massachusetts and have to inform you that it will be admitted for the term of service embraced in the Certificate of Secretary of New Hampshire Upon the production of a certificate of the Town Clerk of Hollis showing that at the period of the rendition of this service; there was only one man of that name in said Town of Hollis who could have performed said Service
Very Respectfully 
L.P. Waldo Commissioner
 L. M. Drury Esquire
 Present
Page 27

Canandaigua. New York
May 10. 1832

Sir;
Enclosed are papers in the case
of Sarah Moors formerly widow
of John Bonner under act of 7th July 1838.
the
record evidence shews
that Bonner enlisted 29th May 1781-
to serve during the war, And it shews service
to the and of the year 1781
Beyond 1781 - the records of New Hampshire
here do not so, as you will see
by the letter of Thomas Treadwell hereto annexed dated March 16, 1848
As Bonner enlisted for during the
war it is of course, presumed, that
he served till its close, which would
give a full pension to his widow-
The returns of those entitled to bounty
lands for revolutionary service, which are
supposed to be in the Pension Office, will
shew whether Bonner received land. if
to it is conclusive of the length of service
Respectfully
your obedient servant
L.M. Drury
J.E. Head Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 28

State of New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office  
I hereby certify, that from an examination of the Revolutionary Rolls and Documents in this office, it appears that the Rolls of the New Hampshire Continental Line, shew no service after the close of the year 1781.
 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the state this 5th day of October 1832 
John L Hadley 
Secretary State
Page 29

No 14.67 Sarah Moors, family Widow of John Bonner Act 7th July 1838
Massachusetts 
Direct to L.M. Drury Canandaigua New York
Page 30

Secretary of State’s Office
Concord, New Hampshire
March 16, 1848,
The enclosed certificates contain
evidence of all the services of
Sinclair J Hill which I find on our
Revolutionary Rolls.
In the case of Sinclair
as it appears that in 1781 he received
the pay of a Corporal for 12 months.
our Rolls do not go beyond 1781, and
if he served beyond that time the evidence
of his service may, I think, be
found at Washington
for the service of Hill
in 1775, it has been usual to allow
those men who received pay for Regimental
Coat 8 months service. We have no Rolls
showing the length of service under the
enlistment of 1777. The Thomas Hill named in
that enlistment went for Nottingham, which
is but a short distance from Madbury. The fee
for search and certificate is $5- which leaves $3 due
Very Respectfully
Thomas P. Treadwell
Page 31

Peterborough New Hampshire February 22, 1852
L.M. Drury, Esquire
Yours of the 9th is at hand I am rejoiced to think you have succeeded so well, and wish you further success.
I am sorry to have to inform you
that all of the old people who were out
with Mr. Bonner to my knowledge are dead
I once had an account of his services
from a man who is now dead. The only
probably person who will know of his services is his sister, who you can solicit information from by writing to her
Son-in-law, William S. Rust, West
Hampton, Massachusetts I know of no other person
who would be likely to know.
With my best wishes for your
Success,
I remain
your Obedient. Servant
John R. Miller
Page 32

I William Hale of Willis in the County
of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire
Depose and say. That I am ninety
years old last July. That I knew John
Bonner that he married Sarah
Brooks as was generally understood
although I was not at the wedding
That I did not know of any other
person in said Hollis by the name of
John Bonner
I was born in said Hollis and
have alway lived in said Hollis
William Hall
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss
Hollis October 9th
1852
Personally appeared the above
named William Hall and made
oath that the forgoing certificate
by him subscribed is true to the
best of his knowledge and Belief
Before me
Edward Emerson Justice of Peace
Page 33

We
Ebenezer Baldwin and Edward
Patch depose and say that we
Have  known Doctor William Hall and Doctor Joseph
F. Eastman whose deposition we have
seen which was given in the case
of John Bonner and his wife and
are now acquainted with the said
Hall and Eastman and that we
concider [sic them to be of remarkable
good mind and memory for their
ages and should believe their statements as soon as almost any mens.
Hollis October 11th 1852
Ebenezer Baldwin
Edward J. Patch
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough SS Hollis October 11th 1852
Personally appeared Ebenezer Baldwin and 
Edward Patch and made oath
that the above certificate by them
Subscribed is true
Before me
[illegible] Emerson Justice of peace
Page 34

Canandaigua, New York
January 11. 1854
Sir,
Herewith you will receive the testimony
in the case of Sarah Moors, formerly widow of
John Bonner of Massachusetts Act 7th July 1838 in compliance
with the requisition of your letter of 19th December ultimo.
The certificate from the Secretary
of New Jersey I dive to call your attention to
A similar list of final settlement certificates
is in the Pension Office
The amount of pay
received by live shews that he must have
continued in service for three years the period
or his enlistment, or to the close of the war
which would be more than two years
I have been confident that on the evidence
must exist somewhere, of his service later there
to the cheers of the year 1781 for having enlisted
for three years on the 29th May 1781, and the rolls
Aforesaid New Hampshire, showing no service of any of
the soldiers beyond the close of that year. I could
not believe it to be a correct conclusion that
Bonner must have left the service at the
precise period when the records cease
I suppose the question cannot be raised
Page 35

as to the identity of the John Bonner named
in the final settlement list, with the John
Bonner of Hollis who enlisted for three years
on the 29th May 1781- whose service to the close
in the of that year appears on the records in the office of the
Secretary of State of New Hampshire, and who
has been allowed to be the husband of the
claimant-
If an objection to the identity is raised. I would
respectfully submit, that in order to sustain
this objection, the following positions must
unavoidably be taken-
1st-It must be assumed that John Bonner, of Hollis
who enlisted 29 May 1781 for three years and whose
service appears on the records to the close of the year
1781 - must at that precise time, in some manner
have gone out of the service.
2nd-It must follow as two of the same name
do not appear in service at the same time, in
the New Hampshire troops, that as soon as John
Bonner of Hollis left service at the close of the
year 1781- another man by the name of
John Bonner must have entered the service
and continued long enough in it to receive
the certificate of pay, that appear on the “final
settlement its -
3rd-As the records of New Hampshire,fail to shew
Page 36

not [illegilbe] John Bonner's service after the close
the year 1781 - but of all the soldiers
of
the New Hampshire Line, it must follow that
if for this reason it is concluded Bonner
performed no more service then all the soldiers
the New Hampshire Line went out of service
it that
precise time.
4th If of
all the soldiers of that line left the
service at the close of the year 1781 and if
on the "final settlement "that there are found
the names of soldiers of New Hampshire corresponding with the same names
to befound
on the records of that state previous to that
time it must be concluded they are not
the same individuals, but other persons
because 
the same names who immediately
enlisted at the close of the year 1781.
But I trust that no such positions, 
that would be no inconsistent with reason
will be
assumed-
I am very respectfully
your obt. Servt.
L.M. Drury
positions,
Jean
Hon L. P. Waldo
Coms of Pensions
Washington
D
Page 37

I, Joseph F. Eastman of Hollis in the
County of Hillsborough and State of
New Hampshire herby certify that I
an eighty years old in January last
past.
That I have lived in said town of
Hollis all the early part of my life
That
my father lived in said Hollis
and kept tavern.
That I well knew John Bonner
of said town and that the said
Bonner was a Revolutionary Continental Soldier as was generally understood.
That he was always associate with
the soldiers.
Deponent remembers that at
the close of the Revolution when
the troops were disbanded the
said John Bonner William Connick, Isaac Boynton, Thomas Pratt
Samuel Hill and many others [sic] 
Soldiers of the said Town of Hollis came to
the Tavern kept by my father
That the said John Bonner and
others same often to the said tavern
and that for nearly a year him
the time that they returned home
they were without much employment.
Page 38

and spent much of the time
at my house. I know the said
John Bonner very well. He resided
only about a mile from my fathers
He married a daughter of William Brooks as 
I always understood at the year
(1786) seventeen hundred eighty six
or seven, as near as I can recollect.
sometime afterwards a son of the
said William Brooks, John Bonner and 
his wife, removed to the town of
Hancock in this State.
I further state that I never
knew another person by the name of
John Bonner in the town of
Hollis New Hampshire.
That he was
always considered and Known
to be a revolutionary Soldier and
I well remember his coming
home at the close of the war with
the other continental soldiers.
I remember is particularly from
a circumstance which happened
directly after he and the other solders
return home. Several men had been
detected in stealing some
cattle. they had been pursued
to the State of Rhode Island, and
Page 39

were brought back to
my fathers to
and there, several continental
soldiers took their turns in guarding
the prisoners, among them was Samuel
Hill, William Connick and Isaac Boynton I would
not say that John Bonner was one of
the guards, but he was generally in
company with them at that time
and I have not the least doubt that the
said John Bonner was a Revolutionary
soldier
Joseph F. Eastman
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough SS:. Hollis October 9th,1852
Personally appeared the above named
Joseph F. Eastman and made oath
that the above certificate by him testified
is true to the best of his knowledge
and belief
Before me
Edward Emerson Justice of
the Peace
Page 40

Canandaigua New York
November 13, 1852
Sir,
Enclosed you will find some additional
testimony in the case of Sarah Moors formerly widow
of John Bonner under act of 7th July 1838 in
compliance with the requisitions of your letter
of the 6th August last-
There are several
points to which I beg
have to invite particular attention.
The proof of identity, it is submitted is very clear
and it is hoped will be deemed satisfactory-
It is evident that by the certificate of the secretary of the State of New Hampshire that John Bonner who enlisted 29th May 1781 for three years was from the town of Hollis and the
testimony of Doctor Hall and Doctor Eastman shews
that there never was another man by the
name of John Bonner in that town whom
they ever heard of except the husband of
the applicant. They also state that he
was a soldier in the revolution- always regarded as such associated with the continental
soldiers of that town and Eastman states that he returned home with them at the close of the war -
could the proof of identity be stronger
Page 41

or clearer than this? the records show that
John Bonner, the soldier was from Hollis
his neighbors state that but one of the
name resided in that town and he the husband of claimant and they go further and State to their knowledge, and by
the reputation among his neighbors, he was a
revolutionary soldier.
In respect to the length of service performed
by John Bonner, I desire to invite a careful examination
of the evidence now adduced.
In the first place, it appears by the certificate of
the Secretary of New Hampshire that John Bonner
enlisted for three years, and of course the
presumption would be, in the above of the
proof to the contrary, that he served out the time
of his enlistment, for to the service for that period
he was bound by the terms of his enlistment and
by the bounty received by him.
And here let me state that the certificate of the
Secretary now adduced differs in respect to the
the period of Bonner’s enlistment from the one
made by him, the 9th of April last.
in that certificate, he state as follows, "upon a
return of man names, that are engaged for
during the war, for the town of Hollis while
in the service for said town”-
But in that certificate, the secretary evidently
made a mistake, and be read and gave a certificate
Page 42

only of the
first caption and then looking at
the close of the list of names, he saw John
Bonners, and then certified that he was
among the list of "mens names that are engaged for during the war" when in realty,
he is among the name of those enlisted and
mustered before General Nichols at Amherst, for the
term of three years to serve for the town of
Hollis". As this is a very important difference,
the Secretary has given a transcript
of the whole paper, so that it may be readily 
seen how the mistake occured. This difference is very important in this respect that the
transcript as now exhibited, furnishes a perfect
answer to the objection of your letter of the
6th August, that because John Bonner was
not returned, as being entitled to bounty land
he could not have "served for three years or
during the war, in which event, he would have
been returned as entitled to land"
The clerk who wrote that letter of the 6th August
is mistaken in the assertion that "those enlisting for three years or during the war, were entitled
to bounty lands-- only them enlisting for during the
war, was as continental Soldiers were entitled
to bounty land. The three years men were never
entitled. In the Journal and Congress of 26th June
1776. it was resolved "that a bounty of ten
dollars be given to every non commissioned of-
Page 43

ficer and soldiers who shall enlist to serve for the
term of three years”, and on the 16th Sept. 1776
Congress resolved to give $20 to each non-commissioned
officer and private soldier who shall in
best to have during the present war etc and on
the same day, congress resolved to make provision
for granting lands to the officers
and soldiers who
shall so engage, (that is for during the present war) and
shall continue in service till the close of the war”.
I wish that a reference to these resolutions would
be made, and also that the Land agent in
the Pension office shall be consulted and it
will be found that the "Warsmen" only were
entitled to land, and the "three years men" never-
It will appear then, that John Bonner enlisted for three years, that he never was entitled to bounty land, that his name could
not be then returned, and consequently that the
presumption, that he did not serve three
years because his name is not returned as entitled to bounty land, is entirely removed.
And as a further proof of the fact, it will be
found that all the names of the other
soldier on the transcript of the Secretary of
State, who enlisted from Hollis for three
years are omitted also- can it be supposed
Page 44

that they did not serve three years?- and
it will be found; doubtless, that all these
from Hollis who did enlist for during the
war, and did serve to its close, are
returned as being entitled to bounty land
The evidence heretofore filed, shewed that Bonner
exhibited on the 29th May 1781 and as far as the
records go, they there that he continued in the service

- The New Hampshire, records shew no
service, whatever in the Line, after the close of
the year 1781 - No presumption ought therefore
to be raised against the service of Bonner after
the close of the year 1781 because there is no evidence of service of any soldiers subsequent to that date. The same
rule applied to him, should apply not only
to all the other soldiers of the town of Hollis
of but also to all the soldiers of the State of New
Hampshire, can it be supposed that because
the records do not shew the service
that there were no troops from that State in
service after 1781?
the rule of the Pension office. I believe has
invariably been
that where soldiers enlisted
for
three years or during the war, and there exist 
records of the enlistment but
no records of the service, to presume
that they did perform the service which by
Page 45

the terms of their enlistment they were bound
to perform -
I will refer to a single case exactly
in point. Sally Walkers of New York whose
claim was allowed under act of 7th July 1838
exhibited a certificate from the Secretary office
of Massachusetts that Nathan Walker
enlisted in 1781 for three years. and there
was no record proof of service whatever and
no [illegible] testimony except that one or
two of his neighbors remembered that he went
into service and received a bounty for enlistment
Yet on such evidence she
was allowed a full pension-
But in this case you there is the testimony
of one witness who states that John Bonner
came home at the close of the war, with
other continental soldiers of the town of
Hollis. The records shew that he enlisted for
three years, and as far as they go at all shew
that he remained in the service and the presumptions
strongly point to the conclusion that
he served his time out-
It is submitted therefore that
a full pension
should be allowed his widow, and with
an apology for
the length of this communication-
I would invite attention
Page 46

to it as well as to as careful examination of the testimony-
If there are full records of the service of the New Hampshire Troops to the close of the revolutionary war in the Pension Office I trust that on examination of them will be made in this case-
Yours very respectfully 
Your obedient servant
L.M. Drury
 J. E. Heath Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C
Page 47


18342 Due January 83 for '82
15585   "          "         "    "    "
22354   "          "         "    "    84
Admitted for two years service 
L.M 
J. M. Denny Canandaigua
Page 48

I, Warren Woods of Hancock in the
County of Hillsborough and State of
New Hampshire aged seventy three
say that I came from Hollis
New Hampshire in the year 1801 to Hancock
N.H. and that I was well acquainted with
John Bonner and his wife Sarah who
removed from Hollis to Hancock aforesaid
some time previous and that in 1807 I
resided in the house with them, that the
said John Bonner was reputed to
be a revolutionary soldier and was
drowned at
Hancock in the year
1804 and that the said Sarah
continued to reside in Hancock
aforesaid until her marriage to
Elias Whitcomb of Rindge New-
Hampshire and resided with him
until his death. Several years
afterwards the married Timothy
Moors of Hancock aforesaid and
continued to reside there until
the death of said Moors
and it is my belief that she remained
the widow of the said Moors.
Page 49

and for Several years past - he has
resided in Chelmsford Massachusetts
And that the said Sarah Moors
Is the identical Sarah Bonner
referred to in this Affidavit.
Warren Woods
State of New hampshire
Hillsborough County ss
January third AD 1854 
Then Personally appeared the
above named Warren Woods and made Solemn Oath that the
above and foregoing affidavit by him subscribed
contains the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth in relation to the subject matter thereof
before me Timothy P. Fuller Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with
the above named Warren Woods and that he is entitled
to full credit as a man of truth and vanity as
any man in Community
Timothy P. Fuller Justice of the Peace
Page 50

I John Brooks of Hancock in the
County of Hillsborough and State of
New Hampshire, aged Seventy two years
Say that I came from Hollis New Hampshire
to said Hancock about fifty years since,
and at that time. John Bonner
reputed to be a revolutionary Soldier
and his wife Sarah, who is my
sister, were then living in Hancock
aforesaid having previously moved to Hancock aforesaid,
And I think that during the
first or second year of my residence
in Hancock, the said Bonner
was drowned, and that my said
sister continued to reside in Hancock
until her Marriage with Elias
Whitcomb- or Rindge, New Hampshire  who died
fifteen or sixteen years afterwards more or less. Several years afterwards she married Timothy Moors of Hancock
aforesaid, and continued
to reside there until the death
of said Moors, that she still
remains the widow of the said
Page 51

Moors, and for Several years past
She has resided in Chelmsford
Massachusetts
That the said Sarah Moors
or the identical Sarah Bonner referred to in 
this Affidavit
John Brooks
State of New hampshire
Hillsborough County ss⎬ January third AD 1857, then
Personally appeared the above named John Brooks
and made Solemn Oath that the above and [illegible]
-ing affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth in
relation to the subject matter thereof.
before me Timothy P. Fuller Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with
the above named John Brooks and that he is entitled
to full credit as a man of truth and verity as
any man in Community
Timothy Fuller Justice of the Peace
Page 52

The State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County SS.
I Perley Dodge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforementioned, do hereby 
certify that Timothy P. Fuller whose genuine signatures appears above is and
was at the time of signing the same
a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County and State, duly commissioned
and qualified; that his commission
is dated on the first day of July AD
1853. and will expire in five years
from that date; that all his official
acts as such, are entitled to full faith
and credit and that the aforesaid
Court of Common Pleas is a Court
of Record
Given under my hand and
Seal
of office at Amherst
this fifth day of January
A.D. 1854.
Perley Dodge Clerk
Page 53

Register of the Certificates issued by John
Pierce Esquire, Paymaster General, and Commissioner of the Army accounts, of the United States
Volume the first, 1784.
New Hamshire [sic] line (per Index)
[six columns, left to right]
Number/Letter/Date of Certificates/To whom due/When became due/Amount of each Certificate
18,542/L/January 20, 1784/John Bonner/January 1, 1783/21..23
19,855/R/	“[ditto]	“	“	“		“      1, 1784/80..00
22,358/B/		“	“	“/	“	“/	“      1, 1784/53..30
State of New Jersey
I Thomas S. Allison Secretary of State of the State of
New Jersey, do certify that the foregoing are
true extracts taken from a Book headed as
above, and compared therewith, now on file
in my office.
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office
At Trenton in said State this twentieth day of December
A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty three
Thomas S. Allison
Secretary of State
Page 54

Pension Office
29th July 1853.
Sir,
Yours of 12th May 1833, in relation to
the claim of Sarah Moors, formerly widow
of John Bonner of Massachusetts
has been received.
The certificate of the Secretary of State of
New Hampshire does not show satisfactorily how long John served. That he enlisted 29th
May 1781 “for three years or during the war”, is
evident-- but there is no proof as to when his
Service terminated. Clearly, he served seven
months and two days at least, but that
he served a longer period, is to be proved
as none of the evidence adduced shows when
he was discharged. Sarah's husband must
be identified with the soldier whose services
are described in the Secretary's certificate
Very Respectfully
Commissioner
L.M Drury Esquire
Present
Page 55

Sir,
Your letter of the 13th of November, 1852, and the accompanying
additional evidence in the case of Sarah Moore, widow of John Bonner, deceased, have been examined and
placed on the files.
Aside from any question as to the length of the service
performed by John Bonner, which is not so clear as could be
desired, it is not shown at what date the Widow was married to Elias Whitcomb, As her pay would cease upon a
remarriage, after the death of Bonner, it is important that the
date of Bonner's death, and of her marriage to Whitcomb,
should be clearly proved
I am, respectfully
Your Obedient. Servant,
L.P. Waldo
Commissioner
L.M. Drury, Esquire.
Canandaigua,
New York
Page 56

I William Hale of Hollis in the
County of Hillsborough and State of New
Hampshire do hereby certify and say
that I was well acquainted with John
Bonner who was a resident of said Hollis
A.D. 1777. that the said John Bonner
served as a soldier in the war of the
Revolution with me in Colonel Joseph Sasley’s
Regiment.
I think he served three years but
should not dare to state any certain
time
also think he was in Captain Hoars company.
I being waiter to Colonel Hale I was not
so much attached to my company as I
should have been otherwise.
I also certify that the said John Bonner
was always reputed as a Revolutionary Soldier.
I was acquainted with the said John Bonner
for a number of years and I considered
him a steady likly [sic] young man
He married a daughter Captain William Brooks
of said Hollis
Hollis New Hampshire February 24th 1852
William Hale
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss
February 24th 1852 When the
above named William Hale personally appeared and made oath
that the above certified by him is true.
Before me
Edward Emerson
Justice of Peace
Page 57

The within named Doctor William Hall is a man of sound memory and mind for one of his age he is a revolutionary pensioner and has been from the first law that was passed on the subject and I consider him a man to be relied on as to truth.
Edward Emerson
Page 58

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE County of Hillsborough ss.
I, Perley Lodge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and
for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Edward Emerson whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time
of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned
and qualified: that his commission is dated on the twentieth
day of May 
A. D. 1847, and will expire in five years from that date;
that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid Court of
Common Pleas is a Court of Record.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Amherst
this 19th day of April A.D. 1852
Perley Dodge F
is a man of sound mind and
memory and I consider him a man of truth
and verity
February 26 1852
Edward Emerson
Page 59

I, Joseph Eastman of Hollis
in the County of Hillsborough and State of
New Hampshire Hereby testify and say 
that I was well acquainted with
John Bonner about the years 1877 to 80
That he the said Bonner had the reputation
of being a Revolutionary Soldier
that the said John Bonner was a man
of good moral character that it was sed [sic]
that he removed from here to Hancock
and that he married one of Captain William Brooks daughters of said Hollis
Hollis New Hampshire February 20th 1852
Joseph F. Eastman
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss Hollis February 26 1852
Then the above named Joseph F. Eastman
personally appeared and made oath that
above certificate by him subscribed is true
Before me
Edward Emerson Justice of Peace
The above named Doctor Joseph F. Eastman
is a man of sound mind and good memory and I
consider him a man of truth and verity.
February 26 1852
Edward Emerson
Page 60

Brief in the case of Sarah Moors former widow of John Bonner
County and State of Massachusetts
July 7 1838
Claim (“original,") 
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Record and paid proof of service
Documentary and paid proof of Marriage
Asenath B. Miller, Warren Wood, John
Brooks, Joseph Hartman and others.
for identity-- [illegible] commissioner
Name and residence of Agent
L.M. Drury
Canandaigua
New York
Thurston Triplett
Examining Clerk.
Page 61

John Bonner
Charles G. McChesney
October 31, 1853
Page 62

I Luther Proctor Town Clerk of
Hollis in the County of Hillsborough and State of
New Hampshire, do hereby certify that
I find the name of John Bonner on the
record of Taxes assessed by the town of
Hollis aforesaid between the year seventeen
hundred and eighty (1780) and seventeen hundred
and ninety (1790) and that I find but one of
that name on said record of those
years

Luther Proctor Town Clerk
Hollis New Hampshire
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss
Personally appeared the above named
Luther Proctor and made oath
that the above certificate by him
subscribed is true
Before Me Edward Emerson Justice of the Peace
October 22 1853
Page 63

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County SS.
I Perley Dodge Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for the
County and State aforesaid, do
hereby certify that Edward Emerson
of Hollis in said County, is an acting
Justice of the Peace in and for said
County, duly commissioned and
qualified; that his commission
is dated on the 21st day of May
A.D. 1852 and will expire in five
years from that date. That all his
official acts, as such, an entitled to
full faith and credit, and that the
aforesaid Court of Common Pleas is
Court of Record,
Given under my hand
and seal of Office, at
Amherst, this 16th day of
October A.D. 1853,
Perley Dodge Clerk
Page 64


Trenton N.J.
October 31- 1853
Dear Sir
I say absent from home when your
the arrived with the enclosed $2- I had
Carefully Examined the 4 pay Certificate Books and
and the same of John Bonner in only one
place in the New Hamshire [sic] line viz: [namely]
Number 22,358, Letter B. date of Certificate January 10 1784.
To whom due John Bonner-- when become due
January 1, 1784. Amount $53.30
shall I forward to you a certificate [illegible] [illegible] no=inform me
Yours truly
Charles G. McChesney
L. M. Drury Esquire
Page 65

Canandaigua New York November 30, 1823

Sr;
Permit me to solicit your personal attention
to an examination of the claim of Sarah Moors;
formerly widow of John Bonner of Massachusetts  under the
Act of 7th July 1838.
I desire to allude to the different stages of proceeding through which this claim has passed
since its presentation at the Pension office
It was first presented on the 16th of June 1852. and on
the 6th of August, a report was made, admitting the sufficiency of the proof of marriage, but requiring additional evidence
of identity,
Additional testimony was obtained, and
on the 26th of November. it was filed in the Pension office
About the 1st of May last a second
report was made which, while it made no
special objections to the proof of service and identity-
merely stating that it was not as satisfactory
as could be desired (or something to that effect-
I have not the letter by me) yet required that
it should be shewn at what time the claimant
was married to her last husband, as her pension
would cease when that marriage took
place.
Permit me to request that a reference
be made to this letter which a copy of which must
be on file
Happening to be in Washington at
the time when this decision was give, I applied
to you personally, as you may perhaps remember, and I endeavored to shew to
you that the Examiner had made a
mistake in the law, and that the claimants
marriage with Whitcomb or Moors, did
Page 66

not in the last affect her rights and that the
Only question to be considered was whether
she was a widow at the time of her application for a pension for the services of her first

husband. “John Bonner.
Upon examining the law, it may occur to you
that you made the remark that you
“had been made to subscribe to something which
you did not think was correct”, or words of
similar import and as an excuse for the
Examiner, you mentioned that he was but
recently appointed and had not become familiar
with the laws.
you informed me that you would refer
the case to another Examiner whose report
I should receive in a day or two-
About the eighth or tenth of may that report was
given, and I desire to call your attention to
in examination of it.
In substance it states that the claim would
be admitted for the amount of service
exhibited by the certificate of the Secretary of
New Hampshire, which was 7 months & 2 days.
if it was shewn by the records of the town of Hollis, that John Bonner was the only one of the name belonging
that town capable of performing military duty -
As the length of service, admitted by this
report, was not as great as it appeared to me the
testimony warranted, I addressed a note to
you on the 8th or 10th of May desiring
that you would personally examine the evidence- the agreement that had been filed
Page 67

by me in the case-
As no further report
was made, I concluded that the note was
not received by you, or that you did not
think best to disturb the decision that
had already been given.
And on the 17th
this month the certificate required by
your letter of the 8th or 10th May last, from the
town clerk of Hollis was transmitted to the
Pension Office. The letter hereto annexed
is the decision upon that the evidence last
filed
to the contents of this letter I desire respectfully
to invite your attention-
It will be perceived that the decision recedes
entirely from the one made in may last. It raises new issues not belonging to the
case, and it revives old ones that have once
been disposed of-
To demand proves of the date of Bonner's death, the
date of the marriage to Whitcomb and Moors and the
date of their death (all immaterial facts) is to
revive the question of the legality of her claim
made in the first letter of yours of May last, which
was admitted to have been a mistake of the
law made by the Clerk, and which was or corrected by the second report of the 8th of 10th
of May. It was admitted that the second
marriage constituted no bar, the date of the
second or third husbands marriage or death
of no importance whatever, and the one question
to be considered was whether the claimant
was a widow where she made the application
The proof of the marriage was admitted
the proof of identity would be deemed sufficient
Page 68

on the production of a certificate from the
town Clerk of Hollis- and
now when this
requisition is complied with all the former
admissions of the office are disregarded
and it is demanded that the whole
case should be proved over again- surely
it was reasonable to suppose that the
office would abide by its own admissions
and heed its own requisitions and that
reliance could with confidence
be had upon the stability of its own decisions-
It was not supposed that the objection would
be said "that the last evidence only went to
shew that one John Bonner was taxed by the
town of Hollis between the years 1780 and 1790
that but one of that name is found upon the
town records, because this was the very thing
and the one thing demanded by the letter
of 8 or 10th May to be shewn-
Nor was it supposed that it would be
asserted that Bonner was not identified with
the soldier of the certificate of the secretary of
New Hampshire, because the proof on file very
clearly shewed this and the decisions of the
office admitted it when it should appear
that but one man of the name resided in
the town-
It is not necessary now and here
to examine the testimony upon that
point. All that I can say, has been said
and I have to refer you to the testimony
itself and to the observations submitted by
me when it was filed -
But it is a mistake of the Examiner to
say that none of the witnesses relate any
Page 69

single circumstance by which to let the accuracy of
their recollection, as will appear by a reference to
the Testimony of Joseph F. Eastman, taken October
1852.
But least of all, was it supposed, that an objection would
at this stage of the case be raised to the evidence of the
marriage or any explanation be demanded of any circumstance touching it, since the marriage
was established by the public records of the town
and was admitted in the outset of the proceedings-and
it is submitted that the explanation is neither 
necessary, proper, or intelligible. Even if it
be true, according to the notions of the Examiner
who made this report, that the "birth of the child
after the marriage was much shorter thou the
usual period of gestation.” I have yet to learn
in what manner that fact invalidate the
marriage, affect the legitimacy of the child or
induce the necessity of making indecent inquiries
of a mother as to the precise time when a
child born in wedlock, and by that very act
legitimatized, was actually begotten. The precise
point upon which an “explanation" is sought
for by the Examiner is not perceived, unless it is
to ascertain whether a child may be begotten as well as born out of wedlock, if so I should suppose the information could be obtained in other latitudes, and to from different sources
than from me to obtain it from an old
lady residing in the State of Massachusetts.
The knowledge of the "usual period of gestation"
may be necessary to an Examiner in some
instances, but it is inapplicable in this, and
the announcement is simply
a gratuitous piece of information-
Page 70

The public record of Mrs Bonner’s marriage  and of its date
is clear and indisputable, and that for all purposes is sufficient, and no “exploration”, at once, indelicate and indecent, should be
demanded of the claimant; and the responsibility
of seeking an explanation upon such
a topic is by me respectfully declined-
I beg leave to request that a personal
examination by you may be made of the
facts and of the various decisions that have
been given in this case-
I am very respectfully
Your obedient Servant
L.M. Drury
Honorable L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 71

State of New Hampshire
Secretary of State’s Office
I do hereby certify,
that from an examination
of the Books and Documents relating
to Military Services in the war of the Revolution.
which remain in this office. it appears from
Vol. 10 Page 66 of the Army Rolls as follows:
---
A Return of the mind names that are ingaged [sic]
during the war for the town of Hollis while
in the service for said. Town (viz): [namely]
Thomas Pratt
David Sanderson
Joseph Wheat
John Youngman
Stephen Richardson
Joel Procter
Eli Stiles
Lemuel Roger
Samuel Boyd
Names of those we have listed and had mustered before General Nichols at Amherst for the term of three years-to serve fro the town of Hollis (viz) [namely]
James Rolf
John Godfrey
Jacob Hobart
Elijah Clark
Isaac Hobart
Aseal Swift
Stephen Parker
Edward Deen
Ezekiel Procter
John Mikiel Handley
Benjamin Walker Grace
John Bonner
[illegible Fox
Selectman of
Aforesaid Hollis” 
Hollis
June 8th, 1781
To E. Thompson Secretary.

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of the State this 25th
day of September 1852
John L. Hadley, Secretary of State