Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,612, for Samuel Stafford, Vermont
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(8-1776)                         NUMBER
SERVICE
Rhode Island
Privateer     Stafford, Samuel S.18.612
Vt.
                                                 carded
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18492
Vermont
Samel Stafford
of Waitham Co in the State of Vermont
who was a private & sgt in the Company commanded by Captain_______ of the Regt commanded by Col. Cook in the R.I main line for 9 mos Sgt}   Privateer 
15 "    Pv}          &
                          Vt.     

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont   
at the rate of 95 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of Sept 1833 and sent to J. Elliott, Brattleboro.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833             $237.50
Semi-anl. allowance ending March 1834   47.50
                                                               $285.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, 
Book E  Vol. 3. Page 91
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No. 2 781

Larp? Nov. 2,1832

[possible initial]

190
  47.50
_________
237.50


AdmC by Comm?
9 mos  Sergeant
15 "      Private

Lusp 14 Dec '32
N 165 Obj. 5
J. Elliott
Page 4

Brief in the case of Samuel Stafford of Windham Co. in the State of Vermont
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Probate Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  
3.  How old is he?  76 years
4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
{form follows} 
Period/ Duration of Service/ Rank/ Names of General and Field Offices under whom served.
_______________________________________________
[As form will not fit this format it is extracted]

1775 July 1 to 1776 July 2 / 1 year, 6 months as a "minute man" as a private / Col. West, Capt. Olney, R.I. State troops called minute man--- Brig Industry Privateer Capt. Childs

1777 Winter/ " 3 mos "/ Private / Capt Williams Col. Cook 
soon after/ '2mos / Private /   Capt Davis, Col. Waterman

1777 Summer / 4 mos / Private / Capt. Goodenough, Col. Herrick, Vt. Taufy?

1777 October / enlisted for 6 served 3 months / Capt. Rivers, Col. Porter

Total 2 years 11 months   17 months

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None mentioned

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  not mentioned

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  By living witnesses.

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

D. Brown Examining Clerk
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No. 57.  Windham Co. Vermont.
Samuel Stafford  Decree for
Pension  August 

No. 2.781
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STATE OF VERMONT
County of Windham ss.
Probate District of Marlborough
   At the Probate Court within and for said District being a Court of Record on the second day of August A.D. 1832 Personally appeared in open Court at Brattleborough in said District.
     Present - Marshall Miller, Esquire, Judge.
Before the said Probate Court, within and for said District now sitting  Samuel Stafford a resident of Halifax in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, aged seventy six years, who, being duly sworn, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832  - That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
Enlisted at Scituate, Rhode Island, the first day of July 1775, for one year, under Capt. Olney and Col. West, called minute men, and understood to be Rhode Island State Troops.  Served at Newport and Providence generally, during the year and was discharged, without a written discharge at Providence - The next day after this term was out ^July 1776 he engaged on board the privateer brig Industry, Capt. Thomas Childs, and served six months.  on my return from sea^in the winter 1777 enlisted at Newport for three months under Capt. Williams and Col. Cook and served at Newport R.I. most of the time, toward the last of this term the British took possession of Rhode Island and we retreated under Col. Cook to the continent, and ended this term of service at Tiverton.  Engaged soon after for two months at Warwick, R.I. under Capt. Davis and Col. Waterman, served at Warwick and Greenwich and was dismissed at Greenwich.  Engaged at Guilford, Vt in the summer of 1777, I believe for nine months and as a ranger served at Bennington, Manchester and other towns, and was dismissed at Bennington.  Capt. Goodenough's company Col. Herrick's regiment, Vermont troops in Oct. 1778 enlisted for six months but was dismissed in three months under Capt. Rice & Col. Porter.  Had no discharges in writing.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.


To the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, he answers, upon his said oath, as follows:
1.  Was born in Scituate, R.I. in the year 1756.

2.  Has not record of his age?

3.  Lived in Scituate, R.I. when he first entered the service.  About the year 1780 became an inhabitant of Guilford, Vermont, lived there about three years, and have lived in Halifax, Vermont, ever since.

4.  Enlisted voluntarily in every instance.

5.  [illegible, until end] Capt. Aldrich

6.  Has no written discharges at any time - at least recollects none.

7.  Refers to Darius Bullock, Esq.  and Rev. Amos Hart under this interrogatory there being no clergyman in the vicinity who could conveniently attend the court for this purpose.
[signed] Samuel Stafford
Page 7

6.  Had no written discharges at any time- at least recollects none.

7.  Refers to Darius Bullock, Esq. and Rev. Amos Hart under this interrogatory, there being no clergyman in the vicinity who could concurrently attend the Court for this purpose.
[signed] Samuel Stafford

Sworn to and subscribed the and year aforesaid 
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate

We Darius Bullock a citizen residing in the town of Halifax in said county and Amos Hart of Guilford in said county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Stafford  who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age;  that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
[signed] Darius Bullock    Amos Hart

Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Darius Bullock who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said town of Halifax, and that Amos Hart, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Guilford in said county, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
James Elliot, Register of the Probate Court, within and for the District of Marlborough aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application Samuel Stafford for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this second day of August A.D. 1832
[signed] James Elliot, Prob. Register
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[verso]
18612
INVALID.
File No. 18,612
Samuel Stafford
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 363
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[recto]
Mch-8-1900 mil to Mrs. Abbie M. Stafford Brattleboro Vt.
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18612
Samuel Stafford
Aug 2 1832
Halifax Vt - 76
July 1, 1775 Scituate R. I.
Capt Olney
Col West - 1 yr pvt
Privateer "Industry"
Capt Thos Childs
6 mo
76 Capt Thomas
Col Cook
3m
77 Capt Baird
Col Waterman
2 mo
June 77 9 m 
Capt Goodenough 
sgt
79 - 3 mos
Page 10

Brattleboro Vt. Feb 24 1902

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Dear Sir
Will you kindly inform me in what regiment [underlined]Samuel Stafford was during the Revolutionary war, and from what place he enlisted?
He drew a pension until the time of his death in Halifax Vermont Jan. 12 1846.
Very truly
(Mrs.) Abbie M. Stafford
Brattleboro
Box 653 Vermont
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[receipt stamp: U. S. PENSION OFFICE K FEB 27 1900]
[receipt stamp: O. W. & N. DIVISION MAR 1 1900 RECEIVED.]
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[handwritten letter]
War Department
Pension Office
3rd April 1833

Sir
The papers of Samuel Stafford are again returned. The fact of his enlisting as a minute man does not bring him within the act of 7. June 1832
It is only actual service in the field or garrison, which must be specifically stated, with the particulars of service as is required by the regulations, and supported by the best evidence of which it is susceptible.
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Stutely Staffords affidavit on application of Sam'l Stafford for pension
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I Elijah Walsworth of Halifax in the County of Windham and State of Vermont being seventy years of age testify and say that I was living at a time of the war of the revolution but of what year I do not now remember I was at work at deerfield Massachusetts and was knowing to Samuel Stafford now of said Halifax ['in the' crossed out] enlisting as a soldier of the revolution and served in Capt Rice Company of Colonel Porters regiment for three months. I was also knowing to his going another tour of service in Capt Levi Goodenough's Company of what Regiment I do not know I believe the term of service was nine months but do not recollect for certain - he was with said ['Goodenot' crossed out] goodenough at the taking of Gen'l Burgoine (Burgoyne) and further the deponent saith not 
/s/Elijah Walworth
State of Vermont
Windham County ss } Brattleboro August 2nd 1832 then Elijah Walsworth the Signer of the foregoing deposition and was sworn to the truth of same
before me /s/Darius Bullock Justice of the peace.
State of Vermont - Windham County Court Clerk's office New Fane, August . A.D. 1832. I certify that Darius Bullock, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham afores'd and that the above and annexed are his signatures
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court on the day and year above written - 
/s/James Elliot; Clerk.
Signed & Sealed again, Dec'r 4th 1832.
/s/James Elliot, Clerk of Windham County Court, Vermont. - 
Dec'r 4. 1832 - Aug 4. 1832.
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Elijah Walsworth affidavit on application of Sam'l Stafford for a pension
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I Stuteley Stafford of Colrain in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy five years old ['Depo' crossed out] depose and say that I enlisted as a Soldier in Capt Williams Company of Colonel Cash Regiment of Rhode Island in the Second year of the war of the revolution for three months and that at the same time, Samuel Stafford of Scituate in said State enlisted in said Capt Williams Company for three months we both served in said Company the town of our enlistment. the place of our service was at Newport and in Rhode Island at the the expiration of said term we were dismissed I was knowing to said Samuel Stafford enlisting or going in the army of the revolution for one month in Capt Harringtons Company in Col Watermans Regiment they were stationed at Warwick [illegible] the time 
I was also knowing to his going a privateering & sailed from Providence but in what respect I do not know and further this deponent saith not 
/s/X his mark Stuteley Stafford
State of Vermont
Windham County ss } Brattleboro August 2nd 1832. then personally appeared Stuteley Stafford who made his mark to the above deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same
before me /s/Darius Bullock Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the above deponant is a credable witness 
/s/Darius Bullock Justice of the peace
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Samuel Stafford's Supplementary Affidavit
Page 18

State of Vermont Windham County ss May 16th 1833
Personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace for s'd County, Samuel Stafford Sen of Halifax in s'd county, who being duly sworn, deposeth, & saith, that by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot Swear positively as to the precise length of his Service in the revolutionary war but according to the best of Recollection her served not less than the Periods mentioned below (and which are suggested in his former affidavits,) and in the grades (to wit.)
For one year from July 1775 to July 1776 as a private Soldier, was garrisoned or Stationed at Newport & Providence State of Rhode Island the whole year, & bore Arms the whole year (except was furloughed one week & work, at carpentering) - 
(Explanation.) During this year the militia was frequently called out, & as frequently discharged to go about their Business when the cause of Alarm was over, I with others remained under military command, & in the courts of the s'd 1st year of my Service - was ordered from our Head Quarters, on alarms from 7 to 10 times to different Sections, 
I recollect in particular once I was ordered from Warrick Rhod'd - to Noose Neck - a place where the Brittish landed with Boats & Rangers often [illegible] - & was absent from Head Quarters this time 3 weeks, at which time John Tippets was killed, & Thomas Salsbury wounded -
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Tippetts belonged to Capt. Cases' Company. - Salsbury to our company, under Capt. Olney. - 
For the other Periods of my actual service during the revolutionary war, in the Service of the United States until the close of the war, reference is had to my Declaration before the Hon. Marshal Miller Judge of Probate, & a supplementary affidavit before Justin Elliot, both of which accompany this Statement. - 
And for such services I claim a Pension under the act of 1832. - /s/Samuel Stafford
Guilford May 16th 1833 the above named Sam'l Stafford made solemn Oath to the above statement by him subscribed,
before me /s/Benj. W. Stevens Just. Peace
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, June 22d A.D. 1833.
I certify that Benj'a W. Stevens, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above is his signature - 
[court seal affixed] Witness my hand and the Seal of the said Court.
/s/James Elliot, Clerk.
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Guilford May 16th 1833
To whom there present may come, We the undersigned having been acquainted with Sam'l Stafford Sen. of Halifax Applicant for a Pension, from twenty to forty years, & do know that his Faculties are much impaired from age & consequent loss of memory, hereby certify, that we have examined his declaration & supplementary affidavits to obtain a Pension, & we do believe them to be substantially true.
From his general account of himself formerly, & the Historical Facts by him given of the war of the Revolution, we have no Doubts that he served as a Soldier in s'd war. - 
We further certify that he has the reputation of having been a Soldier of the Revolution.
[illegible]
/s/Benj. H. Stevens
/s/Zeph'a Shephardson jr
/s/Aaron Barney
/s/Willard Martin
/s/Edw'd Houghton
/s/Thomas Gould
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Samuel Stafford sr
Supplementary Affidavit -
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State of Vermont. Windham County ss. New Fane Jany 2d. 1833
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for said county, Samuel Stafford, of Halifax in said county, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length  of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades - 
[column headings: [blank]|Year|mos|]
For one year from about 1. July 1775 to July 1776, as stated in his declaration as a private soldier-|one|[blank]|
For three months as a private in the winter & spring of 1777 as stated in my declar'n. |[blank]|three|
For two months as a private in spring or summer of 1777 as stated in declaration-|[blank]|two|
For about nine months, commencing in the summer of 1777, as a ranger in Capt. Goodenough's Company as stated in declaration, served this term as a Sergeant, except the few first days-|[blank]|three|
[end of columns]
And for those services I claim a pension. I know of no evidence that I can procure besides Stuteley Stafford's & Elijah Walsworth's affidavits - 
/s/Samuel Stafford
The above named Samuel Stafford then and there made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed - 
Before me /s/James Elliot, Justice of the Peace.
State of Vermont - 
Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, January 3. A.D. 1833.
I certify that James Elliot, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above is his signature - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County Court on the day and year above written
/s/James Elliot, Clerk.