Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13471, Benjamin Holden, Mass.
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Service                                    Number

Mass  Holden, Benjamin         W. 13471
                        Elizabeth
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Page is torn at the top 
Massachusetts 
C-12316 
Benjamin Holden of Leverett in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ward of the Massachusetts line for the term of one year. Inscribed on the role of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 20th of April 1818 

Certificate of pension issued the 17th of July 1816 and sent to Jona Leavitt
Greenfield Massachusetts 
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 semi- anl. all'ce ending 4th September 1819 [total] 131.96 

Bottom print: brackets revolutionary claim, act 18th March, 1818 brackets

Handwriting on the side of the paper:  Notification sent October 20th 1820 to [illegible name] Wrentham Mass.
 
Bottom script: Continued.
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Massachusetts 1546
=================

Elizabeth Holden
Widow of Benjamin Holden

who died on the 20th April 1822.


of Franklin in the State of Massachusetts

who was  a private in the country commanded
by Captain Millines of the regiment commanded
by Col. Ward in the Massachusetts line for 2 years.
========================
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts.
at the rate of 80- Dollars ____ Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
=========================
Certificate of Pension Issued the 14th day of November 1837, and sent to Mrs. Whitaker, No. Salem, Mass.
==========================
Arrears to the 4th of September 1837  $520.00
Semi = annual allowance ending 4 Mar' 38  40.00
====
$560
-------
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3d

Recorded by D.M.Curdy,  Clerk
Book  A.  Vol. 2.  Page 51.
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I, Hannah Claflin, of Framingham in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, certify and say that I am seventy-four years old, that I was born, & have always lived in Framingham, that I well knew Benjamin Holden - Junior, of said Framingham, and Elizabeth, his wife, from the time of their marriage, which was was early as the year seventeen hundred and seventy-eight, or a little earlier -, and for many years afterwards that they lived together as husband and wife, and were respected to be husband and wife, as long as they live in said Framingham; that they had a family of children, whom they took care of and accounted as their children, that they, the said Benjamin Holden & Elizabeth, his wife, lived in the neighborhood of my father, and I was well acquainted with them and their family, from the time of their marriage, till the end of the war, and many years afterwards.

her
Hannah X Claflin
mark

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex [illegible] - February 20th A.D. 1837 - then the above named Hannah Claflin, personally appeared, and made oath that the above affidavit, by her subscribed is true - Before me Owen L. Keith - Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex [illegible] February 20th A.D. 1837 - I, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace within for the County of Middlesex and {illegible]
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Framingham do certify that Hannah Claflin [illegible] made, subscribed and [illegible] to the foregoing affidavit is a credible witness, and a person of respectability.

Omen S. Keith - Justice of the Peace

Middlesex [illegible] I Elias Phinney, Clerk of the Superior Judicial Court,
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I Gilbert Marshal, of Framingham in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testify and say that I am seventy seven years old, that I was born in Framingham aforesaid and have always lived in Framingham, that I knew Benjamin Holden, Junior before the commencement of the war of the American Revolution, during that year, and long afterwards; that for a long series of years, during & after the said war, I was, well acquainted with Mr. Holden and his family, his wife's name was Elizabeth Holden; I was well acquainted with her before her marriage; she was a widow at that time, her former husbands name was Ballord, she was married to Benjamin Holden Junior, sometime early in the period of the Revolutionary War; the exact date of their marriage I do not recollect; but I will remember some circumstances respecting the marriage; we had no settled (?) in Framingham at that time, and it was asked "who Mr. Holden would get to perform the marriage ceremony: the answer was "some Justice of the Peace" and soon afterwards I understood that they had been married by a Justice of the Peace; - I knew Mr. and Mrs. Holden - living together in my neighborhood, as husband and wife, for several years during the Revolutionary War and long afterwards; they had children during the war; they were reputed husband and wife, and I never heard
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any doubt (?) as to the legality of their marriage; I have not the slightest doubt that they were lawfully married; I know that they lived together & treated each other as husband & wife for several years during the Revolutionary war, and for twenty years or more after that war, when they moved from my neighborhood. 

Signature of Gilbert Marshall

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Middlesex ss. February 20th 1837  Then the above Gilbert Marshall personally appeared, and subscribed the foregoing affidavit, and made oath that the same is true. 

Before me
Owen Keith - Justice of the Peace. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Middlesex ss.  February 20th 1837

I, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and resident in Framingham, in said Country, do certify that the above named Gilbert Marshall is a credible witness. 

Signature Omen S. Keith - Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Norfolk, ss. - Circuit Court of Common Pleas. Special Session, July 17, 1820

On this seventeenth day of July 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Benjamin Holden aged Sixty eight years, resident in Medway in said County, who, being fist duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war, as follows: 
he enlisted under Capt. James Mellens of Hopkinton in the years service and served (?) mostly under (?) Col. Jonathan Ward of Harlem Heights, as the first of January 1777, afterwards he served at Sherburne, afterwards he served  an private expedition under Capt. Daniel Eames of Hollyton as (?) fullly appears by his declaration made about the twentieth of April A.D. 1818.He's a pensioner (?) from the War office is number 12316.

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitles "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other that what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed 

Signature of Benjamin Holden

Sworn to and declared, oan the Seventeenth day of July A. D. 1824 before 
James Ward  Judge C.C.C. Pleas
for Ga (?)

I, Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is ________dollars and ____cents. 

In testimony whereof, I have herunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of July 1826. 

Signature of Horatio Townsend  Clerk.
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Copy
Schedule of 
Benjamin Holden

12,316
July '19
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The Property of the within named pensioner consists wholly in his necessary (?) approach

I have no family residing with me except my sons aged five & thirty. I am a Basket maker by (?)  but am unable to work above half the time, and cannot gain a subsistance with charity. 

Signature of Benjamin Holden
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1607
Elizabeth Holden
Application
for a pension as the widow
of Benjamin Holden

Elizabeth Holden
widow of Benjamin

Mass
Married 1777
Died 1822

Massachusetts
Vol. 2 p. 7  1 m 3 d  77
Vol 14. p 81  8 m  75
                    12 m  76
                       6 m  78

(?) 2 yr per $80 per
(?) com 4 March
1831
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin County} SS.-

On this fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before the Hon. Richard E. Newcomb Esquire Judge of the court of Probate within and for the said county of Franklin, Elizabeth Holden, aged eighty four years, a resident of [illegible] in said county of Franklin in the state of Massachusetts, who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836: That she is the widow of Benjamin Holden, formerly Benjamin Holden Jnr, who was a private in the army of the Revolution, and who was, in conformity with the law of the United 
States of the 1st of March 1818, inscribed on the pension list roll of the Massachusetts agency, on the seventeenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, as appears by certificate of the Hon. Secretary of War, of that [illegible], No. 12,316; reference being had for the service performed, and proof thereof to evidence on file in the Department of War, on which the said Benjamin Holden was placed on the said Pension List Roll; and that said Benjamin Holden was at that time a resident of Medway, Norfolk County, Mass.
She further declared that she was married to the said Benjamin Holden, in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven, by Josiah Stone Esq. at Framingham in the county of Middlesex and that her husband, the said Benjamin Holden, died on the twentieth day of April A. D. 1822;; and that has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto [illegible].

Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year above written before R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate.

her 
Elizabeth X Holden
mark

And the said Judge of Probate doth hereby declare his opinion, after the investigation of the matter that the above named Elizabeth Holden, the applicant, was married to the said Benjamin Holden in the month of September A. D. 1777; that the said Benjamin was a revolution soldier and pensioner as above stated; that he died on the twentieth day of April A. D. 1822; and that she the said Elizabeth has ever since remained a widow. The said Judge also hereby certifies, that the said Elizabeth by reason of bodily infirmity,
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was and is unable to appear in court; that he the said Judge therefore went to the dwelling house of Silas Haskell near her residence, on the day of the date hereof, in New Salem in said county, where she the said applicant appeared before him and under oath made and subscribed the preceding declaration and submitted to an examination in the premises - Greenfield March 15, 1837
R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin SS
I Elijah Alvord; Register of Probate for said county of Franklin do hereby certify that Richard E. Newcomb Esquire is the Judge of Probate for said county, that the foregoing proceedings were subscribed by him my presence; and were [illegible] by him in my office and the original proceedings before him in the matter of the application of Elizabeth Holden for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Probate for said county at Greenfield this twenty second day of March A. D. 1837.
E. Alvord Reg. Prob.
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I Benjamin Holden a citizen of the United States now resident in the Town of Leverett in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts [illegible] on oath declare I belonged to the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War. 
I entered the service soon after the Battle of Lexington for the term of eight months in company commanded by Captain Thomas Drury in Colonel John Nixon's regiment in the Massachusetts Line and continued to serve in the same untill my enlistment expired and was then honorably discharged from the service. 
I again entered the service immediately after the expiration of my term as aforesaid for a further term of one year in a company commanded by Captain James Millins in Col. [illegible] Ward's Regiment in the Line aforesaid where I served one year as aforesaid and was then honorably discharged at [illegible] Highlands N.Y-
I never received a written discharge from the army but was honourably [illegible} as aforesaid.
I am now in the sixty sixth year of my age. I am now poor and in reduced circumstances in life being wholly [illegible] of property and in great need of assistance from my country for support. 
Dated at Greenfield in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid this twentieth day of April A.D. 1818
Atten Saml Wells [illegible]
his
Benjamin X Holden
mark

State of Massachusetts [illegible], April 20th AD 1818 - the above named Benjamin Holden made oath that the Declaration [illegible] by him subscribes as [illegible] before me Jona Leavitt Judge of the Circuit Court of [illegible]
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I Silas Field of Leavitt aforesaid testify + say that the aforementioned Benjamin Holden is a poor man, absent wholly [illegible] of property, + is in need of [illegible] for his support. Dated the 20th day of August [?]A D 1828  Silas Field
Sworn to the day + year last of [illegible]
Benjamin Jon Leavitt Judge as [illegible]

To the Secretary of the Department of War,
I the subscribing Judge of the Current Court of Common Pleas for the Western [illegible] which [illegible] the county of [illegible] aforesaid due hereby certify that from the last testimony aforesaid it appears to my satisfaction that the before named Benjamin Holden served in the revolutionary War, against the common enemy as he has set forth in his Declaration aforesaid. + that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is  in need of assistance from his Country for support + In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid the twentieth day of August [?] 1828 Jonah Leavitt
[seal affixed]
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Benjamin Holden
(?) (?) Reg
Service  1 year
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I Timothy Walker of Hopkinton in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose and say that I was a soldier in the revolutionary war in Capt James Mellins Company in the twenty first Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colo Jonathan Ward [illegible]. I joined said regiment and company in the town of Dorchester on the first day of January in the year 1776 and served as a soldier in said company and Regiment until the first day of January 1777 my time of inlistment being then expired. I was dismissed at Peekskill near the Hudson River in the State of Newyork. 
And I further depose and say that Benjamin Holden then of Framingham in the County of Middlesex but now as I understand by him of Leverett in the County of Franklin was a soldier in the same company and Regiment with this deponant from the first day of January 1776 to the first day of January 1777 and was dismissed at Peekskill as is above stated and I further say not.

Timothy Walker

Middlesex [illegible] May 17, 1819 That the above named Timothy Walker personally appeared before me and [illegible] oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed I further certify that the said is a credable witness.
Before me Elisha Fairbanks Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex: ss. 
I Abraham Biglow Clerk of the judicial Courts in the County of Middlesex, do certify that Elisha Fairbanks is a Justice of the Peace acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, & his name (?) to the withing certificate is his own proper signature. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Circuit Cort of Common Pleas this 27th day of May 1819. 

Signature of Abraham Biglow
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Revy

Widow, & c.

File No.  13471

Elizabeth Holden
Widow of Benjamin Holden
Priv Rev War

Act:  July 4th  36
Index: - Vol.  a,  Page 345

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Elizabeth Holden
widow of 
Benjamin, 
Mass
(next line unreadable)
June 13, 1837
Admitted 
Ad 4 July '36
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Up to what time was Benjamin Holden of Mass paid, under Act March 1818 (Hampden Co)

HHS
Js of the   4 March 1822
JH
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"The four children following are Benjamin Holden (?) and Elizabeth his wife. 
"Catherine Holden was born November 22, 1778
"Thomas B Holden born July 5th 1781
"Nathaniel Holden was born December 25th 1784
"Betsy Holden was born November 18th 1789"

I hereby Certify that the above is true copy from the Records of Births, Deaths & Marriages of the town of Framingham in the County of Middlesex of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which book is now in my possession as the Clerk of said town. 

Signature of E. Temple Clerk of said Framingham
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS  I Elias (?) Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, being a Court of second in said County, do certify that Omen S. Keith Esquire is a Justice of the Peace, within (?) said County of Middlesex, and that his name subscribed to the foregoing Certificate is his genuine signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said Court the twenty first day of February 1837.

Signature
E. Phinney
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I Mary Bigelow of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty four years do testify on oath that was for many years personally acquainted with Elizabeth Holden (?) and subsequent to her intermarriage with Benjamin Holden' that I was present at the marriage of Elizabeth Holden with Benjamin Holden and that the marriage ceremony was performed in Framingham by Esquire Stone, in the month of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and seventy seven, and at the time of their marriage that the said Elizabeth and Benjamin were both residents of said Framingham and I well recollect that the said Benjamin was in the (?) of the Revolution after his intermarriage with Elizabeth but how long he served on (?) what officers, on what regiment I cannot say and further I say not. 

Mary (her X mark) Bigelow

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS October 2 A.D. 1837 Then personally appeared the above named Mary Bigelow who has subscribed the foregoing affidavit hereto, and made solemn oath that the same is just and true according to her best recollection. 

Before me  Elias Bullard  Justice of the Peace
and for the said County of Middlesex

Middlesex SS Oct. 2nd A.D. 1837  I the subscriber further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Mary Bigelow and that she is a credible witness and entitled to full (?) and credit in all her statements. 

Signature Elias Bullard  Justice of the Peace written and for the said County of Middlesex.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS

II Elias Phinney clerk of the Supreme (?) Court, for said County for Middlesex, do Certify that Elias Bullard Esquire is Justice of the Peace, within & for said County of Middlesex, and that his name  subscribed to the withing certificate, is his genuine signature. 

  In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court the twentieth day of October 1837. 

Signature of E. Phinney
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I Samuel Snell of Hopkinton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age depose and say that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary War in Capt James (?) company in the twenty first Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Co. Jonathan Ward. I joined said company and regiment in the town of (Dorchester?) on the first day of  January in the year 1776 and did duty in said company until the first of January 1777 and was then dismissed and I further depose and say that Benjamin Holden then of Framingham (as he saith) was a soldier in the same company with this deponent from the first of January 1776 to the first of January 1777 at which time we were both dismissed and permitted to return home and I further say not. 

Signature of Samuel Snell

Middlesex  May 17 1819 Then the above named Samuel Snell personally appeared before me; since made oath to the truth & the above deposition by him subscribed I furth certify that the said Snell is a credible witness.

Before me Elisha (?) (Cantes?)  Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex : ss.  I Abraham Biglow Clerk of the judicial Courts in the County of Middlesex, do certify that Elisha Fairbanks is a Justice of the Peace acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, & his name set to the within certificate is his own proper signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, 7 Affixed the seal of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas this twenty seventh day of May 1819. 

Signature of Abraham Biglow
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Franklin County ss. on this thirteenth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before me, the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Franklin, personally appeared  Jabez Sawyer and Jabez Sawyer Junior, of (Urndell?) in said county, who on oath do testify and say, that they are, and have been acquainted with Elizabeth Holden, ever since the death of her husband, Benjamin Holden, and that she had remained a widow ever since that period. 

Signatures of Jabez Sawyer and Jabez Sawyer Jr. 
Subscribed, and sworn to, on the day and year above written, before 
William Whitaker, Justice of the peace

I hereby certify that the said Jabez Sawyer & Jabez Sawyer Junior who have subscribed their names to the foregoing affidavit,  are credible and disinterested witnesses.

Signature of William Whitaker  Justice of the Peace
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Jabez Sawyer &
Jabez Sawyer Jr

affidavits in aid of Elizabeth Holden
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex C. ss

I Joseph Down of Sherborn in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy seven years and a pensioner of the Revolution do upon oath testify and say that I was personally acquainted with Benjamin Holden, who I understood was from the town of Framingham he was a Soldier in the Revolution and held the post of a Corporal in the same company in which I served during six months in the year 1778  he served during that six months. I became acquainted  with him at the (?) where we was ordered to rendezvous. I was sent in a guard with him to Sherborne to guard Military stores and from Sherborne to Mystic on the same duty, whether he did any duty in the Revolutionary service after the close of this six months service I cannot say - and further I say not. 

Signature of Joseph Down

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss October 19th 1837 you personally appeared the above named Joseph Down and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true. 

Before me Silas Stone  Justice of the Peace

Middlesex Co. ss. October 17th AD 1837
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Joseph Down that he is a credible witness and entitled to full faith and belief
Signature of Silas Stone Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Middlesex Co. ss.

I Samuel Learned of Sherborn in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts  aged seventy six years and a Revolutionary Pensioner do testify and say upon oath that I was personally with Benjamin Holden, who was a Corporal in the army of the Revolution. I know of his being in the public service six months in the year one thousand and seven hundred and seventy eight. I was with him on duty guarding public stores at Sherborn and Mystic during that time.

Signature of Samuel Learned

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. October 19th A.D. 1837 (?) personally approved the above named Samuel Learned who has subscribed the above affidavit and made solemn oath that the same is just and true

 Signature 
Before me  Silas Stone Justice of the Peace

Middlesex Co. ss.  October 19th AD 1837
I hereby certify that the above named Samuel Learned is a credible witness and is entitled to full faith and (?)

Signature Silas Stone Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex SS. 

I Elias Phinney Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Middlesex, do certify that Silas Stone Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County fo Middlesex, duly qualified, and that his name subscribed to the two within certificates are his genuine signatures. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my and & affixed the seal of said Court the twentieth day of October 1837. 

Signature of E. Phinney