Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5255, Samuel Wessels, New Jersey
Page 1

Service
New Jersey

Wessels, Samuel
or Wessells
Houghton, Hannah
Number
R 5255
Contents
This woman's last husband, Silas Houghton, also served in the Revolutionary War.
(Former widow)
Page 2

Additional evidence in the case of Hannah Houghton Widow of Silas Houghton formerly of Samuel Wessels.
Act July 7, 1838 [illegible]
Additional Evidence First presented in July 1849
Please Report to me
Page 3

State of New York,
City and County of Albany, Clerk's Office, SS.
YCUN
SEAL
I, Lawrence Van Deusen, Clerk of the said City and County do hereby CERTIFY, that Lemuel Jenkins, whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of Proof or Acknowledgment of the annexed instrument in writing and endorsed thereon, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the County aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, and duly authorized to take the same: And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of Proof or Acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, this 30 day of Nov 1849
L Van Deusen Clerk.
Page 4

State of New York
 City
& County of Albany ⎬ ss. I certify that I have the custody of the
Record & Registry of Marriages of St. Peter's Church, (Episcopal
in the City of Albany, and that it appears from said Registry of
Marriages that Samuel Wessells and Hannah Boon were
united in marriage on the twenty third day of June in the year
one thousand seven hundred & eighty eight. And I further
certify that the following is a true copy of the entry of land
of said marriage in the said Registry of Marriages of said Church,
showing the date of said marriage of Samuel Wessels & Hannah
11
June 23 1788 Samuel Wessells & Hannah Boon
and that the said entry or record is written in fair legible and
& figures, of which the above is an exact copy-- and that it
appears by the records of said church that the Revd Thomas Ellison
was Rector of said Church, at the duty of said marriage-
Horatio Potter
P.
I, Horatis Potter, above named, depose & say that I hold the office
of Rector of St. Peters Church above mentioned, and that the
above is a time Extract from the records of said Church, in words
and figures as above expressed-
Sworn to & subscribed this 30th day of
Horatio Potter,
No
November 1849 before me
Lemuel Jenkins
King
Com of Deedsfurther
certify that I have examined the righter
of manages I said H. Peter's Church between the
year 1788 & 1794 & do not find therein any record
of the manage of Silas Houghton & Hannah Wassells
Albany Nov. 30, 1849.
Horatio Potter
the said record is suspended for several years after
May 1791-
Horatio Potter-
Page 5

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the provision
made by the acts of Congress passed on the 7th July
1838, the act of 3rd March, 1843, June 17th, 1844, and
second. February 1848
State of New York
Warren County
of February of

On this sixth
day
One thousand Eight hundred
and forty nine
personally appeared in
open Court before the Court in and
for the said County of Warren now sitting,
Hannah Houghton, a resident of the Town of
Athol in the aforesaid County of Warren, aged
Seventy six years, who being first 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 7th July, 1838, entitled an
act granting half pay and pensions to certain
widows, and also to obtain the benefits of
the Acts of Congress of 3d March, 1843, June,
17th, 1844, and loud, February, 1848,
That she this
Declarant is now the widow of Silas Houghton,
●
who died in the Town of Hadley in the County of
Saratoga in said State on the twelveth day of
March, One thousand Eight hundred and
thirty Eight, since which time declarant has
remained his widow single and unmarried
That she was married to her husband the said
Silas Houghton on the twelveth day of Decem
ber, One thousand seven hundred and ninety
One, in the City of Albany in said State of New York
by the Revd Thomas Ellison Pastor of the ┃
St. Peters Church in said City of Albany-
Page 6

That previous to her marriage to the said Silas Houghton
on Declarant was the widow of Samuel Wessels
who died in the Town of Guilderland in the
County of Albany in said State of New York
on the first day of June, one thousand seven
hundred and Eighty nine.
That Declarant
makes this application on account of the Rev
olutionary services of her first husband the
aforesaid Samuel Wessels. That her first 
husband the said Samuel Wessels, was a soldier
of the United States during the War of the
American Revolution. That as declarant always
understood by him and which she verily believes
true, her husband said Samuel Wessels lived
during the said War of the Revolution in Morris
town in the State of New Jersey from whence
he enlisted into the service in the New Jersey Line
of troops and served about four years as a
regular soldier of the New Jersey Line. That during

some portion of his said service he belonged to
a company of Rifleman which was called the
Jersey Blues, Declarant has frequently heard him
mention the name of the Captain who commanded
this company of Riflemen but is at present
unable to recall his name to mind. Declarant
has frequently heard him mention the name of
Barber which was the name of one of the
Officers under whom he served, and Declarant
thinks that he used to call him Colonel Barber, Declarant is unable to state whether he said
husband served on more than one enlistment or
not, but has on numerous occasions heard him
relate that he served for a period of about four
years as a regular soldier in the New Jersey Line,
and that he was a during Wars man, her said ┃
husband having enlisted for during the War
Page 7

That her said husband enlisted for during the War into the said Rifle Company called the Jersey Blues and continued to serve until the close of the War when he was duly discharged from said service. Declarant believes that he enlisted at Morristown in said State of New Jersey. He has frequently told Declarant that he was one of the guard at the execution of Major Andre, and that he was present at the Capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown in the State of Virginia. That while in the said service he endured the most incredible hardship fatigues [illegible]. That shortly after his discharge from the said service at the close of the said War he came from Morristown aforesaid to Albany aforesaid where he married Declarant and from their went to live in said Town of Guilderland, that he left his discharge from the said Army at his mother's residence in Morristown aforesaid, Declarant well remembers that he brought his Rifle Dress with him which he wore while serving as a Rifleman in said Rifle Company which Dress he kept for some time after Declarants marriage to him and then sold it to James Hall who was a Brother-in-law to Declarant and who is now dead. That at the close of the said War he received a Bounty for enlisting during the War, as did also his brother Joseph Wessels who also had enlisted for during the War in the said New Jersey Line of Troops from Morristown aforesaid.
That Declarant was duly married to her first husband the aforesaid Samuel Wessels, in the City of Albany in said State of New York, on the Twenty third day of June, One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Eight by the aforesaid Rev. Thomas Ellison who was there the Pastor of the St. Peters Church in said City of Albany.
Page 8


That the following persons were present at her said
marriage, to wit, Joseph McCarger, Caty Mc
Carger, and others. That previous to her said
marriage to her first husband said Samuel Wessels
Declarant resided in Guilderland aforesaid and
fore the maiden name of Hannah Boon,
She further
Declares that the accompanying certificate of the
said Rev Thomas Ellison is her marriage Certif
icate which she received from the said Revd Thomas
Ellison at the time of her said marriage to said
Samuel Wessels
Subscribed and sworn to
in open Court being the
said County Court of
Warren County now sither

ting on the day and year by Houghler
in
Thomas Archbald Clerk
mark
State of New York
Warren
of
County ⎬ I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the Covenel
Court do had certify that it appears to the
Satisfactory to the Court that the said Hannah
Hoghton is the widow of Samuel Wessels and that the
said Samuel Wessels and seven in the Revolutionary
as stated in the foregoing Declaration against the
Common Enemy for the time of four years and it is the opinion of the
Court then the above states and the
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and
Office the Seal of the said Court and County this 6th day of Jan
Thomas Archibald Clerk
1849
Page 9

Albany June 23 1788.
This day Samuel Wessel & Hannah
Boon were married by one
Rector of Peter
Albany
a
Thompson
Page 10

Mr. Allison I believe has those papers in charge
Page 11

Additional Evidence for Hannah Houghton Widow of Silas Houghton formely Samuel Wessels a revolutionary claim.

At July 17. 1836. claim first presented in July. 1849.

Every objection has been fully meet and answerd in this case by additional evidence.

Will the Commr_ Mr_Edwards please Report this claim to me.

John J Slingerland
Bethlehem
Albany Co_
N.Y
Page 12

No 13889
Hannah Houghton
NY
July 249
to  J.J. Slingerland
 18 1849
same 10 May 1850
Simon H Jan 14, 1852.
J. S. Sept 24/53
2
act 7 July 1838
Page 13

Dec. 17-1837
In behalf of
Simon Fletcher
Seadlay, NY
[much of document id illegible]
Page 14

Act of July
8, 1872.
REJECTED
5255
---
P. O.
Hannah Houghton

Service: widow of Silas
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
18
18
-
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert.
of Dis. Searched for
18
Page 15

Sir,
Washington DC
August 12, 1853
I herewith enclose additional evidence
in the case of Hannah Houghton for a Pension
under the act of 1838, for her first husbands
Service (Sam: Wessel to whom Bounty Land was
granted, as a Warsman in the New Jersey line,
and call your attention to the case at your earliest
convenience
Johns
To the Commiss
Very Respectfully
Pensions
M. T. Neely
Page 16

no answer necessary
March 2/52
Page 17

Respected Sir
Hadley N December 3d 1851
On the first day of last month I put all
into the postoffice directed to you requesting information
in relation to a certain point, but has received and
Supposing therefore that either your letter or mine
has been miscarried or lost, I here repeat the substanceof

my former communication.
aged woman, the widow of Silas Houghton, resides
in this town, Her maiden name was Hannah Born
she was formerly the wife & widow of Samuel Wessels
who served his country 7 years as a soldier in the Revolution
war, having enlisted in Moretown Newjersey in 1778 &
served to the close of the war. He beloved to a company
called the Jersey Blues, was at the taking of Cornwaltic,
one of the Guard at the execution of Andrew &
Four years ago last June a man by the name of
J.B. Stiligernant of Barneys ville Schoberry County
undertook to obtain a pension for her two years
last February the writings were made out & the
went with him to Lake George & made oath to them
delivered them to him. Since which time she has
heard very little from him for about the mouths
she has read from him no communication
all. He retains her writings but do not informher
what has been done in relation to her case
-
Presuming that you have own to the list of purious,
at her request write to you for information
to this matter will you have the goods or to inform me
at the earnest pound
proceed Divet to Hadley New York
Saratoga County
your City Simon Fletcher
[unable to see image. Had to rely on extracted text  ???]
Page 18

No 13889
Hannah Houghton
widow of Silas

Act 7 July 1838
Married before 1794
first husband died 1787
second husband died" 1838
Page 19

Sir
Pension Office
May
1850
The additional widence in the case of
Hannah
sufficient
Houghton Widow of Silas Houghton is
to establish their marriage to
1794. but upon a further investigation of all
it appears that he died at much earlin
pend than is shown by the declaration
-
Page 20

Nov. 8th 1851
on behalf of 
.
Hannah Houghton
Saml Wessell
Simon Fletcher
PAID
Saratoga
[letter folded to be posted}
Page 21

Hadley New York Saratoga County
Novemb 1st 1851
Dear Six
An aged lady resides in this town, the widow
of Silas Houghton & formerly the widow Samuel Wessels
of the township of Albert, in the County of Albany, in this
state where she was married to said Samuel Wessels.
her maiden name was Hannah Bonn. Her first his bond
---
Samuel Wessels, she informs me, served four years
a Soldier in the Revolutionary war. He joined a company
called the Jersey Blues in the State of New Jersey in 1798 &
served till the close of the war, he was at the taking
Cornwallis, & was one of the guards at the execution of Major Andre

Four years ago last June T.B. Singnentof
Barney Ville Shakeny County of this state called
on her & undertook to arrest her to obtain a pension
& two years ago the 7th of February last the writings
were prepared & she went to Lake George & made oath to them,
& the delived them up to him, & she has received no
communication from him for ages & a half part, & has
received no direct information whether her petition was
accepted or reputed
at her request I now write to
you sir to request information whether a petition of this
and has been presented, & if presented what disposal has
been made of it
Yours truly
Simon Fletcher
Page 22

Hon J L Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Page 23

Will the Comm of Pensions Mr Edwards
Please call up the Claim of Hannah Houghton
Widow of Silas Houghton formely of, Samuel Wessels
Act July 7. 1838 &
Additional Evidence. The claim first presented in
July 1849. for Revolutionary Pensioner
Respectfully yours &
Washington Decembr 10. 1849
John J Slingerland
Page 24

No 13889
Hannah Houghton
and of Saml Wessells
NY
act 7 July 1838
Clara the one of
Samuel Wessels my
Altumn
Page 25

State of New York ⎬ On this thirtieth day of October AD one
Warren County ⎬ thousand eight hundred and fifty two personally
appeared before me William Robinson a Justice of the Peace duly authorized
to administer Oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid Obediah
Peace aged Seventy Six years and upwards a resident of the town of
Qumberry County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to
law says that he has been well acquainted with Silas Houghton and
Hannah his wife ever since he was a small boy says they resided in the
town of Guilderland Albany County for many years after they were
married and Raised a family of children while they lived together
with whom he was well acquainted and is still acquainted with
.
those that are now living deponant says that he used to work for
the said Silas Houghton and has lived in his family along time in
his younger days and will understands the whole history of the said
Silas and his wife the said Hannah deponant says that the said Hann
was the widow of Samuel Wessel before and at the time of her
Marriage to the said Silas Houghton deponant says that it was reported
and believed in the vicinity where the said Silas and Hannah
resided in said Guilderland that they were married in the City of
Albany by the Same Minister that married the said Hannah to Samuel
Wessel deponant says that the said Samuel Wessel the Said Hannah
first husband was from Morristown New Jersey and that he had been
a soldier in the Revolutionary war as was reported & believed
in the vicinity where the said Samuel Wessel & his wife the said
Hatch resided deponant says that the said Hannah Houghton had
one child by her first Husband the said Samuel Wessel that he was
named Samuel after his father deponant says that he was well
acquainted with young Samuel Wessel son of the said Hannah Hang
ton untill he become a man grown and left for the western States
where he has since died deponent says that the said Silas and
Page 26

Hannah Sold their farm in the town of Guilderland and moved into
the State of Vermont on or about thirty years ago as near as deponent
can recolect says they resided in Vermont a number of years and from
thence they moved back to the State of New York in the County of Saratoga
and continued in said county untill the said Silas died which was
fourteen a fifteen years ago and deponent says that while the said Silas
and Hannah resided in the said County of Saratoga in the Town of Bay
he was at their residence very often deponent also says that he has seen
the said Hannah Many times sin her said husband died that a short
time since he was informed and believes true that the old Lady was
living in the Town of Athol deponent says that he believes that
from the knowledge he has of the said Hannah Houghton she must be
upwards of Eighty years old deponent says that he does not know of
any old persons in Guilderland that were living there at the time the
said Samuel Weel and the said Hannah lived together deponent says
that he knows that some of the first settlers that lives in the same
neighbourhood with the said Samuel Wessel are dead and some of
them have moved to parts unknown to deponent deponent says that he
know that the said Hannah was always highly esteemed for truth
and veracity & her good and correct memory has always been a subject
of remark by her Neighbours deponent says the said Hannah has been
the smalest women for business that he ever was acquainted with &c
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 30th day of October 1852
Obadiah Pease
William Robinson
Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am acquainted with Obadiah Pease
who sworn to and signed the above affidavit and
believe him to be a credible witness
William Robinson
Justice of the Peace
Page 27

State of New york ⎬
Warren County ⎬ I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the said any as
early certify that William Robinson before whom the foregoing
affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the day of the date
of the same a Justice of the peace in the for said County
and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of
said Justice and verly belove his name subscribed to the
-
a
said affiant to be his proper hand writing and Signature
In Witness whing I have hereto set my hand and affix the seal
the said County this 1st day of November 1852
Thomas Archibald Clerk
-
Page 28



State of New York SS
County of Albany
20
On this 30th day of March one thousand eight hundred
and fifty three personally appeared before me J A Brown a Justice
of the Peace duly authorized to administer Oaths within & for
the County aforesaid Rept case aged Seventy three years
a resident of the town of Guilderland in said County
of Albany and has been a resident of said town for fifty
years part and deponent says that when he first settled in
said town of Guilderland he settled very near one Silas
Houghton who married one Hannah Willis the widow
of one Samuel Willed and deponent says that it was reported ┃
insertood in the Neighbourhood where Samuel Wissel resided
that he was from Morristown State of New Jersey and that
he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war of the New Jersey
line deponant says that the said Hannah Houghton had one
child by her first husband Samuel Wissity who was quite a God
when this deponent came into the Neighbourhood of the said
Henrich Houghton and Come to School to this deponent &
deponent says that he resided near the said Silas Houghton
and Hannah Houghton for eight years taught school in their
Neighbourhood during that time deponent says that he was
intimately acquainted with said Houghton & his wife while
they lived in said town of Guilderland and Deponent says
that the said Houghton & his said wife has been back to
the town of Guilderland several times since they moved south
into the County of Saratoga and Deponent says that the
said Hannah Houghton has resided near him with one
John McKown for two or three years since her husband the
said Silas Houghton died & deponent says that he undertood
from the said Hannah, that the said Silas Haighton died
in the County of Saratoga and deponent says that the
said Hannah Houghton bore the reputation of a most
inteligent women and stood high in the Neihbourhood
Page 29

is a woman of truth and veracity and very much noted
for her correct memory in regard to put events
Russel Case
Subscribed and sworn to before
me this 30th day of March 1852
James A M Kown Justice of the Peace
I doe hereby certify that the Aforesaid
Russel case is a man of Respectability
& of truth and verasity
James McKown Esqr
Mary
.
Page 30

State of New-York,
City and County of Albany,
.
Clerk's Office.
1 Robert S. Lay, Clerk of the said City and County, and of the Courts of
Record therein, do hereby CERTIFY that James W McKown
whose name is appended to the Juryof

the
annexed Affidant
was, on the day of the date
thereof, Justice of the peace-
---
in and for
the County
of Albany, duly authorized to administer oaths for general
purposes; and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said
James A Mc Kown

verily believe
that the signature to the said Janet
is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, this first
of April
1852.
6
R S Lay Clerk
Page 31

Hannah Houghton
Dec 18, 1849
Pension Office
Page 32

Additional
Evidence for the
Widow Houghton
Please report
this claim to me
John J Slingerland
Bethlehem
Albany Co
_________________
Pension Office
Page 33

State of New York
Albany County
---
Personally appeared before
me, John Salsbury Jun. a resident of the Town of
Guilderland in said County of Albany Aged
77 years who being by me duly sworn according
cording to law doth depose and say that when he was a
boy and quite young he lived in the said town of
Guilderland in said County of Albany and was
then and there well acquainted with Hannah
Boon who then lived in said Guilderland a near
neighbor to the Deponent and who in the year of
Seventeen hundred and Eighty Eight was married
at Albany Albany N.Y. by the Revd Thomas Ellis
son to Samuel Wessels, who was reported to have
been a soldier in the War of the Revolution and who
died the next year after his said marriage and in ┃
1789. That about two years after the said Samuel Wessels
died as aforesaid the said Hannah the widow Hannah Wessels was married at said Albany by the
said Rev Thomas Ellison, to Silas Houghton of ┃
said Guilderland. This marriage took place in
the month of December in the year Seventeen
hundred and ninety one and occurred
about three years after the said Hannah was
married to the said Samuel Wessels as aforesaid
That Deponent was present and saw the said Hannah
Wessels lawfully married to the said Silas Houghton
by said Revd Mr. Ellison at the time and place aforesaid
That the said Silas and Hannah Houghton
lived together as husband and wife in
Guilderland for a few years after their said
marriage in 1791 as aforesaid and moved from
thence to the Green Mountains in the State of Vermont.
Page 34

.
and moved from thence as deponent has been  the
informed and verily believes to Hadley Saratoga to
County N.Y. where the said Silas Houghton
died about twelve years ago and left his wife
the said Hannah a widow. Their oldest child
was named Ann, and is now at least fifty seven
years of age. That the said Samuel Wessels and the
said Silas Houghton were both of them reputed to have
been soldiers of the United States in the Revolutionary War
Subscribed and Sworn to ⎬
before me this 8th day of ⎬
January A.D. 1850.
John Salsbury Jun
Alfred Conger Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above Deponent said
John Salsbury Jr, is a person of truth and
veracity and a credible witness and that the
foregoing deposition is entitled to full
faith and credit.
Alfred Conger Justice of the peace
Page 35


State of New York
Albany County
Personally came before me
Harman Salsbury, a resident of the Town of Wester
to in said County of Albany aged 78 years
who being by me duly sworn recording to law
doth depose and say that when he was a boy and
quite young he lived in the Edge of the present Town of
Guilderland in said County of Albany and was
then and there well acquainted with Hannah Boon
who then lived in said Guilderland near this deponent
and who in the year of Seventeen hundred and Eight
ty eight was married at Albany N.Y. to Samuel Wessell by the Revd Mr. Ellison of said Albany, said
Samuel Wessels was reputed to have been a soldier in
the Revolutionary War, and he died the next year in 1789
That about two years after the said Samuel Wessels
died as aforesaid the said Hannah the widow Hannah Wessels was married at said Albany by the
said Revd Mr. Ellison to Silas Houghton of said
Guilderland. This marriage took place in the month ┃
of December in the year Seventeen hundred and
Ninety one and accurred about three years
after the said Hannah was married to the said
Samuel Wessels of aforesaid, Deponent was present
and saw the said Hannah Wessel's and the said
Silas Houghton lawfully married to each other as aforesaid,
That the said Silas and Hannah Houghton
lived together as husband and wife in said Guilderland
for a few years and moved from thence
as was then reported and believed to the Green
Mountains in Vermont and from thence as De
ponent has been informed and believes true to
Hadley Saratoga County, N.C. where the said
to
Page 36


Silas Hughton died about twelve years ago. That ┃
that year after the said Silas and Hannah
were married as aforesaid, and in 1792. Deponent
worked for the said Silas in said Guilderland
and they then had one child named Ann then
about a year old and who is now living is at
least fifty seven years of age. That the said Samuel Wessels and the said Silas Houghton were both
of then reputed to have been soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
Subscribed and Sworn to before
Herman Salsbury
me this 8th day of January A.D. 1850.
Alfred Conger Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above Deponent the
said Harmon Salsbury is entitled to full
faith and credit, he to personally known to
me and is a man of truth and veracity
and a credible witness and that his statement
in the within affidavit can be relied
upon as correct.
State of New York
Albany County
Clerks Office
---
---
Alfred Conger Justice of the Penn
I Robert S. Lay
Clerk of
the said County of Albany and of the County Courts thereof
do hereby certify that Alfred Conger Esq. before whom
the foregoing and annexed affidavits of Hermon Salsbury
and John Salsbury Jun. purport to have been sworn and executed
was at the date of the said affidavit an acting
Justice of the Peace of Westerloo, in and for the said County duly
elected and qualified, and duly authorized by law to take
the same; and that the signature to the Jurats and Certificates of the said affidavits purporting to be that of the said
Justice is genuine and in the proper hand writing of
the said Alfred Conger as such Justice
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the Seal of the said County on this 21st
day of January A.D. 1850.
R.S. Lay Clk
Page 37

State of New York
Schoharie County of
I Catharine Eldredge
a resident of the Town of Seward in said
County of Schoharie aged 79. years being
duly sworn according to law do depose
and say that when I was a young girl I lived in
the present town of Guilderland in the present
County of Albany and in said State, and that I was
then and there well acquainted with Hannah Boone
Boon who also then lived in said Guilderland and
who was married at Albany N.Y. to Samuel Wesels
in the summer of the year 1788, said Wessel died
the year 1789. The said Hannah remained the widow
of said Samuel Wessels about two years and then
married Silas Houghton who then also lived in said
Guilderland. That in the fall of the year Seventeen
hundred and Ninety one the said Hannah, then
widow Hannah Wessels, was duly married to the
said Silas Houghton at Albany N.Y. by the Revd
Thomas Ellison the English Minister at said Albin
in my presence and I saw them lawfully married
to each other at the time and place aforesaid,
After their said marriage in 1791 as aforesaid
the said Hannah and the said Silas Houghton
lived together as husband and wife in said Guilderland for several years and had a family of children
the oldest of which was Ann, and if now living is
about fifty seven years of age. That after the said
Hannah and Silas were married as aforesaid I
lived with them and worked for them in their
family for about five years in said Guilderland
when I went to live in Schodack where I
lived nearly two years when I married Andrew
Page 38

Eldredge, I was married to said Eldredge on the
14th day of August in the year Seventeen hundred &
Ninety Eight. The said Hannah and Silas Houghton
were married to each other about seven years before
I was married as aforesaid, the said Ann
their oldest child was at least six years of age
when I was married in 1798, as aforesaid
some years after their said Marriage in 1791 as
aforesaid the said Silas and Hannah moved
from said Guilderland to the Green Mountains in
Vermont and from thence as I was afterwards
informed and verily believe true; to Hadley
Saratoga Co. N.Y. where the said Silas died about ┃
twelve years ago and left the said Hannah a widow.
the said Samuel Wessels and the said Silas
Houghton were both reputed and believed to
have been soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
Subscribed and sworn to ⎬ Catharine Eldredge
before me this Second
day of January A.D. 1850
Jacob H Diefendorf Justice of the Peace of
Roane
said County of Schoharie
I hereby certify that the above affiant is per
truth
sonally known to me and is a person of
and veracity and a credible witness and of
sound mind and good memory and that the
above affidavit is entitled to full
faith and credit.
Jacob H Diefendorf
the peace of Schoharie Co
Page 39

ss
State of New York
Schoharie County
10 Hannah Slingerland
a resident of the Town of Cobleskill in said
County of Schoharie, aged 88 years being duly
Sworn according to law doth depose and say that
when she was a girl and before she was married
she lived in the Town of Bethlehem in the County
of Albany & State of New York and lived there in time
of the War of the Revolution and for many years
after the close of said War. That deponent was well
acquainted with Hannah Boon who when a girl
lived about four miles from Deponent in the Edge of
the town of Guilderland in said County of Albany
That the said Hannah Boom as was then currently
reported and believed was duly married to Samuel
Wessels at Albany N.Y. in the Summer of the
year 1788 by the Revd Thomas Ellison then Minister of
the English Church at said Albany, and that the said
Samuel Wessels died the next year and in 1789 &
was said to have been a soldier in the War of the Revo
lation. That in the fall of the year 1791 the said Hannah the widow Hannah Wessels was duly married
to Silas Houghton at Albany aforesaid by the
said Rev. Thomas Ellison. That Deponent was not
present at the said marriage but well remem
bers the report thereof at the time it occurred. That
after their said marriage the said Silas Houghton
Hannah lived together as husband and wife in
Guilderland for several years and moved from thence
as she understood and verily believes to the State of
Vermont and from thence to Hadley Saratoga Co. N.Y.
where the said Silas died about twelve years ago
& left the said Hannah his wife a widow. That
Page 40

my daughter Elizabeth was born February 5th, 1790, and the
said Hannah and Silas were married as aforesaid in the
fall of 1791 and before my said daughter was a year
old. This circumstance I well remember,
Subscribed and Sworn to before
me this 4th day of January Hannah Slingerland
A.D. 1850.
mark
Elijah Dickinson Justice of the sale of said County Schoharie
I hereby certify that the above Deponent said Hannah
Slingerland is a person of strict integrity truth &
veracity, and a credible witness and that the foregoing
affidavit is entitled to full faith and credit that
she is an aged person but possesses a sound mind
and good memory for a person of her advanced
age, and that she does not write her own name in
consequence of the infirmities of age,
Elijah Dickinson Justice of the peace of the County
State of New York
Schoharie County
of Schoharie
---
Loring Andrews
Clerk of the said County of Schoharie in said
State of New York do hereby certify that Elijah
Dickinson Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit
purports to have been sworn and executed, and also that
Jacob H. Diefendorf Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit of Catharine Eldredge purports to have been
Sworn and executed were lack and both of them
at the date of the said affidavits acting Justices
of the Peace in and for the said County duly
elected and qualified and duly authorized to
take the same; and that their respective signatures
to the Jurats and Certificates of the said
affidavits are genuine.
I
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of the said County this 7th day of January 1850.
Loring Andrews Clerk
Page 41

Hannah Houghton
Power of att
Widow Rev soldier
State New York
Act 1838
J
Thos Neely
Page 42

know all men by these presents that I Hannah Houghton
of the County of Warren and State of New York and the
widow of Silas Houghton deceased who was a Revolutionary
Soldier do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint John S
Neely Esqr of Washington City my true and lawful attorney
for me and in my name to examine into and prosecute my
claim for a pensions against the General Government
which may be due me by virtue of my deceased husbands
Service in the Revolutionary war and the sand acts of
conquess in relation thereto I hereby confirm whatsoever my
said attorney may do or cause to be done legally in the
prosecution of said claim I revoking any other authority I may
have given to any other person in the premises whatsoever
In witness witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 23d day of December 1857
Sealed and delivered in
1
frome of
Hannah Houghton
John H. Cameron
Harmon Van Tassel
State of New York on the 23d day of December 1851
County of Warren personally appeared before me Hannah
Houghter and acknowledged the above power of attorny
to be her act and deed and I certify that I know the said
Hannah Houghton and that she is the person above named
and who quited the above power of attorney
John H Cameron Justice of the same