Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19787, John Hills, Mass R.I.
Page 1

Service
Mass
R.I.

Hills, John
Mehitabel

Number
W. 19787

Contents
Page 2

Vermont [illegible] 2330

Mehitabel Hills
widow of John Hills
who was a private of Arty
in the Rhode Island line
for 15 mo pri of Arty
for 9    "     "   of Inft.

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Ninety two Dollars fifty cents Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of October 1843 and sent to Joseph A Hays Clarendon Vermont

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 27
Page 3

J. L. Edwards
Comn of Pensions
Washington City
D.C
Page 4

J L Edwards Com. of Pensions
I have received a communication from you requesting me to State whether the records in This Office afford any Evidence of an alledged marriage between Mr John Hills and Miss Mehitable on the fifth day of May 1793
I have made diligent search in examining the records in this office and I find no record of such marriage recorded and the probability is that but a small part of the marriages solemnized at that Period were ever recorded I tried on Book 2d Page 123d The record of the birth of four Children of John & Mehitable Hills in the words following, Eunice Hills daughter of John and Mehitable Hills was born Jany 24th 1794 Hannah Hills daughter of John and Mehitable Hills was born July 13th 1795 and died October 26th 1795 Hiram Hills son of John and Mehitable Hills was born August 21st 1796 Lydia Hills, daughter of John and Mehitable Hills was born Nov. 6th 1798 and recorded April 6th 1799 recorded by John Hills Town Clerk of Clarendon and on same book Page 129 Henry Hills son of John and Mehitable Hills was born Nov 2d 1801 Recorded by John Hills Town Clerk same Book Page 133d Lucy Hills daughter of John and Mehitable Hills was born August 29th 1803 Recorded by John Hills Town Clerk same book Page 137 birth of Mehitable Hills daughter of John and Mehitable Hills born July 1st 1806 recorded Oct 22d 1806 by John Hills Town Clerk same book page 138th birth of Emila Hills daughter of John and Mehitable Hills born August 2d 1807 Recorded March 1st 1808 by John Hills Town Clerk
Clarendon Town Clerks office June 28th 1839
Atten Joseph A Hays [flourish bracket connecting next two lines] Town Clerk of Clarendon 
Rutland Co - Vermont

I can further say that I have been acquainted with John & Mehitable Hills some more than thirty years past and up to the time of his death and I know that Mehitable HIlls is the Widow of the said John Hills deceased
Joseph A Hays Town Clerk of Clarendon
State of Vermont
Rutland County V [flourish bracket connecting this and line prior]
I hereby certify that Joseph A Hays is Legally appointed and duly sworn to the Office of Town Clerk for the town of Clarendon the Present year Clarendon June 29th 1839
Abner H Colvin Justice Peace
Page 5

State of Vermont
Rutland County JP. [flourish bracket connecting those first two lines] I Frederick W. Hopkins Clerk of the County Court for the county of Rutland do certify that Abner H. Colvin is a Justice of the Peace within and for said county, that his commission is dated on the 1st day of December 1838 and will expire on the 30th day of November 1839, and I believe his signature to the foregoing certificate is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court at Rutland in the said county this 29th day of June A.D. 1839
F. W. Hopkins
Page 6

Lewis Walker Esqir  -
Hannah Southworth X
Henry Hills'
Affidavits
Page 7

I, Hannah Southworth, of Clarendon in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged fifty nine years and upwards, being duly sworn according to law, do depose, testify and say, that Mrs Mehitabel Hills, of the same Clarendon, is my sister; and that I was present at her intermarriage with John Hills, late of said Clarendon, deceased. That they were married by Elder Isaac Beall, of said Clarendon, at the dwelling house of my late father Lewis Walker, deceased, on the fifth day of May, in the year, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. The said Elder Beall, many years since, died in Clarendon; and his family and effects having been since dispersed, no record of the transaction, made by him, can now be found, if he ever made any. Nor do I know, that any record of the event was ever made by my father. I am sure there is none such now. My said sister has remained a widow ever since the decease of her said husband. And further this affiant saith not.
Hannah Southworth

I, Lewis Walker, of Clarendon aforesaid, son of the above named Lewis Walker, deceased, do depose, testify and say, that the above named Hannah Southworth is my sister. That I was present, though young, but recollect the marriage of my said sister Mehitabel Hills with the said John Hills, as above related by Mrs Southworth.
I have perused her affidavit, above written, and from my knowledge and recollection do verily believe the same to be in all respects true. And further this affiant saith not. My age is now fifty seven years. - last Jany
Lewis Walker
Page 8

State of Vermont
Rutland County JPe] [flourish bracket connecting the two lines above] Be it known, that on the Seventh day of September 1838, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the above named Hannah Southworth, and Lewis Walker Esqr., both of them to me well known, and who have respectively signed the preceeding affidavits in my presence, and made solemn oath, that the said affidavits by them respectively subscribed contain the truth and nothing but the truth. And I do herby certify that the said affiants are, both of them, persons of credit, and of truth and veracity.
Amos F Campbell Justice Peace

I, Henry Hills, of Clarendon in said County of Rutland, aged 36 years, being duly sworn, do depose, testify and say, that John Hills, mentioned in the preceeding affidavit of Hannah Southworth, was my father, and that he died at said Clarendon on The 10th day of February in the year eighteen hundred and thirteen. And I further depose and say that the said Mehitabel Hills is my mother; was the reputed lawful wife of said John Hills deceased, and has not intermarried since his said decease.
Henry Hills

State of Vermont
Rutland County [illegible] [flourish bracket connecting the two lines above] Be it known that on the 8th day of September, 1838, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the above named Henry Hills who hath subscribed the preceeding affidavit in my presence, and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth: and I do herby certify that the said affiant is a credible witness.
Ro Pierpoint Justice Peace.
Page 9

State of Vermont
Rutland County JP [flourish bracket connecting the two lines prior] I, Robert Pierpoint, Clerk of the County Court in and for said County do herby certify, that Amos F. Campbell, and Robert Pierpoint are, severally, Justices of the Peace in and for said County; and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs, respectively, are genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Rutland in said County this 8th day of September, 1838. –
Ro Pierpoint
Page 10

James Hills’
Deposition
Page 11

I James Hills of Johnston in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, being in my eighty sixth year do depose and say after being engaged according to law:

The first service John Hills performed within my knowledge was in 1777 in July. It was a period of six weeks, that he did duty opposite Rhode Island at Thorlands Ferry. My imprefsion [impression] is that Capt Peleg Peck was Commander of the Company.  Thomas Carpenter was Colonel of said Regiment. For this campaign he acted as a Private. The next service of which I have knowledge was, he enlisted as a musician in an artillery company in the Regiment commanded by Elliot. Hays was Lieutenant of said company. In this company he served for fifteen months, at and around  Rhode Island. The next service was, he enlisted for three months, & served at Harlaem [Harlem] Heights. Col Carpenter was commander, Peleg Peck Captain of said company. John Hills acti [crossed out] enlisted as a Private in this Company.  A number of times said John Hills was called out to do duty as a militia man; occasionally for three weeks & lefs [less].  On there short term I served with said John Hills. The fifteen months service, before mentioned, commenced, in 1777. That is my imprefsen [impression]. The the [crossed out] three months service was in the fall of 1778 in Colonel Thomas Carpenter’s Regiment  at Harlaem [Harlem] Heights.
[scribble not legible]

James Hills [signature]
Page 12

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Providence Je [word illegible?]  In Johnston this twenty sixth day of September AD 1838. Personally came James Hills and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by herein subscribed.  And I further certify that said James Hills is believed by me to be a credible witness. Allest.
Henry L Bowen, Justice Peac & Public Notary.

State of Rhode Island PC.
Secretary's office Sept 29th 1838
I certify that at the session of the general assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday in May last, Henry L. Bowen was elected a Public Notary for and within the County of Providence, for one year and Commifsioned [Commissioned] accordingly as appears of record. I further certify that by Law Public Notaries are authorized to take depositions - and that the signature "Henry L Bowen" to the certificate above is genuine.

Witnefs [Witness] Henry Bowen Secry
Page 13

4650 [crossed out]
3469
Mehitabel Hills
wid of John
Vert
Act 7 July 1838
Married 1793
died 1823
Allow 15 mo Artetly
Lgm. July fori
$72.50 pre anum
Col. Elliot - RI
[last line illegible]
Page 14

State of Vermont
Rutland County JP
[flourish bracket]

On this fifth day of December, 1838, personally appeared before the Probate Court of this District of Rutland in said County, Mehitabel Hills, a resident of Clarendon in said County, 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 act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:"  That she is now sixty-seven years of age, and is the widow of John Hills, late of said Clarendon, deceased, who was a soldier in the American Revolutionary Army, and served in the capacities, and for the terms herein after stated, viz:

That, probably, in the Summer of 1776, commencing or ending in July of that year, he served as a private for the term of six weeks, at Howland's ferry opposite Rhode Island, under Capt. Peleg Peck, in Col. Thomas Carpenter's Regiment.

That on the 18th of April, 1777, he enlisted as a musician, into Capt. Lieut. Thomas Carlisle's Company of Artillery in Col. Robert Elliot's Regiment of Rhode Island troops, for the term of 15 months.

That on or about the 20th day of June, 1778, he elisted as a private, for the term of six months, into a Company commanded by Cap. Caleb Richardson, and marched to Bullock's neck on the shores of Massachusetts near the line of Rhode Island, and was stationed there, until the month of August when Gen. Sullivan arrived, and was then attached to Col. John Jacobs' Regiment, and were marched onto the Island of Rhode Island, placed under the command of Gen. Sullivan, and served under him, until the expiration of the said term of enlistment.

That on the 17th day of August, 1780, he was drafted for three months, as a private, at Seekonk, Massachusetts, and served until the last of November following, under Capt. John Perry in the Regi commanded by Col. Mitchell, and Lieut. Col. Richardson, in guarding the shores in and about Rhode Island.
Page 15

That in the fall of 1779, [strikethrough text] he served as a private three months at Haarlem Heights or at West Point, under the said Capt. Peleg Peck, and Col. Thomas Carpenter.

She further declares, that she was married to the said John Hills on the fifth day of May in the year seventeen hundred and ninety three; that her husband, the aforesaid John Hills, died on the tenth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and thirteen; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, to wit, at the time above stated.

Mehitabel Hills

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on the day and year above written, before me,
A L Brown   Judge of Probate

State of Vermont
Rutland County JP
[flourish bracket]
[seal]

I, Frederic W. Hopkins, Clerk of the Probate Court of the District of Rutland in said County, do hereby certify, that the Hon. Ambrose L. Brown is Judge of said Court; and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court, and subscribed my name, at Rutland in said District this fifth day of December 1838.

F. W. Hopkins Register
Page 16

Reg WIDOW, &c,
________
File No. 19787
Merhitable Hills
Wid of
John Hills
priv. Rev. War
Act: March 3rd /43 [1843]
Index: - Vol. A, Page 336
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 17

Vermont _ 3469
[double line]
Mehitabel Hills, widow of John Hills, Deceased.
who was a pensioner under the Ace of [line crossed out]
and who died on the 10th, of Feby 1813
of Rutland in the State of Vermont,
who was priv. of artry  & inftry in the Company commanded 
by Captain - Lieut. Carlisle of the Regt - commanded
by C. L. Elliot in the R. Island troops
line for 15 mos. Pri. arty
9 " [mos.] " [pri.] Infy.
[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 92 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.
[double line]
Certificate of Pension ifsued [issued] the 13 day of July, 1839 and sent to Jesse Gove, Pag. Rutland Vermont.
[double line]
Arrears to the 4th of March 1839 $277.50
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. " [1839] 46.25 [$46.25]
[double line]
$323.75
[double line]
{Act July 7 1838.}
Recorded by Y. A. Elliot Clerk,
Book A, Vol. 2 Page 41
Page 18

Mehitabel Hills-

$92.50 Per annum
Burlington Agency

9382
Mehitabel Hills
Declaration

Joseph A. Hays
Page 19

Declaration [underlined]
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3rd of March 1843 granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 4th 1838

State of Vermont
Rutland County JP [flourish bracket] On this 30th day of June AD. 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, Mehitabel Hills a resident of Clarendon in the county of Rutland aged Seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3rd March 1843 granting pensions to Widows of Persons who served during the Revolutionary War That she is the widow of John Hills who was a private in the army of the Revolution, and that she received a pension of Ninety Two Dollars and fifty cents per annum under the Act of July 4th 1838 
She further declares that she is still a widow,

Mehitabel Hills

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, and I further certify that the declarant is personally known to me
Joseph A. Hays   Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Rutland County Clerks Office [flourish bracket] I Frederich W. Hopkins Clerk of the County Court for the county of Rutland do certify that Joseph A. Hays was at the date of the above certificate a justice of the peace within and for the said county duly commissioned and that his signature at the same is genuine. Dated at Rutland under the seal of court this third day of [illegible] A.D. 1843
F. W. Hopkins
Page 20

Amaziah Allen's
Nathaniel Viall's
Joel Bowen's
Depositions
Page 21

I, Amaziah Allyn of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged seventy five years being duly cautioned and sworn do depose and say that I was personally acquainted with John Hill late of Clarendon in the State of Vermont now deceased, that said John Hill at the time of the Revolution resided in said Rehoboth; and on the 14th day of August A.D. 1780 said Hill myself and others were drafted for the term of three [underlined] months [underlined] in Captain John Perrys Company and marched from said Rehoboth on to the Island of Rhode Island and there served under Col. Richardson, in guarding the shores with said John Hill until some of the last days of the month of November following being a little more than three months
But the precise number of days I do not now recollect, and further the deposement saith not
Amaziah Allyn
State of Massachusetts
Bristol County JP - [flourish bracket] October 8th 1838
There personally appeared Amaziah Allyn & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by himself described, and I further certify that i am personally acquainted with the aforesaid Amaziah Allyn; that he is a credible witness on the premeses
Allen Hunt Just Peace
Page 22

I, Nathaniel Viall of Seekonk in the Country of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged seventy six years; being duly sworn do depose and say that I was well acquainted with John Hill late of Clarendon in the State of Vermont, now deceased.; that said John Hill and [illegible] about the [?]teenth of June A.D. 1778 enlisted as private soldiers into a company of militia commanded by Capt Caleb Richardson for the term of six [underlined] months [underlined] that we marched to a place called Bullocks Neck on the shores of Massachusetts near the line of Rhode Island where we were stationed until some time in the month of August, when General Sullivan arrived from New York with this Continental troops when we were attached to Col. John Jacobs Regiment & were marched onto the Island of Rhode Island & placed under the command of Gen Sullivan & served under him until our term of service had expired when we received a verbal discharge and returned home - also that in the month of August - the year A.D. 1780 said John Hill and myself were drafted as private soldiers in Capt. John Perrys company for the term of three [underlined] months [underlined] and marched from Rehoboth in [illegible] onto the Island of Rhode Island and were attached to the Regiment Commanded by Col. Michell and Lieut Col Richardson and there served until the last of November following in guarding the shores and further the deposement saith not
Nathaniel Viall
[illegible]
Page 23

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County JP [flourish bracket] October 8th 1838
There personally appeared Nathaniel Viall and made oath to the truth of the written deposition by him described, and I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the aforesaid Nathaniel Viall, that he is a credible witness, in the premises
Allin Hunt Just. Peace
Page 24

I Joel Bowen of Seekonk in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged seventy eight years, being duly cautioned & sworn do depose and say that I was formerly well acquainted with John Hill formerly of Clarendon in the State of Vermont; that since John Hill was born and resided in the Town of Rehoboth in said County of Bristol, at and before the revolutionary war, that in the Month of June AD. 1778, immediately after the Town of Warren in R Island was [illegible] by the British, a Company of volunteers was raised to guard the shores in Massachusetts for the term of six [underlined] months [underlined] under the Command of Capt Caleb Richardson, that said John Hill enlisted as a private soldier in said Company and marched to a place called Bullocks Neck & then served until Gen Sullivan [text crossed out] with his troops arrived on the Island - when said Company was ordered to and joined said guards one] in Rhode Island - and served under General Sullivan until the term of six months afterward had expired, that I served with said Hill in said Company a part of the time and a part of the time I was detached and served in another Company - and further the deposition saeth next
Joel Bowen
[illegible]
Page 25

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County JP [flourish bracket] October 8th 1838
There personally appeared Joel Bowen and made oath to the truth of the foregoing & written deposition by him described; and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the aforesaid Joel Bowen, that he is a credible witness in the premises
Allin Hunt Just. Peace
Page 26

[handwritten from left to right with other handwritten information over the top going bottom to top]

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington City 
D. C.


9382
July 6,'43 [1843]
Va
March 3 1843
Mehitable Hills
Page 27

Hon. J.L. Edwards Com. of Pensions
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you the declaration of Mehitabel Hills who was a pensioner under the act of 4th July 1838 and now within the benefit of the act of 3d March 1843 when her case is Examined and Certificate granted please to enclose it in a letter and direct it to Joseph A Hayes Clarendon Vermont - this is done at the request of of the Declarant whom I am personally acquainted with and have been for more than thirty years and her credibility can not be doubted by any who know her - yours
Respectfully
Joseph A Hayes [double underline]
Clarendon July 3d 1843
Page 28

[Handwritten]

Secretary of Rhode Island's 
Certificate of
John Hills Service
Page 29

Jesse Gove Esq.
Rutland
Vermont
Page 30

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
William Sprague [handwritten]
Governor, Captain - General and Commander in Chief of State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, that the name, "HENRY BOWEN." to the aforewritten attestation subscribed, is in the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law: Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed, at Providence, this Seventh [handwritten] day of September [handwritten] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight and thirty-eight [eight handwritten] and of Independence the sixty-third [third handwritten]
Wm Sprague [handwritten signature]

By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secry [handwritten]
Page 31

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Secretary's office Sept 7, AD 1838

I certify that "A Returno of the Men inlisted by Thomas Carlile Capt Lieut in Col Robert Elliotts Regiments raising for 15 months" on file in this office, contains the name "John Hill - Time of enlistment April 18 - [illegible] received and Billeting [GBP] 6.0 - wages received [GBP] 2.8 - In Camp."

There is no year [underlined] to any part of said Return.

Witness Henry Bowen Secry
Page 32

Rutland Vt 28 July 1839

Sir -
I transmitt herewith the declaration & proofs of Mrs Mehitabel Hills, for a pension under the act of July 7, 1838.-
The proofs are:
The Secretary of Rhode Island's certificate, dated 7. Sept. 1838
James Hills' deposition, sworn to, Sept. 6, 1838.
Amaziah Allen's
Nathaniel Viall's &
Joel Bowen's [flourish bracket tying together these three lines] Depositions, sworn to, October 8, 1838.
Lewis Walker Esq's,
Hannah Southworths [flourish bracket tying together these two lines] Depositions, sworn to, Sep. 7, 1838.
Henry Hills' Deposition, sworn to Sept. 8, 1838.
Be pleased to communicate your decision through me.
I am very respectfully
Sir
Your obb. sevt
Jesse Gove
Page 33

John Hills, [illegible] 1813
Mehitable, M. 1793
'76 6 weeks Cap P Peck no roll
77 15 mo Elliot, [illegible] on
78, 6m Caleb Richardson [illegible] - no roll
1780, 3. [illegible] Perry peace shore, no roll
1779, 3. Peleg Peck [strikethrough text] no roll

[flourish]
12
1 m [underline, indicating summation of previous two values]
13 m
15 [underline, indicating summation of previous two values]
28 m [underline]

15 m. Artilly. 62 1/2 __ 50.
9. Infy. 30 [underline, indicating summation of previous two values]
$92. 1/2