Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21343, Thomas Holmes, New York
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
New York

Holmes, Thomas
Anna

NUMBER
W21343
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8951
New York Albany

Anna Holmes
widow of Thomas Holmes
NY
who was a private
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
[illegible] Endg 5th April 1865

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of March 1851 and sent to
W.G. Wade Eq
Present

[Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2.
Page 259
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[678]
FAMILY RECORD.
BIRTHS

Annin Wiggins was Born April 21st 1767
Katharine Wiggins Was Born February 29th 1772
Married December 2nd 1790
David Wiggins was Born August 31st 1791
John Wiggins was Born October 29th 1792
Olive Wiggins was Born June 16th 1794
Hannah Wiggins was Born April 26th 1796
Prial Wiggins was Born December 16th 1797
Esther Wiggins was Born November 22nd 1799
Allen Wiggins was Born July 16th 1801

BIRTHS
Katharine Wiggins was Born August 10th 1803
Annin Wiggins was Born October 9th 1805
Nancy Wiggins was Born August 31st 1807
Elsy Lavizer Wiggins Was Born January 11th 1810
Harriet Wiggins Born March 28 1811
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[677]
FAMILY RECORD.

MARRIAGES
David Wiggins was [unintelligible]

MARRIAGES
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by acts Congress passed 7th July 1838 - 3’d March 1843 & 17th July 1844. Entitled acts granting half pay and pensions to certain widows &c - &c
State of New York
Oneida County SS. On this the 12th day of June 1845 at a Court of Common Pleas holden at Rome in and for said County in open Court personally appeared Lydia Agard of the town of Aanboy Oswego County N.Y. aged forty four years 4th day of August 1844, who doth upon her oath make the following Declaration In order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 9th 1838 3d March 1843 and 17th June 1844, granting pensions to certain widows &c &c--
that she is the daughter of Thomas Holmes who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and who died in or about the year 1825 in Powlet in the State of Vermont and who left a widow to wit Anna Holmes, late a resident of the town of Arbay Oswego County who was this deponent’s mother, that the aforesaid Thomas Holmes this deponent’s father was formerly a resident of Stillwater Saratoga County New York, that as she has always understood and believed, said Thomas Holmes this deponents father, entered the
continental army of the United States, soon after the commencement of the war, or as early at last is
1777- that he enlisted for during the war. and as she always understood and believed served to the close of the same, and that thereby became entitled to bounty land of which claim she has heard much said, as Anna Holmes this deponent’s Mother, then Thomas Holmes wife refused to sign the deed. when such bounty land was sold by her husband, this deponents father said Thomas Holmes, that for the last five or six years she has often heard her mother Anna Holmes, late wife of Thomas Holmes speak of her  being entitled to a pension, and some efforts were made, but not finding any person who was in service with said Thomas Holmes, late her husband, she was unable to proceed with the investigation, not knowing that record proof of service was available, that when enquiries were made Anna Holmes this deponent’s mother stated that she was married at Stillwater Saratoga County to the aforesaid Thomas Holmes on the 11th day of August (1793) One thousand seven hundred and ninety three.
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that her mother the said Anna Holmes at the time of stating the facts as to her marriage &c reckoned by her age not having any record of the marriage - & knowing her age was married and at this time, therefore she was positive that this deponent does not know of any record of her mothers and fathers marriage or of the ages of their children, neither does she believe there is any in existence that forms her first recollections this deponent has always understood that her father that said Thomas Holmes had done some five or six years service in the war of the revolution and thereby became entitled to bounty land which she understood he had rec'd and sold that this deponent is the fourth child of said Thomas Holmes and Anna Holmes that her eldest brother would if were now living be near fifty one years of age that said Thomas Holmes died about the year 1825 as before stated in Vermont - and that deponents mother the aforesaid Anna Holmes a widow that she did soon [illegible] but remained a widow untill her death that she died in Amboy Oswego County NY. On the fifth (5th) day of April (1845) one thousand eight hundred and forty five. That she left the following named children her surviving - living her only children her surviving - Viz this deponent Lydia Agard - of Amboy Oswego County NY and Catherine Dean wife of Porter Dean of Litchfield County Ct that each are of the age of twenty one years and upwards that this deponent make this declaration for and in behalf of each of the surviving heirs of said Anna Holmes, that she makes her application before the court in Oneida County it being much more convenient and less expensive to this deponent; that her father and mother were not married previous to her father's revolutionary services but that the marriage took place previous to first of January 1794. viz at the time above stated on this (11) Eleventh day of August (1793) one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. Sworn and subscribed in open court on this day and year before written Delos Denolf Clerk 
Lydia Agard her mark               
Lydia Agard signed the above by making her mark she not being able to write her name.        
Delos Denolf Clk
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The court do hereby certify that Lydia Agard the within named deponent personally appeared in open court and under oath to the following declaration and that she is a respectable person, that satisfactory [illegible] was [illegible] viz, the declaration of Lydia Agard with the affidavitts of Anning Wiggins - Catherin Wiggis - and Amos Agard -- to the court, that Thomas Holmes was a soldier of the revolutionary war - was married to Anna Sickles. Before the first - day of January 1774, and died about the year 1825; and left a widow - the within [illegible] Anna Holmes who remained a widow until her death and who died on the fifth day of April 1845. and left the following named children her surviving living her only children her servicing viz, Lydia wif of Amos Agord of Ambrey Gregor County NY and Cahterin wife of Peter Dean of Lilchfiled County Connecticut and that each are of the age of twenty one years and aforesaid. Delvs Denolf Clerk State of New York
Amder County Personally appeared before the subscriber on justice of the peace in and for said congress Dalos Agord of Aubrey Granger County NY. Ages fifty one years and upward when jury first duly sworn according it has deposed the ....
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that said Thomas Holmes died, as this deponent has understood and related about the year 1825, in Vermont that he left the aforenamed Anna Holmes, a widow - that she remained a widow, untill her death which was on
the fifth day of April (1845) one thousand eight hundred and forty five, left the following named children her surviving, being her only children her, surviving and that each one of the age of twenty one years and upwards viz Lydia Agard of Orange County NY and Catherine Dean of Litchfield County Connecticut. Sworn and subscribed before me his this 12th day of June 1845 Amos Agard his mark   
George Barnard Justice 
I certify the above named affiant is a respectable person and that for want of practice is unable to write his name George Barnard Justice of the Peace
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[printed form, handwritten info.] Reg WIDOW, &c. File No. 21343 Anna Holmes Widow of 
Thomas Holmes Pri Rev War Act March 3rd 43 + June 17th 44 Index: Vol. A, Page 349 {Arrangement of 1870.]
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12000 Set to let G. Wade Dec 5, 46 Set to same Jany 5 "47 Set to Same Aug. 9 '47 Hon C. Blackman March 22, 49
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11.053        
New York, Albany                   
Anna Holmes decd                          
Widow of Thomas Holmes who was a pensioner under the Act of -- and who died in the year 1824 of  Saratoga Co. in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Titus of the    4th Regt in the N.Y. Troops line for 2 years                     
Inscribed on the roll of Albany at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.                       
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of March 1837 and sent to W.G. Wade Esq Present  [Act, July 7, 1838.]                 
Recorded by H.R. Weightman   Clerk,                
Book D, Vol. 1 Page 173
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Anna Holmes wife of Thomas NY Act 38 Sup Ex [illegible] W G Wade
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J L Heath Esq. Sir,
to must
that at the
mitted to examine the papers
as atty in the
fill of
Holmes both July 1855
West
3
in the common
Wife
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12000 Anna Holmes dec Ro June 21, 1845. N.Y. Act of July 38 
Married 1793 Husband died 1824 Adm 2 yrs pension
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State of New York Oneida County SS. Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County, Catharine Wiggins of the town of Rome in said County aged Seventy three years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that she was formerly a resident of the town of Stillwater in Saratoga County N.Y. when a resident of said town of Stillwater, she was personally acquainted with Thomas Holmes who was then a resident of said town of Stillwater in said County of Saratoga, that this deponent has understood and verily believed that the said Thomas Holmes had been a soldier of the Revolutionary War, for several years. that much as said about the said Thomas Holmes being entitled to bounty Land for his Revolutionary services, that he was a resident of said town of Stillwater when this deponent was married to Anning Wiggins which was in the year 1790. that she has a record of her marriage, and has kept
record of her marriage for upwards of forty years, that the following is an exact copy of such record. "Annin Wiggins was born April 21st 1767 - "Katherine Wiggins was born Feb 29 -1772
- "Married December 2nd 1790-" That in the year 1782 his second son was born, that she has a record of his birth which she has had for upwards of forty years, that the following is a true copy of such record. "John Wiggins was born October 29th 1792" That this deponent does well recollect that the next spring following the birth of her son above named, - in the month of April, the aforesaid Thomas Holmes, wife died. - that a very short time after the death of his first wife he married Anna Sickles, of Stillwater, only about four months after the death of his former wife, that this deponent knows it to have been the next summer after the Spring in which his former wife died which from the birth of her child above named, she knows the have been in the spring of (1783) one thousand seven hundred and ninty three; that she has understood and believed that said Thomas Holmes, died in or about the year 1825 in the State of Vermont. that since his death, his widow the identical person, as this deponent knows her to have been Anna [crossed out] Holmes, formerly Anna Sickles whom the aforesaid Thomas Holmes Married in Stillwater in 1793, as above stated, - has resided in Amboy Oswego County New York. - that she died on the fifth day of April 1845, in the said town of Amboy Oswego County, that she left her surviving the following named children which are the only children her receiving Viz Lydia Agard wife of
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Amos Agard of the town of Amboy Oswego County New York and - and Catharine Dean wife of Porter Dean of Litchfield County Connecticut - that the aforesaid Anna Holmes widow of the aforementioned Thomas Holmes [crossed out] did not intermarry before her death but remained a widow untill her death of the time and place aforementioned. Subscribed and sworn before me this Her 12th day of June 1845} Catherine Wiggins [X in middle] George Barnard [signature] Justice Mark I certify that the above named affiant Catherine Wiggins - is a highly respectable person, that for want of practice she is unable to write her name. I also certify that the foregoing dates, purporting to be copied from the County Record of the aforesaid affiant was so done in my presence and that the same is an exact copy as recorded in the family Bible of the above named affiant and that the same has the appearance, and this deponent
believes has been in [illegible] for many years. I also certify that the words "Holmes" and "Wiggins" upon after this and the affiants page in the foregoing affidavit was so [illegible] executed. George Barnard Justice of the Peace
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State of New York Oneida County SS. Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Anning Wiggins a resident of the town of Rome in the County aforesaid, aged Seventy Eight years [crossed out] and upwards, who having first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that formerly this deponent was a resident of Stillwater in Saratoga County N.Y. that soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, within three or five years after the close of the war - this deponent become personally acquainted with Thomas Holmes a resident of said town of Stillwater in Saratoga County that said Thomas Holmes had been as this deponent then understood a soldier of the continental Army of the revolutionary War that this deponent was understood and believed that said Thomas Holmes had been a soldier of the Revolutionary was for several years- That he understood and believed that he died in the State of Vermont in or about the year 1825 - That much was said about said Thomas Holmes being entitled to Bounty Land from the government for his Revolutionary services, soon after this deponents first acquaintance with him; which from the service this deponent understood he performed he believed he was justly entitled to. That this deponent was married in the year 1780, in Stillwater Saratoga County and that soon after it being the spring following the birth of the second child of this deponent and his wife, Catharine Wiggins whose deposition is annexed - the aforesaid Thomas Holmes lost his wife, believes it to have been the month of April, that about four months, as this deponent believe it to have been in the month of August after the death of his wife said Thomas Holmes Married Anna Sickles of Stillwater, which was in the year 1793. One thousand seven hundred and ninety three as this deponent knows from the birth of his second child, as set forth in the annexed deposition of Catherine Wiggins- that copy of the record of the marriage as this deponent when this [illegible] and of the birth of the second child in 1792, which was born in the December previous to the spring of the year [crossed out] for which the said Thomas Holmes wife died which was the spring before the summer in which he married Anna Sickles, is a true copy of the Old Original record - and that the same is true-- that he distinctly
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recollects of the marriage of the aforesaid Thomas Holmes and Anna Sickles, as before stated and knows it to now been at the time stated, from the fact, that much was said about said Thomas Holmes being married so soon after the death of his former wife- that the person Anna Holmes which said Thomas Holmes left a widow of his death, is the identical person whom he married in 
Stillwater in the year 1793, - that she died in Amboy Orange County on the fifth day April 1845 one thousand eight hundred and forty five and left the following named children here surviving him as only children Lydia Agard wife of Amos Agard of Amboy Cayuga County and Catharin Dean wife of Porter Dean of litchfield County [illegible] that said Anna Holmes remained a widow untill her death at the time above stated, Subscribed and sworn before me this 12th day of Term 1845 
George Barnard Justice  
Anning Wiggins 
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named affiant - Anning Wiggins and know him to be a highly respectable person. 
Further that the words revised upon the opposite page upon the 4th and 5th lines from the top and 5th him from the bottom was so done before executed              
George Barnard Justice of the Peace
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State of New York Clerks Office, Oneida County I Delos Dewolf the County aforesaid do hereby certify that George Barnard Esq whose name is subscribed to the annexed instrument was at the date of the same a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authored to act as such & that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine In testimony whereof I have herein to set my hand & affixed my official seal at the Clerks office at Utica in said County this 12th day of June 1845 Delos Dewolf Clerk
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Rose New York 
July 21st 1848. 
Sir,
Permit me again to call your attention to the claim of Anna Holmes under act of 7th July 1838. - I would request that the papers filed in this case the carefully examined, and in particular as to the date of the marriage, respecting which I have a letter dated Feby 27th 1845, - before any effort even was made for a pension, and which statement was for the widow herself, in which she asserts, that she was married to Thomas Holmes, Augt 11th 1793, - which from examination is found to be Sunday on which day she claims to have been married, which is strong evidence that she went from a knowledge of the date and such statement is found to be equally well corroborated. The County Clerks Certificate of Cayuga Co. which it is asserted involved the claim in doubt, by showing that the name of the wife of Thomas Holmes was not upon the deed, most fully corroborates her statements as to the fact that she did not sign the deed, at the time the land was disposed of.
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which is the purpose for which such certificate was obtained from a close examination, it will be found that no statement whatever has been made, - but what has been fully substantiated, -  by positive proof, -  of such a nature that the evidence can not be doubted. I have the honor to be your able servant, 
W. G. Wade 
J L Edwards Esq  Comr of Pensions
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Rose New York December 17th 1845, Sir In reply to a letter from your Office of the 10th inst. relative to the claim of Catherine Holmes decd very respectfully I beg leave to state, - that in a letter from your Office of the 24th of October, it was asserted, as the ground of the objection, "that no fact is stated which connects the birth of the son, John Wiggins, with the marriage of the Holmes," - to remove such objection the affidavit enclosed to you on the 10th of November, was obtained, which sets forth in the several positive terms, circumstances and events, by which the facts, were verified, and which circumstances it must be admitted would be recollected with much certainty. I would respectfully ask, if there is not facts, and events, viz, the birth of deponents son in 1792, which was established by a record which had existed for more than forty years, the death of said Thos Holmes first wife being in the spring following, which she distinctly recollects from the fact of her husbands brothers, wife's death taking place, within a few days of that of Mrs Holmes, which is recollected from the fact of her being called to nurse the child of said Mrs Wiggins at her death, and
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knows that her child born in 1792, as fully shown, was but five or six months old, - at this time, and distinctly recollecting that said Thos Holmes, was married in the summer following so soon after the death of his first wife as to occasion much [underlined] talk in the neighborhood, - by which the date of this marriage is retained, beyond a doubt, as to the person who state these facts, being possessed of a "limited capacity for the connection of dates with events", - I have only to refer you to the record forwarded to your office as containing the date of the birth of her child with which event, there are circumstances connecting each other event and are circumstance, in that manner that it would not be easy for a person to mistake and the certificate of the Justice of the Peace as to the affiant being a person of "uncommon good memory" and of the highest respectability. I only ask a careful examination of the facts in the case, not doubting the result I am respectfully, Your Able Servant W G. Wade [signature] Hon JL Edwards Comr. of Pensions Washington DC
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12000 Anna Holmes, decd widow of Thomas by Act 7 July 1838 Married 1793 Husband died 1824 Admr two yrs pre $80
per annum, carry 4 Mch '36 payable to Lydia Agard & Catharine Dean only surviving children Acts '38 43844 endg 5th April 1845, Albany Roll W G Wade Present
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Hon J. L. Edwards Comr. of Pensions I enclose you a letter of W. G. Wade & also two letters written by yourself-- when you have prepared an answer please send it with the enclosed letters written by yourself to said Wade at Rose Wayne Co N. Y. your able Servant Washington 18 Dec, 46 Timothy Jenkins [signature]
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Rose Wayne Co September 28th 1846 Sir, More than the usual time required for examining papers at the Pension Office, having expired, since the additional proof in case of Anna Holmes decd an applicant for a pension under act of Congress of 7th July 1838. - have been forwarded. I respectfully request that you ask for a report upon the claim, if such has not been recd. I am Respectfully Mr W.G. Wade Your able Servant W G. Wade [signature] Dear Sir I directed the Com. of Pens in all cases sent me & which were not reported on before I left to send answers to those who sent the papers to me giving him the requisite addresses here he will write you when decision made Hon T. Jenkins your obt but Cayuga County Timothy Jenkins  N.Y. 30, Sept 46
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Rose New York Sept 1st 1845
Sir, your letter of the 29th July the case of the heirs of Anna Holmes claim for a pension under act of July 7th 1838, is recd In which is stated, that the proof, which proves that her husband lost his first wife in the spring of 1793, is not sufficient to show that he married the claimant before January 1794,- Most respectfully permit me to ask if it is not as fully proved that he married the claimant in August 1793 as it is, that he lost his wife in the spring of 1773.-- And further, it is asserted that it appears the witness who is most involved in dates can neither read or write, and consequently must possess a very limited capacity for the connection of dates with events. With due respect for your honor possessing the capacity for knowing whether or not the deponent can read, or write I have the honor to inform you, that she can read and only for the want of practice, could write, as to her possessing a limited capacity in this account, I would ask your honor if it is not fully conceded that persons who are not in the practice of committing events to writing and consequently depend wholly
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upon their memory for retaining dates, or events, are less able to mistake, than those who depend wholly upon other sources for the retaining of dates or events. I forward herewith the certificate of service with the affidavits of Anning and Catherine Wiggins together with the old original family record, showing dates of events, by which they are enabled to state positively and with certainty the dates of the events in question, I am very respectfully your Able Servant 
WG. Wade   
Hon J L Edwards Commr of Pensions Washington D. C.
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 State of New York Cayuga County ss I Philip Van Arsdale, Clerk of said County do hereby certify, that it appears from records in this office, That Lot No (56) fifty six of the township of Ulyses in said State containing Six hundred acres given and granted to Thomas Holmes by the people of the State of New York for services performed by him in the Revolutionary War was sold transfered and conveyed by said Thomas Holmes to George Smith then of the City of New York, on the sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety five, and that the name of the wife of said Thomas Holmes does not appear upon such deed as is found in this office which was recorded the 20th day of October 1795 in Book B. page 391 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed
the seal of the Court of Common pleas of said County this 19th day of November 1846 Philip Van Arsdale Clerk
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 Rose, New York November 1846. Sir, The enclosed evidence in the case of Anna Holmes decd, an applicant for a pension under act of Congress of 7th July 1838.- I doubt not will satisfy the Department that claimants husband was the identical person who served in the New York line. The Bounty Land, refered to in the affidavits of the son in law & daughter and are not the Bounty Land recd from the U.S. that the Land received from the state of New York ["state of New York" underlined], - which the enclosed certificate shows was not sold untill the year 1795 and shows that the name of Thomas Holmes wife was not signed to the deed of such Land when conveyed by him, in 1795 as set forth in the aforementioned affts. I am Respectfully Your Obt. Svt 
W.G. Wade          
Hon J L Edwards Comr -  of Pensions, Washington D. C.
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Rose New York Nov 10th 1845
Sir In reply to your letter of the 24th not in case of ["illegible of" inserted] Anna Holmes claim for a pension under act of July 9th 1888. - I have obtained the enclosed affidavit which I doubt not will be perfectly satisfactory to the Hon Court of Pension, - that the affiant Catherin Wiggins has, sufficient date, by which she is enabled to return the date of the marriage, so that she cannot be mistaken- I have the honor to be very respectfully Your humblest 
W. G. Wade  
Hon J L Edwards  Commr. of Pension Washington D.C.
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Hon Timothy Jenkins Sir, The proceedings at the Pension Office make it absolutely necessary for me to ask your assistance in the adjustment of the claim of one of your constinents, It is in the case of Anna Holmes decd an applicant for a pension under act of Congress of 7th July 1838.- The enclosed letter of the Comr of Pensions of the 18th of August, addressed to you in answer to proof you forwarded to the office, acknowledges the proof of Marriage satisfactory.-- but object to the admission of the claim, upon the ground, that "Lydia and Amos Agard, state in their affidavit that they have often heard Mr Holmes speak of her claim for Land as she refused the sign the deed, conveying her interest in such land, (and probably anticipated showing that they had swore false, by assisting, that the records in their office showed, that a warrant was paid in 1790, three years before the alledged marriage,) - from personal
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conversation at the time. I wrote the affidavit of Lydia and Amos Agard,- with them, know they had no reference whatever, to the Bounty Land recd from the United States - but alluded in the County Land recd from the State of New York, as they mentioned in particular, the quantity of Land, allowed said Thos Holmes, and its location.-- Upon proof being furnished ,that the Land, recd by Thomas Holmes from the State of New York, was not conveyed, untill two years, after the date of their marriage, and that his wifes name was not borne upon the deed, which conveyed such land, - which fully corroborates the statements of the children, that that their mother had refused to sign the deed,-- the Department, appear to take the advantage of such circumstance, by claiming it as proof-- that they were not married untill after that date, I can not believe that if the Commr of Pensions examinath papers personally he will adhere to his former decision, that - the proof of Marriage is satisfactory which he aperted was the case, in the enclosed letter, addressed to you on the 18th of August,
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Should it be otherwise please give me the report, upon the claim, and I will lay it before the Secretary of War, If not admitted please return with the report the enclosed letter, the one of the 18th August in particular I am very Respectfully Yr. Obed Svt. 
W. G. Wade 
Rose Wayne Co NY December 11 1844
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Rose New York June 18th 1845            
Sir                    
I beg leave to present the enclosed Declaration, and proof in support of the claim of Lydia Agard of New York and Catharine Dean of the only surviving children of Anna Holmes late the widow of Thomas Holmes, a soldier of the N Y line, of the Revolutionary War - for arrears of Pension as due under act of Congress of 7th July ,38. 3d March ,43 and 17th June ,44.                       
I very respectfully request the honor of refering the Hon Commr of Pensions to the particular dates set forth, by which the affiants am entitled to know the exact date of Marriage of the parties, &c         
 I have the honor to be                
Very respectfully Your humble Svt                  
W G Wade
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 State of New York Oswego County }ss Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Miles Burlison of the town of Amboy in the County of Oswego in said State who being first duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that he is sixty years of age and that he was personally acquainted with the late Widow Anna Holmes Widow of Thomas Holmes for near those thirty years previous to her death and that from his first acquaintance with her he has always understood and firmly belived that the statements made by her Relative to the Revolutionary services of the Late Husband Thomas Holmes and of her marriage to him that she always invariably made the same Statements relative to his services and thence Marriage that deponant has had her State Repeatedly that she was married to Thomas Holmes in the town of Stillwater Saratoga Co NY. By the Rev. Mr. Powers a Baptist preacher and that said Thomas Holmes had been a Soldier of the Revolutionary War. that he Enlisted for during the war and remained to the close and Recd for his services a lot of Land laying in Cayuga Co NY which he disposed of after the Marriage Contrary to her wishes and that he would not or did not sign the deed when he sold it and that he lived with her but a few
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 years after their marriage before he left home & was absent some time after which he returned and lived with her a short them this deponent further says that he was acquainted with the said Thomas Holmes & Anna Holmes at the time they lived in the town of Still Water was where the said Anna Holmes Removed from Stillwater to the town of Deerfield by deponant removed to Deerfield same time & from Deerfield Deponent & said Anna Holmes Removed to Amboy Oswego Co NY & Berry Personally acquainted with her circumstances says he was wholly Dependant on her friends for her support and had been [crossed out] for a number of years Sworn and Subscribed Before me Miles Burlison [signature] this 22nd day of June 1847 Miles Burlison who I certify to be a credible person John P Hasselkus             
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York Osego County }ss Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Amos Agard of said County aged fifty three years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to Law Deposeth and saith that he was personally acquainted with the Late Widow Anna Holmes widow of Thomas Holmes for more than twenty years previous to her death and that from his first acquainted which her he has always understood and firmly believed that the statement made by her relative to the Revolutionary service of her late Husband Thomas Holmes and of her marriage to him that she always invariably made the same Statements relative to his service and there Marraige that deponent has had her State Repeatedly that she was married to Thomas Holmes in the town of Stillwater Saratoga Co New York by the Rev Mr Powers a Baptist Minister and that said Thomas Holmes had been a soldier of the Revolutionary War that he Enlisted for during the war and served to the close and Recd for his services a Lot of Land Lying in Cayuga Co NY which he disposed of after his Marriage Contrary to her wishes and that she would not nor did not sign
the deed when he sold it and that he lived with her but a few years after this marriage before he left home and was absent several years after
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Which he returned and lived with her a Short time and then the left home after which he did not return to live with his family but died in Vermont about the year [crossed out] 1835 that as to the objection that it is considered improbable that Mr Holmes would have refused to Relinquish her dower Right in the Land Granted for the same of her husband in the Revolutionary War and still neglected to assist her Right for such down since his death this deponant would state having been personally acquainted with her during such time he well knows that it was not because She did not consider her Claim last but that it being some time after his decease before she was informed of it that is of his death and having been aged and very infirm and perfectly destitute of any means the employ any person to prosecute such claim and not having any Relatives that are able to assist her in the informing such rights being wholly depend and for her friends for her support it was quite impossible for her to prosecute Such Claim  Amos Agard his mark
 Sworn and Subscribed before me this 22nd day of June 1847 Amos Agard whom I - Certify to be a credable person 
John Hasselkus Justice of the Peace
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State of New York Oswego County ss Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Lydia Agard of the town of Amboy in the County of Oswego and
State of New York. Who being first duly Sworn according to Law deposeth and Saith that she is a child of the Late Anna Holmes late the widow of Thomas Holmes this deponent further says on account of Whose Revolutionary service a pension is claimed, that from her earliest Recollection her said mother always stated that
her said husband Thomas Holmes Saith his Right to Bounty Land Granted for his Revolutionary service after their marriage and that she the said Anna Holmes did not on the deed when such Land was conveyed that her said father Thomas Holmes remained with his family but a few years after their marriage when he left home and was absent for some time when he returned and tarried a short time When he again left home and did has return to live with his family and that it was some length of time after his death before deponants mother was informed of it and being perfectly destitute of any means whereby she might obtain the assistance of a person to enforce her dower Rights having no sons to assist her and her son in Laws and other
Page 41

Relations neither being able to or capable of Rendering her the necessary assistance and being very infirm having been for Several years previous to her death past all Labour and almost helpless and entirely dependent upon her friends for her support, which being taken into consideration, together, with the fact that the place where she has resided has been in a new and Back part of the County at a distance from any town or vilage there the would have been likely to have obtained assistance, it can not be construed as Evidence that her statements were not true.   
Lydia Agard             
Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd day of June 1847 Lydia Agard who I certify is a Credable witness      
John P Hasselkus  Justice of the Peace                       
State of New York Oswego Clerks Office }ss I. Jabez H. Gilbert Clerk of said County do hereby certify that John P Hasselkus before whom the foregoing Depositions were taken & whose name is subscribed to the certificate annexed thereto was at the date of said deposition a Justices of the Peace in & for the said County & duly authorized to take the same & to administer oaths & affirmation, and further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice & verily believe the signature to the said Certificate to be genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this 6th day of July 1847 J. H. Gilbert Clerk
Page 42

UTICA Ang10 N.Y. 
 W. G. Wade Esq Rose 
 Wayne Co NY.
Page 43

 State of New York Oneida County ⎬ ss Personally appeared before the subscribed George Barnard- Justice of the peace in and for said County Katharine Wiggins of Rome in said County aged Seventy three years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that she was married in the year 1780 according to the record
annexed that she was a resident of Stillwater
Saratoga County New York for several years after her marriage.-- that she distinctly recollects that the spring following the birth of her second child John Wiggins, which was in October 1752 as for the annexed record Thomas Holmes who was then a resident of said place, lost his wife, and
that within the short space of about four months
he was again married to Anna Sickels who was then a resident of said town, that this deponent is positive, and cannot be mistaken, as to the marriage of said Thomas Holmes to said Ann Sickles taking place in the summer of 1783, in the month of August that for the birth of her child aforenamed, which she knows was at the time stated the she is positive and cannot be mistaken. that the Family record hereto annexed
is the identical and original record containing the true dates of the marriage of this deponent and births of her children, and that this record has been in use as the true record for upwards of thirty years, and that previous thereto from the time of the events recorded herein a record had been kept from which this is truly copied.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 4th day of August 1845     Katherin Wiggins her mark George Barnard J.P. 
W G Wade attest 
I certify that the above named Catherine Wiggins is a highly respectable person in whose word can and should he placed implicit confidence and that for want of practice she is unable to write George Barnard
Page 44

State of New York Owen County ⎬ss Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County Annin Wiggins of Rome in said County aged Seventy Eight years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that the family record hereto annexed is the original old family record which has been kept by this deponent and his wife Catherine Wiggins for upwards of thirty years. that it contains the true record of the events therein recorded, that this deponent at the time of his marriage and for several years after, was a resident of the town of Stillwater Saratoga County New York. that while a resident of that town, [crossed out] before and after this deponents Marriage - he was personally acquainted with Thomas Holmes, who lived near neighbour to this deponent and who this deponent always understood and believed had done several years service in the Revolutionary War, that much was said relating to his bounty Land, which he was to receive for his service, that said Thomas Holmes, lost his first wife in the spring of 1792. One thousand seven hundred and ninety three that this deponent distinctly recollects that the next spring after the birth of this deponents second child John Wiggins, which was the spring of 1783 that he is positive and cannot be mistaken in assisting that he married said Anna Sickles within about four months after the death of his first wife. That he is positive it was in the summer of 1793 in the month of August which he knows from the birth of his second child as above stated, according to the Record and Sworn and subscribed before me Anning Wiggins  this 4th day of August 1845 George Barnard Justice of the Peace
Page 45

I certify that Annin Wiggins aforenamed is a highly respectable person, in whose statement is and should be placed implicit confidence George Barnard J.P [signature] State of New York Clerks Office Oneida County ss J. Delos Dewolf, Clark of the said County, certify that George Barnard Esq, was on the 4th day of August 1845 a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Oneida, duly elected, and qualified to act as such, and that the signatures above written purporting to be those of the said Justice are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my Official Seal & subscribed
my name this 9th day of August 1845 Delos Dewolf Clerk for James Edgar Dep. Clk Mr D Wolf Rose Aug 8/45 
Please and real & certificate at seal and the and of the debt as fee to me-- return papers to me return of mail. Respy Your W.G. Wade
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State of New York Saratoga County and ss Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Jerusha Hunt of Stillwater in said county aged 89 - years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that she was a resident of the town & County in which The now resides before the Revolutionary War and has been, a resident of the same place
from that time untill the present, with the
exception of a few years during the Revolutionary War at which time he resided in
Dutchess Co NY. That she was personally acquainted with Thomas Holmes (who was a
resident of the same town of this deponent) before the Revolutionary War, that he was some years a soldier in the Revolutionary War, that she well recollects said Thomas Holmes Married for his second wife Anna Sickles with whom this deponent was equally well acquainted, as her parents lived within one half mile of this deponent, that she well recollects the time of the second marriage of Thomas Holmes, when he was married to said Anne Sickles, as she this deponent was a regular attendant at the church where Elder Powers preached and that the church in which he preached was within one mile of where this deponent then lived, and that soon after the death of his first wife, said Thomas Holmes, Married said Anna Sickles, that this deponent did not see them married as it was but a few days before her confinement, at the birth of one of her children named Zilpha (always called and written by her father Joseph) that this deponent distinctly recollects the time of the marriage and the circumstances attending it, as she lived very near the church, and well recollects that said Thomas Holmes came to the house of the deponent, the same day on which he was married, which is recollected from the fact that he remarked to this deponent relative to his marriage to said Anna Sickles, that he (said Thomas Holmes) he surprised the people very much as they did not think of attending
Page 47

attending a wedding when they came to Church- That the circumstance of his being married so soon after the death of his first wife, (which took place the spring previous to his marriage with Anna Sickles [Sickles written over Pickles], that it occasioned much talk in the neighbourhood, that she is positive as to the Marriage having here, in the month of August 1793, Seventeen hundred and ninety three, from the circumstance aforementioned his, that they were married in the month of which this deponent was confined at the birth by her child Zilpha as she distinctly recollects the reason why she was about from church, that as in the truth of the statement of this deponent [as he states, inserted] the respectfully refers the department to the record of the birth of her child above named, which is hereto annexed, that this is the old original record made by this deponents late husband Thomas Hunt, That the birth of the child above refered to, with most of the other writing is in the hand writing of said Thomas Hunt and that this identical record hereto annexed has been in use for more than thirty years one she believes this to be the old record made by her late husband more than sixty years ago but knows it has been more than thirty years since it was written as he had the been dead about twenty Eight years, Sworn and subscribed before me the 23d day of July 1846 Jerusha Hunt [signature] Subscribed & Sworn before me this 23rd 1846 day of July 1846 Hiram A Ferguson, Justice of peace [signature] I certify that the above named Jerusha Hunt is a very respectable person, in whose statement under oath should be, and is, placed the most implicit confidence and that she is a person of uncommon good memory for [a person, crossed out] one of her age, that being of as good intellect and as strong mind as most a persons are of sixty the ward Sickles & Respectfully dureth up gram the words "as to duties" interlined before executed Hiram A Ferguson Justice peace
Page 48

STATE OF NEW-YORK.
SARATOGA COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, SS.
I, JAMES W. HORTON, Clerk of said County, do hereby Certify that Hiram A Ferguson before whom the annexed Affidavit was taken and whose name is thereunto subscribed, was at the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and duly authorized by law to take the same; and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Hiram A Ferguson and verily believe that his signature to the said affidavit is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County, this 24th
day of July 1846
[seal]
James W Horton CLERK	
Mr. Jerusha Hunts Family register taken out of Mr Holmes papers and place Mr H. care
Page 49

State of New York
Secretary's Office

I certify that it appears by the military Register in this office that on the first day of February 1777 Thomas Holmes enlisted as a soldier in the Fourth New York Regiment Capt. Titus's Company to serve during the war and that he was Ministered to January 1782.

Arch. Campbell
Dep Sec of State

Albany Aug 27 1845

25 cents
Page 50

State of New York Saratoga County ss Personally appeared --- before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County Nancy Ford of the town of Stillwater
in the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty One gives and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that she has resided in the town of Stillwater aforesaid, from her earliest recollections untill about the year 1825, since which time she has lived in the and the adjoining County and that she was personally acquainted with Anna Sickles soon after the close or of the Revolutionary [war, inserted] and with Thomas Holmes to whom said Ann Sickles was married in said town of Stillwater by the Rev Mr Powers about the year 1793, in the Baptist Church in said town on Sunday, the month, and day of the month or the [exact, inserted] year, she is unable to state positively but she distinctly recollects that it was in the summer season, it being very warm weather at the time,- as deponent was present and saw them married, she knows that they were lawfully married, and from deponent personally acquaintance with said Ms Holmes and with Mrs Jerusha Hunt what has given her affidavit relation to the marriage deponent has full confidence in their
Page 51

statements relating to the exact time of such marriage
Nancy Ford
Sworn and subscribed before me this 17th day of July 1848}
George W. Neilson Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named affiant is a highly credible person.
George W. Neilson Justice of the Peace
Page 52

State of New York Saratoga County ⎬ ss. Jerusha Hunt of the town of
Stillwater in said County and State, being by me George Wilson duly sworn according to law deposeth and with the an affidavit in the year 1846 relating to the Marriage of Anna Holmes, an applicant for a pension under act of congress of 7th July 1838 on account of the Revolutionary services of her late husband Thomas Holmes.-- That this deponent was personally acquainted with said Thomas Holmes and Anna, whose
name before her marriage to said Thomas
Holmes was Anna Sickles, before and after
their marriage, and with said Thomas Holmes
before he entered the service, and that said the
Holmes resided with his first wife in a house within which was within one hundred rods of the house in which deponent now lives, and where she has resided for more these seventy years and it being upon the farms of deponents husband, the field in which the house of said Thomas Holmes was situated, is known at the present
time by the name of "the Holmes lot", that the said Thomas Holmes who married Anna Sickles was the identical person who done service for several years in the Continental here [crossed out] of the United States Army and for which service he always stated that he was entitled to receive, and did receive a title to same five hundred acres of land lying in the
Page 53

he has been personally acquainted with Jerusha
Hunt whose affidavit is hereto annexed for between forty five and fifty years, - that this deponent officiated as Deacon of the Baptist Church the town of Stillwater for about twenty years, from the year 1815, untill he removed from said town of Stillwater into the town of Saratoga, [Springs, inserted] during all of which time said Jerusha Hunt was a
worthy member of said Church, and lived
here for some time previous, and with which
church he holds the same relation and
that this deponent has the most implicit confidence in her statements relative to the marriage of Thomas Holmes and Anna Pickles, and that deponent was acquainted with Anna
Holmes lot the widow of Thomas Holmes,
and knows that said Thos Holmes left her
soon after their marriage, and did not live
with her for several years, - and that after he
had left her and while he was absent the
said Anna Holmes came to deponents and worked in his house, in his [said Thos Holmes, inserted] absence, and that from deponents acquaintence with him he should have full confidence in any statements she should have made relative to her own marriage. Isaac Patrick 
Sworn and subscribed before me
this 15th day of July 1848. By Deacon Isaac Patrick whom I certify to be a person of the highest credibility, George W. Neilson Justice
of the Peace
Page 54


State of New York County of Saratoga ⎬ ss. Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Deacon Daniel Munger of the town of Stillwater in said County aged sixty three years & upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law saith
that he has been a resident of said town and County for upwards of fifty years past, that during [all of, inserted] which time he has been personally acquainted with Jerusha Hunt who has given her affidavit relative to the marriage of Thomas Holmes & Anna Sickles, who were formerly residents of County & town aforesaid, with whom he was also acquainted and who were reputed to be man & wife - that this deponent has been a member of the Baptist Church in this town for more than thirty years, and has been deacon of the same for upwards of twenty years past and that the aforesaid Jerusha Hunt has been for more than thirty years past a worthy member of said Church, and from his personal acquaintance with her, he believes full confidence should be placed in his statements relative to the marriage of said Thomas Holmes & Anna Sickles [crossed out] Sworn and subscribed before me this 17th day of July 1848 Daniel Munger [signature] by Duncan David Munger whom I certify to be a highly credible person George W. Neilson Justice of the Peace
Page 55

State of New-York
County Clerk's Office,

I, JAMES W. HORTON, Clerk of the County of Saratoga, do hereby certify, That George W Neilson whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed Instrument, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, one of the Justices of the Peace, of the County of Saratoga, dwelling in said county ; duly authorized to take such proof or acknowledgment. And that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Justice and verily believe that his signature to the said Certificate or proof of acknowledgment is genuine. And that said instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the Laws of the State of New-York.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my name, and affixed the Seal of said County, this 27th day of July in the year 1848.
James W Horton      Clerk.
Page 56

State of New York     }
_________ County       }   Personally appeared upon the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said county Catharine Wiggins of Kerne in said county, aged seventy three years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that she is the identical person who gave her affidavit for the purpose of establishing the date of the marriage of Thomas Holmes, formerly a soldier of the Revolution, and late the husband of the late Anna Holmes, deceased, to Anna Sickles, who was the identical person and widow that Thomas Holmes left at his decease, as stated in the former affidavit, and she further states that she is positive as to the date of the marriage of said persons of having been in the Month of August (1793) one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, from the facts that she knows and _____ recollects that she attended the funeral of said Thomas Holmes first wife in the spring of 1793 One thousand seven hundred and ninety three, as she distinctly recollects the event of her death as being within a few days of the death of the wife of the deperen___ husband brothers wife, when lived on the same farm in the immediate vicinity of the depercent, from the facts of this deponents second child being born in October 1792, and she knows that she attended her husbands brothers wife during her sickness and distinctly recollects and knows that the second child of the deponent - John Wiggins, who was born in 1792 in the month of October, as _______ stated, was a small child at the time not over five or six months of age, this she knows from the event that this deponent was called upon and did nurse the child of her husbands brothers wife at the time of her death, and she knows Thomas Holmes first wife died within a few days of the death of the Mother of the child which deponent nursed and that she distinctly recollects that much was said at the time in the neighborhood respecting Thomas Holmes marrying so soon after the death of his first wife, which was within the short space of four or five months it being in the summer, after the death of his first wife in ____ she is peretive and covents ______.
Sworn and subscribed before me        }                         her
this 7th day of November 1849           }      Catherine    X    Wiggins
                                                                                      mark
George Barnard Justice
I certify that the above named Catharine Wiggins is unable to write for want of practice that the word "husband" in the above official was interlined before executed, and that said Catharine Wiggins is a highly respectable person of intelligence and _____ good memory for a person of her age.
George Barnard Justice of the Peace