Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1283, John Holmes, N.H.
Page 1

N.H.    Holmes, John         W. 1283
                         Polly       BLWt 3965-160-55
                         or Polley
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11.786
New Hampshire

John Holmes 
of Barrington in the state of N Hampshire 
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Reid of the N. Hampshire 
line, for the term of three years

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on 
the 7 of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 11 of June 1819
and sent to D McDowell {or D M Divull)
Dover New Hampshire

Arrears to 4th of March 1819  9  29/31  79.48
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819   148.
[total of two rows above]   $127.48

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.
Page 3

[left-hand column:]

37429
[All?] March 3/55
April 3/55

Polly Holmes wid of 
John Holmes Jr

Capt: Isaac Frye
N.H. Contl. line.

Revolutionary War wid
[?] Pension No 1093

AD: 160 A [?] Aug: 20155.
[signed] Boynton

Boynton [in faint writing]

3965 of Aug 22/55
N & G. N. Eastman
Farmington NH

[vertical note in bottom corner]
Ra M

[second column:]
NH
pen 5.3 - no 1093

Vol. H2- 46.
Page 4

New Hampshire                                      P. 
Polly Holmes
widow of John Holmes 
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a private
New Hampshire line
[word partially obscured by tear] Prescribed on the Roll at the rate of 
76 Dollars
cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848. 
[date crossed out]
3 February 1853

Certificate of Pension issued the
29 day of July 1853
and sent to N. & G. N. Eastman 
Farmington
N.H. 

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
July 29, 1848, Page 16 Vol 4 [A]
[date crossed out]
5 February 1853
Page 5

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss

One this 7th day of May 1818 before me the subscriber, Chief Justice of the Courts of Common Pleas for the first District in said State, personally appears John Holmes of Barrington, resident in Barrington (^aged fifty four years) in the county & district aforesaid  who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war, That he the said John Holmes enlisted in said service some time March 1781 in the State of New Hampshire, in the company commanded by Captain Jeremiah Fogg, of the second N. Hampshire Regt. to serve three years, that he continued to serve in the said corps, in the service of the United States till June 1788 when he was transferred to the company commanded by Captain Isaac Frye, that he continued to serve in the corps last aforesaid, in the New Hampshire line, & service of this United States, until the 20th day of Decem. 1788 when he was discharged from service at West Point, in the State of New York -- That he was in a skirmish [nigh?] The White Plains, in 1781, & in another with the Indians [nigh?] Fort [Herkimer?], in 1782, and that he is in reduced circumstances, & stands in need of the assistance of his country for support -- 
Sworn
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Sworn to & declared before me, the day & year aforesaid.
I Daniel M. Dewell Chief Justice of the Courts of Common Pleas for the first District in this State of  New Hampshire as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Holmes did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony, taken & had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of war, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of congress.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, & caused the seal of said Court for the County of Stafford in said District, to be affixed to the same this 8th [date crossed out and amended to 10?] day of July [month crossed out and amended] ^March A.D. 1819 --
[signed] D.M. Dewell

[seal imprinted to left of closing paragraph]
[text below seal reads:]
By order of the Judge
A. Peirce, Clerk
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John Holmes
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County of Strafford, State of New Hampshire
Superior Court of Judicature.  On this fourth day of February 1829 personally appeared in open court being a Court of record for the county aforesaid John Holmes resident in said county aged sixty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the first of May 1820 that he the said John Holmes enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary army in March 1781as a private in Captain Fogg's Company in the second New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Read on the Continental establishment and continued under the immediate command of Capt. Fogg until he was promoted and succeeded in the command by Capt Frye that he served at White Plains near New York in the campaign of 1781 & in the Autumn marched to Albany and Shenectady [sic] that he [crossed out] in the year 1782 he marched up the Mowhawk [sic] river & remained on that frontier to protect the inhabitants of that frontier from incursions of the Indians & from there was marched to Newburgh in the State of New York where the army took up its winter quarters and at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War was discharged from the army near West Point on the 25th December 1783.  that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the one now petitioned for that his name has been placed on the Pension list that the number of his pension certificate is 11.786 and that he never before exhibited a schedule of his property because having obtained & persevered by [continual?]
Page 9

industry and frugality a small pittance of property he was denied the benefit of the act of 1818 by the act of 1820.  And in pursuance of the act of the 1st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citisen [sic] 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 provision of an act of Congress entitled "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 annexed any by me subscribed schedule of my property (vis) a farm consisting of about sixty acres of land five cows one yoke of two year old stears[sic] one two year old heifer three yearling three calves sixteen sheep and a few articles of househould [sic] furniture.
[signed] John Holmes
I am a farmer but such are my infirmities that I am now able to do but very little work I have a wife forty years of age and a daughter aged seven years a domestic girl aged about seventeen years & a domestic boy aged about eleven years.  That since the 18th of March 1818 there has been no change in my real estate & little or none in the value of my personal property and I am now unable to state whatever that
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little may have been
[signed] John Holmes
Sworn and declared the fourth day of February AD 1829 before said court.  Attest A. Peirce, Clerk
I Andrew Peirce, Clerk of said Superior Court of Judicature of said county of Strafford, do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court, that he said John Holmes did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the continental establishment.  I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of said court, and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is nine hundred forty seven dollars twenty cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said court, this fourth day of February AD 1829.
[signed] A. Peirce, Clerk
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
STRAFFORD COUNTY SS.
I John H White register of Probate for said county,
do hereby certify that Hiram R Roberts ^who was subscribed the annexed declaration is Judge of Probate within and
for said County, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, That full faith and credit are and
ought to be given to his certificates and attestations as such, and that the foregoing signature
purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my and and affixed the
Seal of said Court, at the Probate Office in said County, the
fourth day of May A.D. 1853.
John H White, Register of Probate for said County of Strafford.
Page 12

C
DECLARATION.
To obtain the benefits of the 2nd section of the act of 3d February, 1853.
State of New Hampshire.
STRAFFORD COUNTY SS. Before the judge of COURT OF PROBATE
On this third day of Ma A.D. 1853. Personally appeared before said judge [the court written over] of Probate for said County of Strafford, the same being a Court of Record in said State Polly Holmes, a resident of Strafford, in the County of Strafford and State aforesaid, aged sixty four years, who first being 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 3d February, 1853, granting pensions to widows of persons who served in the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of John Holmes who was a private in Captain Foggs company in the second New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Read on the continental establishment - that she has understood and has no doubt that her said husband - John Holmes enlisted into the Revolutionary army in March 1781 into said Capt. Foggs Company as before [rated?] and therin served until said Fogg was succeeded by Capt. Frye and that he continued in the service at the White Plains, Albany and on the Frontiers of New York until the conclusion of said Revolutionary war when he was discharged from the army near West Point - that said John Holmes became a Revolutionary Pension and was enrolled on the list of New Hampshire [agency?]
She further declares that she was married to the said John Holmes on the eleventh day of October eighteen hundred and twenty; that her said husband died on the thirteenth day of April A.D. 1840; that she was not married to him prior to the second of January eighteen hundred but at the time above stated.  She further declares that she is now a widow.

[following handwritten text has 4 X marks over it]
Thereby certify that the applicant from bodily infirmity is unable to attend court.

[signed] Polly Holmes

Sworn to and subscribed in open court [in open court redacted] on the day and year above written.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of said Couty this [redacted] to be affixed the day and year first above written

[next line redacted]
Register of Probate for said County of Strafford.

Thereby certify that the applicant from bodily infirmity is unable to attend court
[signed]
Hiram R. Roberts
Judge of Probate
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State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford [11?]
On this 3rd day of May A.D. 1853 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the State and county aforesaid David Avery & Sally L. Avery - husband and wife, residents of Strafford in said county of Strafford, who bring duly sworn according to law declare that Polly Holmes of said Strafford is the widow of John Holmes, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and subsequently a Pensioner under the laws of the United States - that her husband, the said John Holmes died at said Strafford on the thirteenth day of April A.D. 1840 and that she, said Poly Holmes is still a widow
and they swear that they are disinterested witnesses
[signed] David Avrey
[signed] Sally L. Avrey
Subscribed and sworn to before the day and year first above named.  And thereby certify that the said David Avery & Sally L. Avery are credible witnesses - 
[signed] George N. Eastman
Justice of the Peace
Page 14

Declaration and
evidence in case
of
Polly Holmes
Page 15

Extract from the Records of the town of Farmington in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire under the head of marriages solemnised [sic] by Nathanel Berry as a minister of the Gospel in said town is the following entry, vis.-

Married A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty on the eleventh day of October.  
Mr. John Holmes and Miss Polly Berry both of Barrington.

I Luther Wentworth Clerk of said town of Farmington depose and say that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Records in fair legible figures as follows, vis
the 11 day of October A.D. 1820

[signed] Luther Wentworth Town Clerk of Farmington

I Luther Wentworth above named depose and day that I hold the office of town Clerk in the town of Farmington aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town with the exception aforesaid as certified by me.
[signed] Luther Wentworth Town Clerk of Farmington

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford 11, April 30th 1853
Subscribed and sworn to by the above before me.
George R. Eastman Justice of the Peace
Page 16

The State of New Hampshire.
STRAFFORD COUNTY SS.
COURT OF PROBATE.
REGISTER'S OFFICE.

I, JOHN H. WHITE, Register of said Court, hereby certify that George N. Eastman is a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and was such at the time of the taking of the foregoing affidavits that is commission is dated August 4th A.D. 1851 and will expire August, 3d A.D. 1856 and that the 2 foregoing signatures purporting to be his are true and genuine; that all his official acts, as such, are entitled to full faith and credit, and that the aforesaid Court of Probate is a Court of Record.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this fourth day of May A.D. 1853.
[signed] John H White
Register of Probate for said County of Strafford.
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-76-
Polly Holmes
No 37429
Page 18

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford on this 29th day of March 1855 
{faded] personally appeared before me, aforesaid Polly Holmes aged sixty six years a resident of Strafford in the State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of John Holmes deceased, who was a private in the Revolutionary War, and to whom the Pension Certificate No 1093 was issued as the widow of said John Holmes, under which Certificate she is entitled to draw and receive annually [?] of ninety in dollars - that said Certificate [?] date the 24th day of July A.D. 1853 and authorizes her to draw said pension from the third day of February A.D. 1853 and is signed by James Campbell acting Secretary of the [interior] and [?] and countersigned by L.T. Waldo Commissioner of Pension 
[?] she is now a widow
{document on top]
The State of New Hampshire
Strafford County SS       {Court of Probate, Register's Office
I, John H. White, Register of said Court, hereby certify that Josiah B. Edgerly is a Justice of the Peace ____ within and for said County duly commissioned and [missing], and was such at the time of taking the {foregoing] affidavit + declaration that his [sic] commission in dated June 25 A.D. 1850 and will expire June 24th A.D. 1855 and the [?]  signature purporting to be his is true and genuine; that all his official acts, as such, are entitled to full faith and credit, and that aforesaid Court of Probate is a Court of Record.
In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 31st day of March A.D. 1855. 
John H White {Register of Probate for said County of Strafford
{end of document, original document continues}
applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
David Avrey
Robert W. F
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to & subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I hereby certify, that I know the affiants to be credible person; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim -  Josiah B. Edgerly  [unknown]
Page 19

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford on this 29th day of March 1955
personally appeared before me, a heir of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Polly Holmes, aged sixty six years a resident of Strafford in the State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of John Holmes, deceased, who was a private in the Revolutionary ware, and to whom the Pension Certificate No1093 was issued on the widow of said John Holmes under which Certificate she is entitled to draw and receive annually the sum of ninety six dollars that said Certificate from date the 24th day of July A.D. 1853 and authorize her to draw said Pension from the third day of February A.D. 1853 and is signed by James Campbell acting Secretary of the Interior and nammed and countersigned by L P Waldo Commissioner of Pension. She further declares that she is now a widow she makes this declaration for the [?] bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act appeared March 3d 1855 
We David Avery and Robert W Fos
of Strafford in the State of New Hampshire from our oathes declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Carol Polly Holmes in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the affiant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be 
David Avrey 
Robert W. Fofs
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to & subscribed before me on the day and year above written ; and I hereby certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be  and that I have no interest in this claim
Josiah B Edgerly  Jus Peace
Page 20

[illegible] 8-1902
J.H. Stevens - Durham N.H.
Rev. WIDOW, & c.
File No. 1283
Polly Holmes
Widow
John Holmes
Priv. Rev War
Act: Feb 3. 1853
Index: - Vol. H, Page 341
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 21

By the Honorable Michael Jackson Egan
Commanding the Farmington of West Po Land it dependencies 
This may certify that the Bearer John Holmes solder in Capt Isaac Fryer Company line being entitled for three years freely and leaving far fully service
his time is hereby Honorably Discharged from the army of the United States of America
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v
3965
[flourish]
160 anns
Page 23

Certificate of Pension issued the 11 of June 1819 and sent to D M Howell Dover New Hampshire
Continued on the roll on 17th day of March 1829 and notification sent to Hon. D. Barker at Rochester, New Hampshire Pension commencing on the 4 of February 1829
Amount due on 4th of Sept 1829} $56.17
{Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, & May 1, 1820.
Page 24

May 11. 1853
No. 1587
Appt. of Polly
Holmes widow of
John - 
N.H.
11786 s. 19
Act 3d Feby. 1853
Revy:
N (?) G. N Eastman
Farmington
N.H.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Page 25

Pension Office
July 27 1853
Please state at what
time the within named John
Holmes died or up to what
date paid.
Very respectfully
[illegible]
Fr Burt Esq
3d [illegible]
John Holmes, act 1818
died 13th April 1840, and
paid to his death
F Bush
Auditor
Page 26

No. 37429
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received April 3rd, 1855
Polly Holmes wid. of
John Holmes [illegible]
Capt Isaac Frye
S. H. Contl [illegible] rev War
Warrant 3965-160-55
N & G.N. Eastman
Farmington
N.H.
Page 27

Farmington N.H. May 9, 1853

Sir,
We send accompanying this, two [underlined] applications for Pensions - that of Polly Holmes widow of John Holmes, who was a Revolutionary soldier and Pensioner {underlined] and that of Sally (or Sarah as some spell it) French, who is the widow of Jonathan French a private in the war of 1812, but who died [underlined] in consequence of disease contracted while in the line of his duty in that war -- 
The evidence of Holmes having been a Pensioner & that he is dead is on your files, his Pension certificate with the evidence of his death having been returned to your office in order to decrease the arrears of Pension due at the time of his [death?] -- French [drew?] his bounty [bared?] [le?]
Yours [le?]
[signed] N. & G. N. Eastman
Page 28

Polly Holmes
widow of John
N.H.
Act Feby 3. 1853
Admitted from
Feby 3.1853.  Private
at $96 per annum
Agents
N. and G.N. Eastman
Farmington
N.H.
Page 29

Brief in the case of Polly Holmes, widow of John
Strafford County and State of New Hampshire
[illegible] act Feby 3.1853
Claim, ("original")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
It is documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.
John Holmes pensioner under acts of 1818 & 1820
at $96 per annum.
Marriage and identity proved by [illegible]
sustained by record & by schedule of
the pensioner.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent
N. G.N. Eastman
Farmington N.H.
S.G. Dodge
Examining Clerk
Page 30

N. Hampshire
John Holmes applied
[illegible] for a pension
May 7. 1818.
John Holmes private, 2d Regt
New Hampshire line
1781 - 3 years
appl served only
8 months 14 days
from 17 Apl 1781
This may be allowed because
it is correct that he served to the
end of the war.  {illegile}