Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22577, Thomas Wells, N. H.

Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.H.

Wells, Thomas
Wells, Anna
Former widow

NUMBER
W22577
B.L.Wt. 348-60-55
B.L.Wt 3574-100-
Issued Jan 28,1790
James Patterson assignee
of Thos. Wells

REMARKS
This soldier's widow married Nathaniel Wells - W 18308

Page 2

294,168 Act mar 3 / 55
Sept 20 / 58
Anna Wells
Wid of
Thomas Wills Dec'd
Private
-
Ad. 60 Ac,  Sept. 30 / 58.
Revolutionary War
Specl.
B.

N.H. 2d Feby 48 - 3962
wt: 3574 for 100 ac, p'd Jany 28/90
L. D.
Stevens Esq
Concord
N. Hampshire

[written on top at an angle]
Wt. No. 348 is'd Oct 4/58

[left margin on edge]
Oct 18/58 Warrant returned for signature of Commissioner
L. D. Stevens Concord N.H. TP[sp]

Page 3

[printed form, blanks filled in by hand]

5962
New Hampshire
===========
Anna Wells
widow of Thomas
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a pvt &  Corpl
===========
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
84 Dollars ----
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
===========
Certificate of Pension issued the
22 day of Feby 1849
and sent to
Hon C. H. Peaslee
H of R [House of Representives] 
===========
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 160 Vol 1.

Let to Hon C. H. Peaslee
H of R

Reported
Feby 22/49

Page 4

State of New Hampshire 
Secretary of States Office,
I Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benjamin Wadleigh is an acting Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Merrimack duly  commissioned & qualified; that his commission was dated on the 8th day of Jany 1833 and will expire on the 8th day of October 1853. And that Benjamin Wadleigh is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the State of N. Hampshire duly commissioned & qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 21st day of May 1839 and will expire on the 21st day of May 1844. I also certify that Israel W. Kelly is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the State of New Hampshire duly commissioned & qualified; that his commission was dated on the 9th day of Jany 1843 and will expire on the 9th day of Jany. A.D. 1848 and that the signatures of Benjamin Wadleigh and Israel  W. Kelly to the annexed instruments are genuine
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said State this 11th day of March A.D. 1844
[signed] Thomas P. Treadwell
Secretary of State

[illegible Court Seal affixed lower left]

Page 5

Theophilus Lovering of Raymond N.H. aged eighty four years depose and and say that I well knew Thomas Wells who served as a private and corporal in Reids Regt in the Revolutionary war. he was married the next year after the close of the War, that he died in a few weeks after he was married, he was drowned in Goffstown N.H. I do not know the name of his wife.
Witness
[right] his
[right] Theophilus    X   Lovering [X being his mark in liu of signature] 
[right] mark

Witness
[signed] Mary Brown

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss. January 24th 1844.
Personally appeared Theophilus Lovering above named and made oath in due form of law that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me 
[signed] Israel W. Kelly Justice Peace throughout the State of N. H.

Page 6

10646
Declaration of
Anna widow of
Thomas Wells

Page 7

10644
Anna Wills former
widow of Thomas Wells
N H
Act 7 July 1838

m 84 a 84

Page 8

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows
On this fifteenth day of February eighteen hundred and forty four personally appeared before me Benjamin Wadleigh a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Merrimack, Annie Wills a resident of Wilmot in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire 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 benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows
That she was the wife and afterwards the widow of Thomas Wells who was a private and Corporal in the Army of the Revolution that he served in the New Hampshire line in in the Regiment commanded by Col. George Reed It is her belief that he served a[s] private over three years and as a Corporal about two years She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Wells

Page 9

at Sandowne New Hampshire on the nineteenth day of April Seventeen hundred and eighty four that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Wells died at Goffstown New Hampshire in the month of June seventeen hundred and eighty four and left her his widow that she afterwards was married to one Nathaniel Wells that that her husband the said Nathaniel Wells died in Franklin on the third day of October eighteen hundred and thirty one and left her a widow and that she still continues his widow that she was not married to the said Thomas Wells prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz at the time above stated
[right] her
[right] Anna   X   Wells [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Witness
[signed] Birya Wadleigh [sp]
[signed] John Woodbury, jr.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written Before me
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh A Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Merrimack

I hereby certify that by reason of age and bodily infirmitythe above named Anne Wells is not able to attend Court and for that reason the above declaration was taken at her residence in Wilmot N.H. Before me
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh as above

Page 10

Marriages recorded by the Rev Samuel Collins of Sandown.

One thousand seven hundred and eighty four nineteenth April were married, Mr Thomas Wells and Miss Anna Bean both of Sandown.

I certify that the above is a time copy from a book of record belonging to the town of Sandown, now in my possession with the exception of the date, which stands on the book in fair legible figures as follows, to wit
" 1704 - 19 April"
[signed] George F. Griffin, Town Clerk

I George F. Griffin depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the town of Sandown County of Rockingham State of New Hampshire and have in my possession the records and belonging to said town and that the foregoing is a true copy from said records, with the exception of the date as above certified by me.
[signed] George F. Griffin Town Clerk of Sandown N.H.

State of New Hamphire Rockingham County ss. August 17th 1843
Personally appeared the above named George F. Griffin and made oath in due form of law, that the above copies and certificates by him subscribed as Town Clerk of Sandover N.H. were true[sp].
Before me [signed] Israel Kelly Justice Peace Throughout the State of N.H.

Page 11

I Nancy Woodbury aged thirty three years testify and say that I am the daughter of Anna Wells  of Wilmot N.H. widow of Nathaniel Wells deceased that my father the aforesaid Nathaniel Wells died at Franklin N.H. on the third day of October eighteen hundred and thirty one and left my mother the said Anna his widow that she has not since been married, but still continues his widow
[signed] Nancy Woodbury

Sworn to and subscribed the fifteenth day of February AD 1844 Before me
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the above named Nancy Woodbury and the within named John Woodbury are credible witnesses
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh Justice of the Peace

Page 12

I John Woodbury depose and say that Anna Wellsof Wilmot New Hampshire was the wife of Thomas Wells as I have always understood and been informed that she was married to him soon after he came out of the army at the close of the Revolutionary war that he died in a few weeks after they were married and left her his widow she afterwards was married to one Nathaniel Wells with whom she lived and had a number of children the said Nathaniel Wells died at Franklin N.H. on the third day of October eighteen hundred and thirty one and left her his widow that she has not been married since but still remains his widow I have been intimately acquainted with the family for the last fifteen or sixteen years
[signed] John Woodbury

Sworn to and subscribed this fifteenth day of February A.D. 1844 Before me
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh Justice of the Peace

I certify that the word acquainted in the above affidavit was interlined before signed and sworn to
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh as above

Page 13

I Dorothy Eastman of Danbury, New Hampshire Depose and say that Anna Wells of Wilmot, NH is my sister she was married to Thomas Wells at Sandtown New Hampshire in April A D 1784.  Thomas Wells died in June 1784 after they had lived together as husband and wife about six weeks and left her his widow she afterwards married Nathaniel Wells.  He died twelve or thirteen years ago and left her his widow and she has continued his widow ever since and is now a widow and resides in Wilmot, NH.  Thomas Wells had been in the Revolutionary army during a large portion of its continuance as it was said had been a private and Corporal or Sergant  The means I have knowing the above facts is that I resided with my sister the above named, Anna Wells, during the summer and gall after her husband, the aforesaid Thomas Wells, died and have ever since lived near her I am now over twenty four years of age.  
[right] her
[right] Dorothy    X    Eastman [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Witness
[signed] Benjamin Wailburgh
[right] Erastus B George

Sworn to and subscribed this sixteenth day of February eighteen hundred and forty four Before me
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh, Justice of the Peace

Page 14

I certify that the within named Dorothy Eastman is a credible witness
[signed] Benjamin Wadleigh Justice of the Peace

Page 15

Certificate of Sandown Clerk -
for Anna widow of Thomas Wells

Page 16

State of New Hampshire County of Merrimack ss. 
On this thirteenth day of September A. D. 1858 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Anna Wells aged ninety two years, a resident of Wilmot in the State of New Hampshire who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Thomas Wells who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and served as a private and corporal; that she is now in receipt of a Pension from the United States at the rate of Eighty four Dollars per annum under the Act of February 28 1848; that she receive her said pension from the Concord N. H. Pension Agency.
That she refers to the evidence filed in support of her claim for pension under said act of Feb. 2d 1848 for proof of the facts herein set forth, and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3. 1855. that she she has never before mode ap-

Page 17

plication or received bounty land under any Act of Congress.
[right] her
[right] Ann   X   Wells [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

We John Woodbury Jr and Betsey Wells residents of Wilmot in the State of New Hampshire upon our
oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by the said Anna Wells in our presence: that we have been well acquainted with the said declarant for the space of thirty years past and know that she is the identical person she represents herself to be in the foregoing declaration
[signed] John Woodbury Jr
[signed] Betsey Wells

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written,  and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no

Page 18

interest in the claim
[signed] Richard Sanborn Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office, Concord Sept 15, 1858
I hereby certify, that at the date of the annexed attestation Richard Sanborn was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Merrimack in said State, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In testimony whereof & have hereunto affixed the Seal of the State, the date above written.
[signed] Allen Jenny Deputy Secretary of State

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]

Page 19

[printed form, blanks filled by hand]

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51-
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Wells, Thomas GRADE Corporal LINE New Hampshire

WARRANT NUMBER 3574 and 348 -60 -55 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Jan. 28, 1790 Wt. 3574 to James Patterson, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

Page 20

Anna Wells
au
6116

Page 21

State of New Hampshire County of Merrimack ss. }
On this fifth day of August 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for said County Anna Wells a resident of Wilmot in the County of Merrimack, aged eighty 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 on the 2d Feb any, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War: That she was the wife and widow of Thomas Wells, who was a private and Corporal in the War of the Revolution and died on the [blank] day of June 1784, that she has been pensioned under the Acts of 7th July 1838, March 3d, 1843, and June 17th 1844, at the rate of Eighty four Dollars per annum and been paid at the agency in Concord State of New Hampshire.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
[right] her
[right] Anna   X   Wells [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Witness
[signed] John Woodley 
[signed] J. W. Kelly

Page 22

Sworn and subscribed on the day and above within written-
Before me
]signed] Israel W. Kelly Justice Peace

I certify, that the within declarant is personally known to me, and that the word widow was interlined before signed & sworn.
[signed] Isaac W. Kelly Jus. Peace

Page 23

[printed form, blanks filled by hand]

State of New-Hampshire.
Office of Secretary of State.
========================
I, Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Israel W. Kelly is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Merrimack duly
Commissioned and qualified. His Commission was dated on the Seventh day of Decr 1847 and will expire on the seventh day of Decr 1852 and his signature as such, to the annexed instrument is genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 11th day of August - 1848.
[signed] Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State.

Page 24

Copy of Service
from Reids book

Page 25

[accounting ledger]

Thomas Wells 4 Comy

[column 1]
For bounty land by Chester
Paid by the continent in 1777  9.8.8
ditto in 1778 & ditto 1779 24  5.4
Ballance clothing sold by [illegible] 0.5.10
Average of num sergeant  17
1781 Jany 17 gave him a certificate  34  3
L66.17.4
Paid by Bass 8/10 by Carr 8  b0.4.6
Oct 25 1780  gave Henry Finn a certificate  25.14.6  25.19
1781  Paid by Blanchan L5.5.7  
1783 July 4 certificate to Col Dearborn 18.14.5
L24

[column 2]
engaged March 19 1777 pay 9 months 23 days in 1777  l18.17.4
pay 12 ditto in 1778 13 ditto in 1779  1.8  66.17.4
1780 Mar 13 a Corpl
by 12 months in 1780  25.19

by12 months in 1780@40  L24

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 whole of said original the same having been examined & [illegible] by me. The original may be found in ledger [illegible]  Reids N.H. Regt 2nd regt" page 109 which was returned to to this office from the War Office Jany A.D. 1841.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said state this 11th day of March A.D. 1844
Thomas P. Treadwell  
Secretary of State

Page 26

8718
N. Hampshire
Anna Wells formy
widow of Thomas Wells
who was a pensioner under the Act of [Blank]
and who died on the Month June 1784
of [Blank] in the State of [Blank]
who was a Pri. & Corpl. in the Co..
commanded by Captain [Blank] of the [Blank]
commanded by Col Reed in the N. H.  line for
12 months Cor., 12 mos. Pri.

Inscribed on the Roll of Concord
at the rate of 84 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of
Sept 1844 and sent to I W Kelley 
Concord  N. H.

Total amount,  
$420.00
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by F L Swarm, Clerk,
Book D  Vol. 1  Page 45

Page 27

6116
Concord N. H.
Anna Wells forny
widow of Thomas Wells
who was a Pri. & Corpl
in the Revl. War
Inscribed on the Roll at the
84 Dollars  -- Cents per annum, to commence
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Septm  of 1844 and sent to Israel W. Kelley
Concord N. H.
[Act of March 3, 1843.}
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 23

Page 28

rep
1838
1843 Certs.

Page 29

Mr Gordon will be kind Enough to Certify whether Thomas Wells
was a war man in N. Hamp Contl. line & Recd  Pen
He alleged he was a pri. & Capt
Sept 29/58

Boynton

Land Warrant No. 3574 for 100 acres issued Jany
28th 1790, to James Patterson assignee
of Thos Wells, who was a Corp in the New
Hampshire Continental line
Room No 152
Sept. 30 /38

Page 30

348-60
Thos WElls  LWW
UR

[stamp] FREE
[stamp] CONCORD N.H OCT 11

Hon Geo. C Whiting
Commr of Pension
Washington D.C

Page 31

[Addressed envelope]
Postal hand stamp read Concord N.H. Sep 16
FREE
Hon George C. Whiting
Comr of Pensions
Washington D. C.

[written in right margin -- 294.168]

Page 32

Rev
WIDOW, & c.

File No 22.577
Anna Wells
Wid. of Thomas Wells
Corp & Rev War
Act Feb. 2d 1848, ┃
Index: Vol. M, Page 323
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 33

Concord N.H. Sept. 16. 1858.
Sir
I herewith forward the application of
Anna Wells, a Pensioner of the U.S. for bounty
land under the Act of March 3 1855.
I am very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
L. D. Stevens
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington DC

Page 34

Hon
Concord N.H. Oct. 9. 1858
Sir
I return the Land
Warrant of Mrs. Anna Wells No 348
for 60 acres for the signature
of the Commissioner as you will
see that he has omitted to append
his signature thereto.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
S. D. Stevens
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington
D. C

Page 35

Note.
This Anna Wells I had been 
receiving a pension of $40.00 a month as widow of Nathaniel Wells since 1839 and this
 application should be read in connection with that of Wells, Nathaniel, Anna, widow of,
N.H. W.. A. D. 18308.
B M Draper

Page 36

Concord N.H.    March 13th 1844.

Sir,

This comes to you with the Declaration and other papers in the application of Anna Wells, who was the wife and widow of Thomas Wells, dec'd, who was a private and Corporal in the Revolutionary war.  from the copy of the account from Col Reid's ledger, it appears that he served two years nine months & over as a private--And two years as a Corporal from March 13th 1780.

From the act of 1832 it seems that the service in that case may entitle the applicant in this case to a pension for husbands service as a private, and also for his service as a Corporal--it seems that he served four years and nine months & twenty three days in all--to wit
ys--ws--ds
2---9----23 as a private and
2---0-----0-as a Corporal--

The above suggestion is submitted for your consideration and action--
1.  Record of Marriage from ------Records.
2.  Death of Thomas Wells by Dorothy Eastman, Theophilus Lowning &c--
3.  Her continuance as a widow, by Dorothy Eastman, Nancy Woodbury and John Woodbury Jr.

Yours very respectfully,
Israel W. Kelly

Hon J.L. Edwards
Comr of pensions
Washington D.C.

Page 37

Anna Wells

Page 38

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County. SS.

On this 24th day of February A.D. 1851, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personaly appeared Anna Wells and made oath in due form of law, that she is the widow of Thomas Wells who was a Corporal in the war of the Revolution--that she is now receiving a pension from the United States at the rate of Eighty Four dollars per annum under the Act of February 2d 1848--That her said husband was intitled to a pension at the rate of one hundred and four dollars per annum, as she believes:  That she asks for an increase of her present pension to which she may be found entitled under any and all of the Acts and Resolutions of Congrefs which are applicable to her case:  that she is a resident of Wilmot in said County of Merrimack and is now a widow and of eighty-four years of age.
Anna   x her mark   Wells
Witnefs
John Woodbury
Nancy Woodbury

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first written before me--I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the named declared and believe her to be the same person she represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit--
John Woodbury Jr   Justice of the Peace

Page 39

348

60  acres

Page 40

6424
act 1843

10646
Anna Wells formerly
widow of Thomas Wells
NH

Act 7 July 1838

Adm'd 12 mo private  $40.00
...............12  "  Corpl..........44.00
..............................................$84.00

Adm'd 3 March 1843
$84---

Israel W Kelley
Concord
N Hampshire