Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,297, for Pomp Sherburne, New Hampshire
Page 1

SERVICE
N. H. 
Sherburne, Pomp
Bell, Flora
Former widow
NUMBER
W. 17,297
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Vermont No. 4304
Flora Bell deceased formerly widow of Pomp Sherburne, who died on the Some time in the year 1780, of Windsor- in the State of Vermont, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Rowell of the Regt. commanded by Col. Reid N. H. in the N Hampshire line for 2 years-

Inscribed on the Roll of Montpelier- at the rate of 80 Dollars- [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831, and Ending on the 10th [illegible] 1839-

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Nov, 1845- and sent to John Bryant, Meriden, N. H.-

Arrears to the 4th of [blank]
Semiannual allowance ending [blank]
$694.64
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d
Recorded by U M Stewart Clerk,
Book C Vol. 1 Page 37.

[note on righthand side of page] : Ref[erre]d to agt by letter 26th Nov [18]45
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[printed document with fill ins left blank] 

Payment to be made
at
by
Agent for paying Pen=
sioners, in the Agency of

Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Beck Vol.
Page  by

Clerk
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War Department. Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States, of the 4th of July, 1836: Flora Bell, deceased who was formerly the widow of Pomp Sherburne, who was a private, was entitled to a pension at the rate of $80 per ann[um] com[mencin]g on the 4th March, 1831 and end[in]g on the 10th Nov. 1839, the day of her death; which will be paid upon the production of the proper vouchers, to Jesse D Sherburne, only surviving child of Flora Bell, deceased.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 24th day of Novr one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. Secretary of War.
Payment to be made at Montpelier, Vermont.
Examined and Countersigned.
Commissioner of Pensions.
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426469
Jesse D. Sherburne in the right
of his mother Flora Sherburne
or Flora Bell. V.t Declaration
Act 4th July 1836

John Bryant Agent
Meriden  NH

[illegible]  April 28, 1845,
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6469
Flora Bell dec'd wid. Pomp Sherburne

Act 4 July 3d [illegible] 2 yr pri
$80 to 10 Nov. 1839 the day her death-
To Jesse D Sherburne only surviving child

John Bryant Esq
Meriden, N. H.
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State of Vermont District of Windsor, SS
On this seventh day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four personally appeared before the Probate Court in and for the District of Windsor aforesaid, Jesse D Sherburne a resident of Reading in said District, aged fifty two years on the 19th day of October A.D. 1843 who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed March 2 1837, in the Right of his late mother Flora Bell formerly the widow of Pomp Sherburne, he being the fifth and only surviving child of said Flora and Pomp Sherburne, that his mother the said Flora was married to said Pomp Sherburne as he has reason to believe in the winter of the year seventeen hundred and eighty the particular date he cannot state, who was a Private in the New Hampshire service of the Revolution from soon after the commencement of the War till near its close, as he has always been informed. The names of his officers and the number and length of tours of service performed by him, he is unable to state but has been told that for some length of time he served as a waiter to Colonel George Reed- that after his marriage to Flora Taggart his late mother he was an actor for the space of six months or thereabouts in what was called the "New Levies" at West Point, and subsequently rendered service in seventeen hundred and eighty one for the space of nearly one year, but under whose command he cannot state and he is of the belief that he rendered still farther service. He further declares that in his belief his mother the said Flora was married to the said Pomp Sherburne as above stated, that he died soon after the close of the War- that she was afterwards married to Boston Bell who died about fifteen years since and that she was a widow on the 4th of July 1836, and remained a widow until the time of her death which took place on the tenth day of November eighteen hundred and thirty nine at Derry in the state of New Hampshire, according to his best knowledge and belief and as will more fully apparent by the proof hereto annexed, or that may accompany this
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Declaration. The Declarant would offer a reason for not being able to make a more full and particular Declaration, that in his childhood he was given to Polly Pinkerton of Londonderry who married to Capt James Dickey with whom he resided in Acworth N. H. till he was nineteen years of age.
Jesse D Sherburne
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me
Thomas F Hammond Judge of said Probate Court

State of Vermont District of Windsor SS
I Thomas F Hammond Judge of the Probate Court in and for the District of Windsor aforesaid do hereby certify that Jesse D Sherburne who has Sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration is a person of truth and veracity and that the statements by him made are entitled to full credit and belief
And I further certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Flora Bell former widow of Pomp Sherburne mentioned in said Declaration, died on the tenth day of November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine and that she left one surviving child whose name is Jesse D Sherburne the identical person who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name at Windsor in said District this seventh day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
Thomas F Hammond, Judge

State of Vermont District of Windsor
I Salmon F Dutton, Register of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor aforesaid, hereby certify, that Thomas F Hammond, before whom the foregoing Declaration of Jesse D Sherburne was sworn to and subscribed is Judge of the
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Probate Court for the District of Windsor aforesaid, which court is a Court of Record- and that the signature annexed to the certificate of the Oath and of the credibility of the said Declarant, purporting to be the signature of him the said Thomas F Hammond, is his own proper and genuine Signature.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Probate Court, and subscribed my name at Cavendish, in said District, this seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight-hundred and forty four.
Salmon F Dutton, Register
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(6)
John Duncan Dep[osition] on support of the claim of Flora Bell [illegible] Act of the 4th July 1836-
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State of New-hampshire Office of Secretary of State.
I, Thomas P Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that John N. Anderson is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the 13th, day of June 1840 and will expire on the 13th, day of June 1845 and his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this third day of April 1845.
Thomas P. Treadwell Secretary of State
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I John Duncan of Londonderry in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire depose and say That I am acquainted with Mrs Margaret Archibald of the adjoining town of Derry and that I have seen the deposition made by her before Edward L Parker Esq on the 29th day of March inst and in reference to the Revolutionary service and marriage of Pomp Sherburne formerly of this town which I believe to be strictly true for I lived here in the time of the war of the Revolution and was also acquainted with the said Pomp and Flora Taggart that he married as stated by Mrs Archibald and agree with her as to the time that their marriage took place And I further say that my recollection and belief is that the said Pomp Sherburne was several times engaged as a private in the Revolutionary service both before and after his marriage to the said Flora who after his death was again married to one Boston Bell with whom I was also acquainted and whose death took place several years since. My further belief is that the said Flora lived as the widow of said Bell till the time of her death as stated by Mrs Archibald and which took place at the time Stated by her in her said deposition I further depose and say that to my knowledge the said Pomp and Flora lived and cohabited together
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as husband and wife sometime before the last period of his service which I think was as late as the year 1781 if not later and that they subsequently raised up a family of several children in the neighborhood in which I lived at the time
John Duncan

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham SS Londonderry March 31st 1845
Subscribed and Sworn to
Before me
John N Anderson Justice of the peace

I further certify that the deponant is a creditable witness
John N Anderson Justice of the peace
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1930- Oct 16- Hist. to Adj. Gen. Carbon copy of letter filed under C. H. Bridges in Misc. File- E E L

Widow, &c.
File No. 17297
Flora Bell Former Widow of Pomp Sherburne
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 4th 1836
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 53 
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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No 6469
Flora Bell decd. formerly widow of Pomp Sherburne N. H.

Letter to John Bryant May 29 1845.

act 4 July 1836
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[illegible]
Marriage of Pomp Sherburne
to Flora Taggart - T. Clerk
of Londonderry N. H negative
Certificates
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State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS
Town Clerk office Londonderry March 29th 1845
I John N Anderson Clerk of the town of Londonderry County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that upon application to me for record evidence of the marriage of Pomp Sherburne to Flora Taggart I have Searched the record in my possession but can find no such record- I further certify that there are no record of marriages in this in this office till Subsequent to the year Seventeen hundred and ninety five
John N Anderson Clerk of the town of Londonderry
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(2)
Pomp Sherburne Proof of Service
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198
Pomp Sherburne Londonderry 2nd Co D
1781| Paid by Blanchard £2"11"2 | 2.11.2
1784 Feby 19 | Gave him a certificate | 18.18.10.21
Contra Cc
1781 Feby 15 | B[illegible] 10 1/2 Months in 1781| 21

State of New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office,
I, Thomas P Treadwell, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original the same having been examined and compared by me. I further certify that upon the Roll of "New Levies" is the name of Pomp Sherburne of Londonderry, for five months and 20 Days service from June 27th, to December 5th, 1780.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said State, this 3d day of April 1845
Thomas P Treadwell Secretary of State
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Mrs Margaret Archibald and
Susannah Ranking Affidavits
in support of the claim of Flora Bell
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State of New-hampshire. Office of Secretary of State.
I Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Edward P. Parker is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the 18th, day June 1840 and will expire on the 18th, day of June 1845 and his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this third day of April 1845.
Thomas P. Treadwell Secretary of State.
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5
I Margaret Archibald of Derry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire depose and say, that I am now a resident of said Derry which was formerly a part of Londonderry, and I have resided here since my birth which was some time previous to the war of the Revolution.
I was well acquainted with both Pomp Sherburne and Flora Taggart, both before and after their Marriage together, as I lived near to there. Their marriage took place in the time of the war, and, as I have reason to believe, in the early part of the year 1780, and before the last period of his service in the Revolutionary army. Of this I am confident, for I well recollect his coming home from the service on furlough to see his wife the said Flora. During the period that he remained at home they lived together and cohabited as man and wife.- At the time of his said return, and during his stay I recollect his wearing a uniform coat, and a cocked hat.- I know that said Pomp Sherburne after he returned to the service remained to the close of the war or nearly to the close of the war, and his final return was
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when Col. Reid returned, for whom I understood he was some part of the time, a waiter.
I further say that the Pomp Sherburne died in this town more than fifty years ago and that to the time of his death he and Flora aforesaid, lived and cohabited as man and wife, and had a family of children.
After the death of said Pomp Sherburne his widow the above named Flora again married to one Boston Bell. The said Bell died upwards of twelve years ago and the said Flora lived as his widow, till her death, which took place on the tenth day of November A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty nine. Of this I am confident, for I was present and witnessed her death.
Margaret Archibald

State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS March 29, 1845
Personally appearing the above named Margaret Archibald subscribed and made solemn oath that the above affidavit is true
Before me
Edward P Parker Jus Peace

I further certify that the above named Margaret Archibald is in my opinion  a credible witness
Edward P Parker Jus. Peace
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I Susannah Rankin of Derry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire which town of Derry was formerly a part of Londonderry, depose and say that I was formerly acquainted with Pomp Sherburne and his wife (whose name before her marriage was Flora Taggart.) both before and after the war of the Revolution.
The precise time of their marriage I do not know, but they lived and cohabited as man and wife during the time of the war of the Revolution and previous to his leaving the Service. Of this I am confident for I lived near by them.
The said Pomp died soon after the close of the war and I well recollect the house in which he died. It belonged to Dea. James Pinkerton who has also been dead several years. - Some few years after the death of Pomp Sherburne, his widow the said Flora Sherburne was again married to Boston Bell. After Boston Bell's death, which took place some years ago, she lived a widow till her death which took place five years ago last fall. The particular day I cannot state. My belief is that the said Pomp and Flora were married by Rev Mr Davidson. But of this I am not confident.
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I further state that the said Pomp and Flora have several children
Susannah Rankin her mark X

State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS March 29, 1845
Personally appearing the above named Susannah Rankin subscribed, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit is true
Before me
Edward P Parker Jus. Peace

I further certify that the above named Susannah Rankin is in my opinion a credible witness
Edward P Parker Jus. Peace
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Daniel Marsh, Deposition -
Additional evidence in support of
the pending claim of Flora Bell
of N. H.     Act 4th July 1836

John Bryant Agent 
Meriden, NH
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I Daniel Marsh of Walpole in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire one of the Londonderry surviving Soldiers of the Revolution and a pensioner of the United States now in the eightieth year of my age Depose and say that in the time of the War of the Revolution I was a resident of the town of Londonderry in this state at which place I was well acquainted with Pomp Sherburn who was also at the same time a resident of the same place and who to my knowledge rendered much actual service- but the precise ammount of which I cannot with certainly state but my belief is that he served from sometime in 1780 untill the fall of the year 1783 for to my knowledge he enlisted in the Month of February 1781 for three years we entered the service together and continued to serve together untill discharged in the month of November 1783, while in the service the same Pomp Sherburn was during a part of the time a cook or waiter for our Colonel George Reid and I belonged to the same family or mess. We were discharged at West Point and the Pomp Sherburn and my self returned home to Said Londonderry together, I served mainly under Capt Rowell. The said Pomp Sherburn was taken from the ranks and made a waiter to Colonel Reid which duty he performed for the most part during the whole time we were out. I further depose and say that I was also acquainted with Flora Taggart the girl to whome the said Pomp Sherburn was married. Their marriage took place at said Londonderry in the year 1779 or 1780 am not certain which year but at any rate it was sometime before his enlistment in 1781 for at that time I well recollect that they lived and cohabited together as husband and wife and had one child And my further recollection is that during the time we were engaged in service as above stated the Said Pomp Sherburn obtained a furlow to go home and see his wife and child. That he went and again returned to his place in service wherein he continued till the time of his and my own discharge which took place at the [ink faded] and
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place above stated, as we were neighbors and for the most part actors in service together I put entire confidence in the correctness of what I have above stated both in regard to the service of the said Sherburn and the time of marriage to Flora Taggart- I further state as my belief that their are but few persons now living who were my former neighbors in said Londonderry and who were also the neighbors of the said Pomp Sherburn but am informed that Susannah Rankin and Margaret Archibald who were such neighbours were living in the town of Derry in the month of April last- I further depose and say that the said Pomp Sherburn was a man of colour and of distinktion [distinction] for one of that class of people so that I cannot be mistake as to his activity and further the deponant sayeth not
Daniel Marsh his mark X

State of New Hampshire Cheshire SS
sworn and subscribed to this fifth day of August 1845 before me
Francis Holbrook Justice of the peace

I further certify that from a long acquaintance with the deponant Daniel Marsh I am enable to say without hessitation that he is a person of charactor and inteligance and that he is so reputed to be in the community where he resides
Francis Holbrook Justice of the Peace
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State of New-hampshire. Office of Secretary of State.
I Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Francis Holbrook is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Cheshire duly Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the 24th day of June 1842 and will expire on the 24th day of June 1847 and his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 9th day of August 1845.
Thomas P Treadwell Secretary of State.
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Meriden NH Oct 6, 1845
Sir
Application has been made to the Secretary of State at Concord for evidence of the service of Pomp Sherburne subsequent to 1781 but none is there to be found for him, or others after 1781- Sherburne served served from February 1781 to November 1783 as proved by Daniel Marsh who enlisted and served with him and whose deposition is now herewith sent together with that of Benjamin Cheney as additional evidence in support of the claim of Flora Bell dec late widow of Pomp Sherburne and which it is hoped may prove sufficient as respects the marriage and enough additional service for the full pension of a private
very respectfully
John Bryant

Hon J L Edwards
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Benjamin Cheney of Rutland Vt
Depo[sition] to be used in support of the pending claim of Flora Bell formerly the widow of Pomp Sherburne
Act 4th July 1836-

John Bryant Agent Meriden N H
Page 32

I Benjamin Cheney of Rutland in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont aged Eight two years do depose testify and say that in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty one I was well acquainted with Pomp Sherburne a colored man then of Londonderry, New Hampshire, my residence then being in the same Town and with half a Mile of said Sherburne. That in the year seventeen hundred and eight I think, It was commonly reported and I well understood that said Pomp Sherburne was married to Florissa Taggart a coloured girl of the same Londonderry. The reason why I think they were married as aforesaid was the fact that it was of common report that said Pomp took a portion of his Bounty Money to purchase the freedom of his said wife she being a Slave before her marriage, and further that while said Pomp and myself (both belonging to the United States Army) the same year or next year after, were stationed at West Point or New Windsor I well remember that said Pomp went home on a furlough to visit his wife. I also well understood by common report that said Pomp and Florissa lived together as husband and wife after he left the Army. And further I had no doubt at the time, neither do I now doubt but what they were legally married as above stated.
Benjamin Cheney his mark X
Witness S. H. Kellogg
State of Vermont Rutland County SS
Be it known that on this 17th day of September of 1845 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the said Benjamin Cheney who hath subscribed the preceeding Deposition, in my presence and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And I do hereby certify that the said deponent is a credible witness.
Saml H Kellogg Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont. Secretary of State's Office.
Montpelier September 24th 1845

I certify that Samuel H Kellogg Esq whose name is subscribed in his own proper hand writing to the foregoing certificate, is and was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county of Rutland duly elected and qualified, and that his official acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are ought to be given.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of this office, at Montpelier, this the 24th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five
Seward F Merrill
Deputy Secretary of State.