Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11796, Jacob Wood, Vt.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Vt.
Wood, Jacob
Martha
NUMBER
R.11796
CONTENTS
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Proof of marriage
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Jacob Wood + Martha Haskin both of Norwich were married together on the fourteenth day of December Seventeen hundred sixty seven.
State of Connecticut 
New London County ss Norwich Town Clerk's Office February 1st 1839. This may certify that the above is a true copy of record with the exception of the date which is enscribed on the record in fair legible figures as follows 16th day of December 1767.
attest Simeon Thomas Town Clerk
I Simeon Thomas above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Norwich in the County of New London + the State of Connecticut and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me.
/s/Simeon Thomas
Clerk of the Town of Norwich
Sworn before Me this 2nd day of February 1839
Sanford B. Meech
Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut 
New London County } ss I. John DeWitt Clerk of the county court in and for said New London County do hereby certify that Sanford B. Meech esq before whom the within deposition by Simeon Thomas was taken was at the date thereof and still is a Justice of the peace in and for said County of New London, and that his signature thereto affixed is given.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 22d day of March AD 1839
[county seal]
/s/John DeWitt Clerk
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564
Martha Wood decd NY wid of Jacob 
Act 4 July '36
-sn67-
SEcy certif.a 5.9 Sept 13.01 Sept.
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State of New York County of Jefferson Surrogates Court
I John Clarke Surrogate of the County of Jefferson do certify that the last will and testament of Martha Wood late of the town of Henderson in said County has this day been exhibited and shown to me - appearing to have been duly executed according to law on the 
On the 8th day of February 1839 - wherein and whereby the derived and bequeathed all her estate real and personal to her Grandson Reuben Leffingwell and in particular the ensuing and pension monies which might be due to the said testatrix as the widow of Jacob Wood a soldier of the Revolution by virtue of the acts of Congress in such case made provided - and it was also represented once made known to me that the said Martha Wood died on or about the 8th day of April 1839 - leaving the said Reuben Leffingwell the service her surviving. and that he is [illegible] - and by where of said will entitled to the said pensions monies.
In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this fourteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty one.
/s/John Clarke
Surrogate
[county seal]
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State of new York
Jefferson ss
Hezekiah Leffingwell of Henderson is said county + state being duly sworn deposes + says, that he this deponent has been personally + intimately acquainted with Jacob Wood, late of the town of Ellisburgh in said county + State, deceased + with Martha Wood his wife from + since the year seventeen hundred + ninety nine to the time of their deaths respectively - that they then resided in the town of Middletown county of Rutland + state of Vermont +continued to reside there until the year 1804, when they removed to go there with deponent to the said town of Ellisburgh, where they resided till the year 1828, when said Jacob Wood died in Ellisburgh aforesaid, + said Martha continued to reside in Ellisburgh aforesaid after the death of her said husband with Deponent removed to said Town of Henderson, when they resided until the death of said widow, which took place on the 8th day of April in the year  Eighteen hundred and thirty nine - in Henderson aforesaid + where this Deponent still resides - And this Deponent of within says that ever since the year 1800 up to the time of their respective deaths the said Jacob + Martha resided in the family of this Deponent who was their son-in-law by into marriage with their daughter and that said Martha was never married after the death of her said Husband Jacob Wood - that Deponent is and was always during his said acquaintance
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with said Jacob + Martha informed by them that they were married in Norwich Connecticut, before the commencement of the Revolutionary War, and that said Jacob was a soldier in the Revolution, and that he served about such times + in such capacities + under such officers as mentioned in the accompanying Deposition of Mr. Solomon Wood, bearing date the 21st day of March 1839. + which information Deponent then says that said Jacob Wood, after Deponent's acquaintance with him to the time of his decease was always reputed + accepted in the community in which he lived to be + to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and the reason said Jacob never in his lifetime applied for a pension was because he possessed of property sufficient to prevent his obtaining a pension under the laws then existing. And further that said widow according to the best of the Deponent's knowledge, information and belief was not in any manner informed or apprised of the provisions of the act of Congress of July 4th 1836, until the Commencement of the year 1839. Soon after which she made application to [illegible] in order to obtain the benefits of the 3d Section of said Act of July 4, 1836. D. N. Burnham of Sacket Harbor, commended preparing the papers + procuring the requisite [apers crossed out] testimony for that purpose. That on the 8th day of Feby. 1839. the said Martha in due form made her will to which Deponent was one of the subscribing writeups, devising
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to Reuben Leffingwell of Henderson aforesaid all her property + specifying particularly her pension claim under the Act aforesaid + which indeed was the only interest or property which belonged to her at the time of her death - the principal object of said will being to accrue to said Reuben her right + claim of pension in case He should not survive till it was obtained. And Deponent further says that said Reuben is the sone of this deponent + Grandson of the said Jacob + Martha deceased. + is now of the age of thirty five years. And that this Deponent is 64 years of age. And Deponent further says that said Martha, nor any person for her, had ever made application for her pension claim, except to employ counsel + commence as aforesaid, and that the business was suffered to lie for about a year or more after her death, from the impression that the claim did not vest in her heirs or derives - but terminated with her life. And further this Deponent saith not.
/s/H. Leffingwell
Subscribed and sworn to before me the undersigned Justice by Hezekiah Leffingwell to well known to be a man of Good character + unquestioned veracity this 20th day of May 1841. /s/ Wm McNiel
Justice of the Peace in and for the Town of Henderson County of Jefferson -
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State of New York
Jefferson County ss D. N. Burnham of Sacket's Harbor in said county + State being duly sworn deposes + says that he is the Attorney of Reuben Leffingwell of Henderson in said County for the purpose of establishing + obtaining the the pension claim referrence to in the foregoing deposition - that he had [illegible] preparing + obtaining evidence for that purpose before the decease of said widow, which took place in April 1839 + that he suspended further action after [illegible] for more than a year, under the impression that this claim did not vest in the descendants - that up ascertaining otherwise, the business was recommenced, + such proofs as an him with such of late date, have been obtained recently - That Declaration of the widow, in conformity to the requirements of the pension act + instructions had been made by him. 
/s/D. N. Burnham
Sworn + subscribed this 20th May, 1841, before me /s/Wm McNiel J.P. J.C.
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State of New York
Clinton County}ss Solomon Wood of Chary in said County + State, being duly sworn says, that Jacob Wood late of the town of Ellisburgh, County of Jefferson, + state of New York now deceased, was an elder Brother of this deponent, and a soldier of the Revolutionary war. That this deponent boarded with the said Jacob Wood, deceased, in the forefront of said war. That about the 9th or 10th of July 1777 said Jacob Wood died, + his family + this deponent + one Richard Haskins, brother of said Jacob's wife were driven from their land in Tinmouth, the western part, now called Middletown, in the County of Rutland + State of Vermont by the near approach of Burgoyne's army + went to Bennington, at which place said Jacob Wood, decd, then enlisted as a Ranger in the troops called Rangers, for the term of six months, as an orderly sergeant, + served said term of six months, as an orderly sergeant, in the Company Commanded by Ebenezer Allen,  Capt., Isaac Clark, Lieutenant, in Col. Samuel Herrick's Regiment - said J. Wood was in Bennington Battle. After that Battle, the company in which said Jacob Wood served and another company of Rangers were ordered to Mount Defiance to cut off Burgoyne's retreat by destroying his boats at Lake George + provisions &c -  they took Mount Defiance + one Brasfield pierce on 18 November. Then they returned back to own army where they that got Burgoyne surrounded where they stayed till Burgoyne surrendered.
Before this the said Jacob with this deponent - and others were out to Ticonderoga in an alarm to take the Indians if we could. This Deponent served in the Revolutionary War for which service he now draws a pension. And this deponent further says that after said Jacob
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Wood, Decd, returned to Tinmouth aforesaid and in this [illegible] month of Sept 1781. according to the best recollection of this Deponent, said Jacob was appointed the Capt. of a Company of Militia at Tinmouth in which capacity he was out in the service occasionally. At one time he was out 2 days when this Deponent was out under him - Deponent cannot state the length of time served by said Jacob Wood over + above the said period of six months. Deponent is nearly 77 years old - knows Martha Wood now of Henderson in said County of Jefferson to have been the wife of said Jacob Wood, before, during + since the Revolutionary War until his death 6 or 7 years ago. After this saith not.
/s/Solomon Wood
Subscribed + sworn to before me the undersigned justice, by Solomon Wood to me well known to be a man of good character + unquestioned veracity. This 21st day of March, 1839.
/s/Isaac Aldridge Justice of the Peace
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Jacob Wood
Vt. R11796
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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To Capt Jacob Wood Captain of the Military Company in the Town of Middletown
you having moved to me for a dismission from your office on recount of your long service and other service which I judge significant.
You are therefore directed to warn the Company under your Command to meet at some proper time and place by you to be appointed and when meet lead them to the Choice of a Captain and such other officers as shall be found [illegible] and make return to me that they may be commissioned and when another Captain is Commissioned in your troop you are dismissed with my thanks for your Fidelity and good service.
Given at Arlington this 8th Day of April 1785./s/T. Chittenden Capt. Grll.
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Whereas the Inhabitance Included Within the following Line([illegible]) beginning at a Beech tree in the Town of Wells near the Brook known by the Name of Enoch's Brook, on the North side of the brook near the road thence running East 40 degrees South 1160R to a white ash marker in Tinmouth left line thence East 10 degrees South 180R to a Beech marker thence n 33& 1056R to a Beech marker thence N 10 degrees West 420R to Tinmouth North line thence the same line 800R to a Beech marker thence West 10 degrees North 288R to Poultney East Line thence the same [illegible] 240R to a small Beech marker thence South 180 to a [illegible] marker thence South 50 degrees W 830 to a [illegible] thence 10 degrees W>40R to a first Boundary to the Number of forty to request to be formed in to a Definite military Company for the Conveniency of a meeting to gather for [illegible] profiteering &c, containing part of the Inhabitance of Wells, Tinmouth, Ira, and Poultney.
Which request I truly recognize and the same is granted and the inhabitance that do and shall hereafter live within the above described Line be and they are hereby formed in the one Inline military company by the Name of the Company in the fifth Regiment.
Given at Arlington this 19th Day of Mary 1781
/s/Thos. Chittenden Capt. Gnl.
To Alexander Gordon Lieut you are hereby [illegible] to Warn all those Living Within the above Described Line Who have Right by Law to Vote in the Choice of formation, officers to meet at some suitable place at some time you shall appoint and When Meet Lead them to the Choice of a Captain and Lieutenant for said Company and make Returns to me that may be communicated. Given at Arlington this 19th Day of May 1781
/s/Thos. Chittenden Capt. Gnl.
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His Excellency, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Esquire, Captain, General, Governor, and Commander in Chief in and over the State of Vermont.
To Jacob Wood, Gentleman, GREETING.
You being elected Captain of a Military Company in your Town of * in the 5th Regiment of the Militia of this State; reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, I Do, by these Presents, in the Name of the Freemen of this State, authorise and impower you to take Charge of said Company as their Captain. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Captain of said Company by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. ----And I do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from me the Governor of this State for the Time being, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, and the Laws of this State.
Given under my Hand, and the Seal of this State, in Council, this 5th Day of Sept. AD 1782 And in the 5th year of the Independence of this State. 
/s/Thos. Chittenden
By his Excellency's Command, 
Thos. Tolman Dep Secretary.
*This Company is formed by order of the Cap Johnson in the corners configured to each other)of the Towns of Tinmouth, Ira, Wells Poultney.
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[envelope front]
Aug 10.1841. N.Y. FREE.
[postmark]SACKETS HARBOUR NY AUG 7
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
Martha Wood NY
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[envelope front]
Aug 10.1841. N.Y. FREE.
[postmark]SACKETS HARBOUR NY AUG 7
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
Martha Wood NY
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Sackets Harbor N. York
6th Aug 1841
Sir
Yours of the 31st letter relative to the case of Mrs. Martha Wood, dec, is [illegible] in which you state that "the service established by the rolls amounts to 5 months & 19 days as a Sergeant+ 11 days as Captain" is insufficient to entitle her to a pension.
Do not 5 months + 30 day amount to 6 months within the meaning of the Act? If not, please to state how much additional or further [illegible] must be shown, And have the goodness to return to me the certificate of C. L. Knapp, Secy of State of Vermont, dated in April last - or a copy of it, that I may be able to supply herself of service at other periods than those established by the certificate, and not [illegible] - In case the claimant had no[t] died, drew living at her decease, would the amount by virtue of the act go to her grandchildren? How the fact is I don't know not having seen my client since receipt [illegible].
Very Resp'y your obt svt
/s/D. N. Burnham
Jas. L. Edwards Esq
Comm. Pensions
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STATE OF NEW YORK,
Jefferson County Clerk's Office} ss.
I, DANIEL LEE, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that Wm. McNiel before whom the annexed affidavits purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same Justice of the Peace in and for said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorised to take the same; and further, ,that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the same to be his proper hand writing and signature.
WITNESS my hand, and seal of said County, this twenty first day of May in the year 1841
/s/Danl. Lee CLERK. By J.S. Rice Dep. Clk
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State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office,
Montpelier, April 14, 1841.
I, Chauncey L. Knapp, Secretary of said state, do hereby certify that this is on file in this office a paper, purporting to be a "Pay Roll of Capt. Ebenezer Allen's company in Col. Samuel Herrick's Regiment of Rangers, raised by the State of Vermont for the defence of the United States." I further certify that the name of "Jacob Wood 1st Sergeant" appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance for one hundred and forty-five days service annexed.
I further certify that there is on file in this office no other paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. John Safford's company in Col. Ebenz. Allen's Regiment of Militia inn the service of this state, commencing the 31st day of May, 1780, and ending the 6th day of June, 1780, inclusive, the money being due from the state of Vermont." I further certify that the name of "Sergt. Jacob Wood," appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance for seven days' service annexed.
I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. Savage's Company of militia that marched on the 16th day of March last, by orders from Genl. Bailey, Esq. - Windsor, March 16th, 1781." I further certify that the name of "Sergt. Wood" appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance for three days' service annexed.
I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be a "Pay Roll of Capt. John Stafford's company in Col. Ebenz. Allen's Regiment of Militia in the service of the state of Vermont, October,, AD 1780, from the 25th to the 28th, both days included - at Castleton." It appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance for four days' service annexed.
I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. Jaco Wood's Company, Col. Thomas Lee's Regiment, for their tour to Castleton, June 10, A.D. 1781." I further certify that the name of "Capt. Jacob Wood" appears upon said pay roll with an allowance for two days' service annexed.
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I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. Jacob Wood's Company, Col. Thomas, His Regiment, for their tour to Castleton October 21, A.D. 1781." I further certify that the name of "Capt. Jacob Wood" appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance for eleven days service annexed.
I further certify that the said pay roll appear to have been examined approved and ordered to be paid, by a committee acting under the authority of this state, and that the same were duly paid by the treasurer of said state.
Given under my hand and Seal of office, at Montpelier, this the 14th day of April, A.D. 1841.
/s/Chauncey L. Knapp, Secretary of State.
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[claims file cover]
[Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 crossed out]
11,196
P. O. 
Martha Wood
Service: widow Jacob Wood
REJECTED
Enlisted:______, 18    .
Discharged: ______, 18    .
Application filed: ______, 18    .
Alleges:______
Re-enlisted: ______
Attorney: ______
P. O. ______
____Recognized. ____Contract.
____Cert. of Dis. Searched for ____, 18  .
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5364
NY
Martha Wood, dec.
let to D.N. Burnham July 31, 1841
same Sep 19, 1841.
Act 4 July 36
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OFFICIAL SIGNATURE OF THE MAGISTRATE
STATE OF NEW YORK,
County of Clinton,}ss. I, [illegible] Mead, Clerk of the County of Clinton,, do hereby certify that Isaac Aldridge is a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, duly commissioned and qualitied; that his commission is dated on the Eleventh day of March 1839 and that his signature above written is genuine. 
Given under my hand and official seal of said County the 26 day of March 1839.
/s/[illegible] Mead Clerk
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[envelope front]
No 5364
May 29, 1841
[postmark Sackets Harbor NY May 25] 
NY
July 4, 1836
Martha Wood, decd.
FREE
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions 
Washington City
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Sacket's Harbor, N. York
24th May 1841

Dear sir
The enclosed papers, are, for the purpose of procuring your order to pay Reuben Leffingwell (as her sold devisee) the amount which Martha Wood, who died Apl. 8th 1839, was entitled to under the 3d SE. of the Pension Act of 4th July 1836, as the widow + [illegible] of Jacob Wood, a - soldier of the Revolution - who died in 1828. - Jacob Wood has a little property + never obtained a pension while living - He would have [illegible] been entitled under the Act of 1832 - had he been living.
His widow was [illegible] + would have applied but did not know of the Act of July 36 - till 2 or 3 months before her death. I had commenced obtaining [illegible] before she died. After her death I did not further until a few months ago. Looking over my papers, I found your letter to me of the 21st March 1837, in which you state that "The "claim of a widow who was living on "the 4th July 1836 but who died without "making application for the pension, vests" in her children."
Please to acknowledge the receipt of the enclosed + say if sufficient.
Your [illegible]
/s/D. N. Burnham
J. L. Edwards JP
[in the margin]: No other documents relate to militia service, but I thought they might be useful to you in this + confirmation of the others.