Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,810, Cuff Chambers, Mass

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                                                            NUMBER
Mass      Chambers, Cuff (Colored)      W23810
                 Blanchard,
                                        Bette
_________________________________________________
 CONTENT                       Betsey
                                        Bettie

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4980
Maine
Bettie Chambers Col'd
widow of Cuff Chambers
Mass
who died the 8th June 1818
of  [blank] in the State of Maine
who was a pri [private] in the company commanded
by Captain Furbush of the Regt commanded
by Col. Bridges in the
line for 7 months + 9 days
_______________________________________________
Transcribed on the Roll of Portland
at the rate of 24 Dollars 33 cents
per annum to commence on the 4th day of
March 1831 + end 26 Jan 1839
when she died
________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of
November 1849 and sent to
Ai Waterhouse, North Pownal, Maine
________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-nnual allowance ending
Payable to only
surviving child.
viz
Elizabeth Roberts - Revolutionary Claim Act July, 4, 1836 Section the
Recorded by J. P. Chase, Clerk
Book  C     Vol. 1     Page 3

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Declaration
State of Maine

On this day of Mar in the year of our Lord
Eighteen Hundred and forty nine personally appeared 
before the Hon. Asher Ware, Judge of the United
States for the District of Maine - Elizabeth Roberts
a resident of Brunswick in said Maine District, aged
62 years who upon her oath makes the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision 
of the Act of Congress passed July 4th A.D. 1836,
And this declarant states that she is the only
surviving child of Cuff Chambers alias Cuff 
Blanchard and (Bette his wife) and that her father
was a soldier of the revolution, she states that her
father Cuff lived with a man in the Town of Andover
(Mass) [in margin] by the name of Blanchard in the commencement of
the Revolution and as she has heard her parents say
served eight months in 1775 and was in the Battle
at Bunker Hill.
And this declarant further states that her
father and mother removed from Andover many
years ago, to Amherst and afterwards to Leeds, Maine, 
and that her father and mother were married in 
Andover, Mass on the 16th of September 1762 and that
they had several children at the time he went into
the service, that her father died at Leeds on the
8th day of June 1818, and that her mother Bette or 
Betsy survived their said father and died in Leeds
(Me) on the 26th of January 1839, at the age of
ninety four years and upwards and that she was
not married after the death of  (her said father) her
husband Cuff, said Applicant therefore -
                                                                                   over

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claims a pension under the act aforesaid and adduces the annext testimony and then supports her claim for a pension & this Applicant respectfully requests the Hon Commissioner at Pensions and the department to examine her claim and report on the same as soon as possible & issue a certifficate to her attorney.  I, Elizabeth Roberts aforesaid hereby appoint as her attorney to act for her as though she was personally present to act, & prosecute before the Comm'r of Pensions her claim for a Pension, Viz Ai Waterhouse in the premises at North Pownal Maine.
Said applicant states that she has spared no small sum to procure the evidence annexed & that she has met the requirements of the act under which she claims & therefore respectfully requests a certifficate to be granted to her & the amount due for said service computed according to the secty's certifficate annexed showing the time of service as claimed by the said applicant and she also states that the service shown by certifficate in 1775 has been & is allowed to be 8 months.
Elizabeth Roberts
Witness
Asher Ware
Signed & sworn to before me March 19, 1849
Asher Ware

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United States of America
Maine District ss:
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Portland March 19 1849
I Geo. F. Emery Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States within and for said maine District certify that Asher Ware before whom the foregoing proceedings were had is Judge of the District Court of the United States within and for said Main District duly commissioned and qualified and full faith and credit are due to his acts as such, and the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Circuit Court this nineteenth day of March above written.
Geo. F. Emery Clerk

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Marriages of the town of Andover in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, viz
"Marriages Recorded"
"Anno Dom:"
"1762 Sept - 16 Cuff and Bette Negro Servants"
"Maryd by Samuel Phillips, Minister"
The above date is fair legible figures, and if written out at length would read seventeen hundred and sixty two September sixteenth.
other marriages of Negroes and one on the same page with the above, are expressed on the Record in the same manner, that is they are designated by one name only.
I Samuel Johnson do depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the Town of Andover in the County of Exxex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and have the Custody of the Records of said town, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town of Andover as above expressed.
Samuel Johnson  Town Clerk of the Town of Andover
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss, March 2d 1849
Sowrn before me Mark Newman, Justice of the Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston March 2 1849
I hereby certify, That at the dates of the annexed attestations Mark Newman was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; 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, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W B Calhoun  Secretary of the Commonwealth

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I Samuel Johnson Jr Town Clerk of the town of Andover in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts depose and say, That I have examined a Book of Records purporting to have been kept by the Selectman and overseers of the Poor of said town of Andover, containing the Records of Orders drawn for the current expenses of said town, and that I find orders of the following import entered on said Book, viz,
1814 May 30. An order to William Johnson 3d for cash paid the Town of Leeds for the support of Cuff Chambers - amount $4.47 -
1814 Oct 20.  An order to John Kneeland Esq to pay the Town of Leeds for the support of Cuff Chambers, amount $6.50
1815 June 22, An order to William Johnson 3d for cash paid the Town of Leeds for the support of Cuff Chambers amount $57.14
1816 Feb 28.  An order to John Kneeland Esq for cash advanced Town of Leeds for the support of Cuff Chambers, amount $40.00
And I Samuel Johnson Jr further depose and say that I was personally acquainted with the above named John Kneeland and William Johnson 3d and that they served the town many years as Selectmen and overseers of the Poor, and said Kneeland is deceased and said Johnson is still living and an overseer of the Poor and is now known by the name of William Johnson Jr.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essex, ss, March 2d 1849.
Sworn before me M. Newman  Justice of the Peace.

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BA -J/EEL
Cuff Chambers - W.23810

Mr. Albert S. Bryant
North Leeds
Maine
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Prince D'Onset and Cuff Chambers, both of Leeds, Maine, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no record found of a claim for pension or bounty land having been made to the United States based upon the military service in that war of a soldier named Prince D'Onset.  Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office.  The record of Cuff Chambers has been found and his history is furnished you herein, the data for which were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension Claim, W.23810, based upon his military service in that war.
At the beginning of the Revolution , Cuff Chambers, alias Cuff Blanchard, a black man, was a servant of Mr. Samuel Blanchard, of Dover, Massachusetts.
He enlisted as Cuff Blanchard, place not stated, in May, 1775, served eight months as a private in Captain Forbush's Massachusetts Company and was in the battle of Bunker Hill.  Because of his service, he was given his freedom and then assumed his mother's name of Chambers.
The soldier married September 16, 1762, in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, Betsey (also called Bett and Betty) maiden name not given.  Their marriage was recorded on the records of the town clerk of said Andover and they were referred to as negro servants.
The moved from Andover, Massachusetts, to Amherst and to Leeds, Massachusetts (Maine).  The soldier died there June 8, 1818,

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and his widow died at the same place on January 26, 1839.  She was aged ninety-four years at the time of her death.  The age of the soldier was not shown.
On March 19, 1849, Elizabeth Roberts, a widow, aged sixty-two and the only surviving child of Cuff and Bette Chambers, applied for the pension which was due her mother on account of the services of her father, Cuff Chambers in the War of the Revolution.  Her claim was allowed.
It was stated that Cuff and Bette Chambers had several children; the only name given is that of the above named Elizabeth Roberts.  In 1849, Lydia Gannon, a resident of Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine, stated that she was the daughter of Elizabeth Roberts, who resided with her.  The age of Lydia is not given and there are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23810
Bettie Chambers
Wid of
Cuff Chambers
Priv Rev War
Act July 4th 1836
Index: Vol.................., Page .............
[Arrangement of 1870]
1934 Dec 5- Hist
Albert A. Bryant, E E

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STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts,
Portland, May 7th A.D. 1849
Charles C. Harmon
Clerk of all the Judicial Courts.
In and for said County of Cumberland, certify that Ensign Otis is an Acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Kennebec as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is Duly Qualified To Act as such; that the Commission of the said Otis is dated February 6th A.D. 1845, and will expire February 6th A.D. 1852 and that the following Signature, purporting to be his is Genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
Chas. C. Harmon, Clerk

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I, Friend D. Lord, Town Clerk of Leeds on oath depose and say that I have in my keeping all the books of records belonging to said town.  In one of the books in my possession purporting to contain the records of deaths in said town of Leeds, I find the following entry - to wit:
Cuff Chambers, a black man, died June eighth Eighteen hundred and eighteen.  Betsy, wife of Cuff Chambers, died January twenty sixth Eighteen hundred thirty nine
Vol 1st Page 114
I further certify that the above is a true extract from the records of said town, which contain a record of deaths in said town with the exception of the dates, which are written in fair legible figures - thus-
Cuff Chambers a black man died June 8th 1818
Betty wife of Cuff Chambers died Jany 26th 1839
Friend D Lord
Town Clerk
State of Maine
[illegible] S S Leeds April 19th 1849 the above was subscribed and sworn to.
Before me Eunjor Otis  Justice of the Peace

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Mr Ai Waterhouse
North Pownal
Maine

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I William Johnson Jr of Andover in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts depose and say that sometime between the years 1810 and 1816 I served as an overseer of the Poor of the town of Andover, and that a correspondence was conducted by a Mr. Francis of Leeds, an overseer of the Poor of that town and the overseers of the Poor of Andover respecting Cuff Chambers, a pauper at that time residing in the town of Leeds and claiming a settlement in the town of Andover.  And I have a distinct recollection that Mr. Francis disignated said pauper in the correspondence by the name of Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard, Andover acknowledged the settlement of said pauper, and at the request of the overseers of the Poor of Andover I visited Cuff at Leeds, and have a perfect recollection that he told me that in Leeds he called himself and was called by others Cuff Chambers and that when living in the town of Andover he was called Cuff Blanchard, and I have no doubt that Cuff Chambers of Leeds and Cuff Blanchard of Andover were one and the same individual, on recurring to the Book of Records for the town of Andover of orders drawn by the Selectmen and overseers of the Poor I find several drawn in my favor for cash paid the town of Leeds for the support of Cuff Chambers and orders drawn in favor of John Kneeland for cash paid for the support of Cuff Chambers resid-

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ing in the town of Leeds.  And I further depose and say that the overseers of the Poor of Andover would have removed Cuff Chambers to the Almshouse in Andover if they had thought it would have been for the interest of the town of Andover.
Wm Johnson Jr
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss.  March 5 1849.  Personally appeared William Johnson Jr above named and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me,
Samuel Johnson Jr Justice of the Peace.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office Boston March 15 1849I hereby Certify, That at the date of this annexed attestation Samuel Johnson Jr was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; 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, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W B Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
March 8th 1849
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Cuff Blanchard is borne upon a Muster Roll of Capt Charles Furbush's Company in Col Bridges' Regt, as a private of Andover from May 28 to August 1 1775 2 months and 9 days (so stated upon the roll).
Upon an Order of said Company for Coates dated "November 21 1775"
No Return of said Company for 1775 in this office.
The name of Cuff Chambers not found.
The preceding is all the evidence of service of any one of the name shown by the Military Records in this Office.

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To the Honorable Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Elizabeth Roberts respectfully requests the Secretary to furnish from the Rolls Books & Documents which relate to Military service in the War of the Revolution all the evidence of service performed by her late father Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard as haveing enlisted from Andover as a private in the year 1775.  Said applicant thinks that

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificated above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have herunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W B Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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Application of Elizabeth Roberts for the evidence of Revolutionary service performed by her late Father, Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard who died in Leeds, Me, January 8th AD 1818.
To the Honorable Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Elizabeth Roberts respectfully requests the Secretary to furnish from the Rolls Books & Documents which relate to Millitary service in the War of the Revolution all the evidence of service performed by her late Father Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard, as haveing enlisted from Andover as a private in the year 1775.  Said applicant thinks that she has heard her said Father say that he enlisted sometime in May 1775, & served about 10 months, and was in the Battle of Bunkers Hill & also something about Military Coats.  She also thinks that he served in Capt. Furbush's Company, said Applicant states that she has heard her said Father state that he was a servant of a Mr. Blanchard before he enlisted into the war, & he enlisted into the service with the promise if he would

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enlist and serve that he would give to him his freedom.
She alsto states that she has heard her late said Father say that his name was originally Chambers, but enlisted into the service by the name of Cuff Blanchard because he went by that name because his master was called Blanchard & that all other colored servants went by the sir name of their Masters, and also that after he obtained his freedom he again went by his original name Cuff Chambers.
Elizabeth Roberts
State of Maine
Cumberland ss. February 22 AD 1849
Signed before me
Ai Waterhouse
Justice of the Peace

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No 7557
Bettie Chambers dea
Wid of Cuff
Mr
Act 4 July 1836
Married 1762
Husband died 1818
widow died 21 Jany 1839

Service 7 mo 9 days
Adm 7 mo 9 days
$24.33 p ann
pd 4 March 1831 to 24 Jany 1839 the day of her death payable to her only child Elizabeth Roberts
Ai Waterhouse
North Pownell Me.

Ai Waterhouse of North Pownal Maine is the attorney in the within claim for a pension
May 10th 1849

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State of Maine.
Cumberland, ss.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts,
Portland, April 28th A.D. 1849
Chas C Harmon
Clerk of all the Judicial Courts,
In and for said County of Cumberland, certify that
Ai Waterhouse is an Acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Cumberland as appears by the paper hereto annexes' that he is Duly qualified to act as such; that he Commission of the said Waterhouse is dated Feby 13th A.D. 1845 and will expire Feby 13th A.D. 1852.
And that the following Signatures purporting to be his are Genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
Chas. C. Harmon Clerk

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State of Main Cumberland County,
I, Sarah McDonnald of Brunswick Cumberland County in the state of Maine aged fifty years, on oath Testify and say that I was well acquainted with Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard and his widow Betty Chambers and their children.  I also Testify that Elizabeth Roberts now of Brunswick formally of Leeds Maine, is one of the children of the aforesaid Cuff and Bette Chambers deceased and that they died in said Leeds, Me. and also that the aforesaid Elizabeth Roberts is the only living child of the aforesaid Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard and his widow Bette Chambers deceased.  I also testify that said Bette Chambers died a widow about the year of our Lord 1839.  I also Depose and say that the aforesaid Cuff, stated to my own certain knowledge that he was formally a servant or, rather a slave, and was owned by a man by the name of Samuel Blanchard of Andover Mass, and, slaves was called by the name of their masters, and further, that he has often stated that his mother told him when he obtained his freedom that he would be called by her name which was Chambers, and also that he the said Blanchard served in the army of the Revolution by the name of Cuff Blanchard, because he served for his freedom
Sally McDonald
State of Maine
Cumberland County, ss. Brunswick April 16th A.D. 1849.  There personally appeared the above named Sally McDonald a credible witness and made oath in due favor of case that the foregoing affidavit by her signed is true.
Before me.
Ai Waterhouse
Justice of the Peace

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I, Lydia Gannon of Brunswick in the County of Cumberland in the State of Maine of lawful age on oath Depose testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard deceased for forty years passed, and also his wife and widow Bette Chambers deceased, And I testify that the above named persons died in Leeds Maine & the aforesaid Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard was reputed in his lifetime to have been a soldier of the army of the Revolution, for the reason of his anecdotes which he frequently rehersed , and one thing he used to state was that when he served that he answered to the name of Cuff Blanchard for the reason that he stated that he was a servant of one Samuel Blanchard of Andover Mass, And also that his friends frequently called him Cuff Blanchard while he was living in the town of Leeds state of Maine & that he state that his mother told him that when he obtained his freedom that he then could call his name as it should be, that was, Cuff Chambers after his parents, & this was the reason that he took the name of Chambers.  I also testify and say that the said before mentioned Bette Chambers was the wife and widow of the aforesaid Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard deceased and that she died a widow about the 26th of January AD 1829, in Leeds, Me. & that she said C Chambers alias C. B. died about the year 1818, in June. I further testify and say that Elizabeth Roberts of Brunswick, state of Maine is my mother, and that she lives with me, and that I do know that she is the child and only living child of the aforesaid Cuff & Bette Chambers deceased.
Lydia Gannon
(State of Maine)
Cumberland County ss Brunswick April 17th a.d. 1849.  There personally appeard the above named Lydia Gannon a credible witness and made oath that the foregoing afficavit by her subscribed is true Before me Ai Waterhouse Justice of the Peace

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North Pownal May 11th A.D. 1849.
Messrs, of the War Department, and to the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
This Applicant Elizabeth Roberts has now furnished all the evidence to support the claim now presented, that she can produce, and it has now thur far cost a considerable money and a great deal of labor to procure the evidence herewith transmitted.
She wishes me to state that she is of feeble health & will also state that she believes her claim for the pension which the laws provid is honest and just, & therefore she would most respectfully & humbly request your Honors to examine the said claim and if you find it to be just, to forward a certifficate to her Attorney named in her Declaration made according to the acts lf Congress for her pension.
I here beg leaf to ask a prompt attention to this claim, & examine as soon as you receive it, if possible, for the claimant much wants the pension to help support her now while she is of feeble health.
Most respectfully your Obt Servt
Ai Waterhouse
Please Address to North Pownal Maine
Hon
Comm'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.

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May 10th 1849
Dear Sirs, Permit me to ask you whether you have overlooked Mrs. Sarah Mayberrys Pension claim, I will add and say that it has been about the usual time since the said claim has been forwarded to the Department for examination.
Mrs. S. Mayberry's claim is for Rebolutionary service rendered by her husband Thomas Mayberry a late pensioner of the U.S. deceased late of Westbrook Maine, who has claimed for a pension.
I will also ask as above stated, after Mrs. Thankful Purly of Danville Maine, widow of Joseph Peuly a late Pensioner of the U.S. who has claimed for a pension, in which case I am known as the attorney in her behalf.
Please to report, as soon as this is recived
Respectfully 
Ai Waterhouse

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S.W. Bend Me
July 12th
To the Hon.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington
D.C.

July 16/49
Elizabeth Roberts

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North Pownal, Maine, July 10th A.D. 1849.
J. L. Edwards Esq
Dear Sir, I write in behalf of Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts of Brunswick Maine, Mrs. Roberts being a widow and a claimant for a Pension, on account of her late mother not claiming or obtaining while she lived, which Pension was due by the several Acts of Congress passed for the relief of widows and orphans of Revolutionary soldiers, She most respectfully requests the Hon. Commissioner to examine her claim for said pension (it being all ready a long time since her claim was presented to be allowed,) and forward her certificate to her Attorney in the claim aforesaid, as soon as possible, She also will state to the Honorable Department that it has cost her a considerable of a sum to furnish what evidence as she has furnished thus far, and she would also state for the consideration of the Commissioner that she is very poor and that she will have to call soon to the Town for assistance, provide that she does not receive her pension soon, Therefore she calls the attention of the Commissioner of Pensions to her claim as soon as he receives this letter,  Most Respectfully Your humble servant
Ai Waterhouse Attorney
in the claim of E. Roberts daughter and only daughter of Cuff & Betsy or Betty Chambers (formally Cuff Blanchard) Deceased in town of Leads, Maine.

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P.S. Claimants name is Elizabeth Roberts of Brunswick Maine, - for service of her father Cuff Chambers deceased of Leeds Maine.  Her mother's name was Bette or Betsy widow of said Cuff Chambers alias Cuff Blanchard when a slave, (of one Blanchard) of Mass.

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Additional Testimony in the Revolutionary Pension Claim of Elizabeth Roberts child of Cuff & Bette Chambers deceased.
Address
Ai Waterhouse
North Pownal
Maine

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North Pownal Maine, Sept 1849
Dear Sir,
I hope the testimony which I now forward to you in the case or claim of Elizabeth Roberts, will be satisfactory and it is humbly requested that you forward a Certificate in the case as soon as you receive this enclosed testimony, if you find that it is Justice to issue the same,
Most Respecfully &c
Ai Waterhouse
N. Pownal Me

Hon
J.L. Edwards
Commis'r of Pensions

P.S.
Permit me to say that if you will be so kind as to reexamine the said claim, that you will find the testimony, which is no reqeusted by you, was forward with Mrs. Roberts claim when she made her Declaration & it is therfore hoped that you will forward the certificate as soon as you receive this,
Respectfully &c  A.W-

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Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Cumberland and State of Maine, Jane Hill & Hannah Bailey both of Brunswick two reputable and disinterested witnesses who are both aged ladys, who upon oath severally state that they have been well acquainted with Elizabeth Roberts for many years, who is the child of Cuff & Bette Chambers and known that she was the only surviving child of said Cuff and Bette Chambers deceased,
Hannah Bailey
her X mark
Jane Hill
her X mark
Wm H. Freeman
State of Maine,
Cumberland ss. Sept, 11th A.D. 1849.  Then personally appeared the above named Jane Hill & Hannah Bailey of Brunswick and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit by them subscribed before me
Ai Waterhouse Justice of the Peace

Page 34

I Lydia Gannon of Brunswick in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine of lawful age Depose testify and say that I am well acquainted with Jane Hill of Brunswick aforesaid, and that she belongs to the society of people called Friends, and that full reliance can be put in hre testimony in and out of Court, and further that she is an aged lady, and a person of credibility and undoubted veracity, And I, Lydia Gannon aforesaid Depose testify and say that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Hannah Bailey of Brunswick aforesaid a Pensioner of the United States, and that she also is a woman of undoubted veracity in and out of Court, and that she belongs to the Society of people called Friends and is a woman of high respectabillity,
Lydia Gannon
Witness
C.E. Hill
State of Maine
Cumberland ss Brunswick September 17th A.D. 1849.
Then personally appeared the above named Lydia Gannon who is well known to me to be a credible witness in and out of court and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is true Before me.
Ai Waterhouse
Justice of the Peace
& Quorum

Page 35

I Hannah Bailey of Brunswick in the County County of Cumberland and state of Maine, aged 84 years old Depose testify and say that I was well acquainted with Cuff Chambers and his wife and widow Betty Chambers deceased and also his family, I testify and say, that I do know that Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts was the only surviving child of Cuff and Bette Chambers deceased at the time Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts made her Declaration for a pension, and the only surviving child, and further that I have been well acquainted with said Cuff and Bette Chambers from the first 24 hours after they came to the town of Leeds, Me, where they afterwards lived and died, and that I am a pensioner of the United States of America,
Hannah Bailey
her X mark
Witness  Cornelius P Van Ricker
Wm. H. Freeman
State of Maine
Cumberland ss September 17th A.D. 1849.
There personally appeared the above named Hannah Bailey aforesaid, a person of known respectabillity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit by her subscribed is true,
Before me  Ai Waterhouse Justice of the Peace & Quorum

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I Jane Hill of Brunswick of Cumberland County and state of Maine, aged eighty five years last April Depose testify and say that I have been acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, that she is a child and was the only child of Cuff & Bette Chambers deceased at the time she made her claim for a Pension, and the only surviving child as aforesaid.
Jane Hill
her X mark
Witness  Tobias Hill
State of Maine
Cumberland ss Brunswick September 17th AD 1849
There personally Appeared the above named Affiant Jane Hill a respectable and credible witness and affirmed that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is true
Before me  Ai Waterhouse  Justice of the Peace & Quorum
I Tobias Hill of Brunswick Cumberland County and State of Maine of lawful age solemnly swear that the affiant above described viz, Jane Hill is a credible witness in and out of Court
Tobias Hill
State of Maine
Cumberland ss Sept 11th 1849, There personally appeared the above Tobias Hill and made in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit by him signed before me Ai Waterhouse Justice of the Peace

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Payment to be made at Portland by Wm Woodbury Agent for paying pensioners, in the Agency of Maine
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book  Volume  Page
by J P Chase Clerk

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Department of the Interior
Claim for Military Service.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States,
of the (begin handwritten portion)
4th July 1836, Bettie Chambers dec'd, late of Maine, who was a 
private in the Revolution and died
on the 8th June 1818, is inscribed 
on the roll of pension at the 
rate of twenty four dollars and 
thirty three cents per annum, com-
mencing 4th March 1831 and
ending 26th January 1839, the day
of her death.
The amount is due and payable 
to her only surviving child, viz
Elizabeth Roberts.

Given at the Department of the Interior,
this 13th day of November
one thousand eight hundred and forty- nine.

Page 39

Bette Chambers
Me
Letter Ai Waterhouse 3d  Sept 1849
Act 4 July 1836

Page 40

BA-J/EEL
Cuff Chambers- W.23810
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War claim for pension, W. 23810, based upon the military service of Cuff Chambers, alias Cuff Blanchard in that war.
At the beginning of the Revolution, Cuff, a black man, was a servant of Mr. Samuel Blanchard, of Dover, Massachusetts.
He enlisted as Cuff Blanchard, place not stated, in May, 1775, served eight months as a private in Captain Forbush's Massachusetts Company and was in the battle of Bunker Hill.  Because of his service, he was given his freedom and then assumed his mother's name of Chambers.
The soldier married September 16, 1762, in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, Betsey, also called Bette and Betty, maiden name not given.  Their marriage was recorded on the records of the town clerk of said Andover and they were referred to as negro servants.
They moved from Andover, Massachusetts, to Amherst and then to Leeds, Massachusetts (Maine).  The soldier died there June 8, 1818, and his widow died at the same place on January 26, 1839.  She was aged ninety-four years at the time of her death.  The age of the soldier is not given.
On March 19, 1849, Elizabeth Roberts, a widow, aged sixty-two years and the only surviving child of Cuff and Bette Chambers, applied for the pension due her mother on account of the services of her father, Cuff Chambers, in the War of the Rebolution.  Her claim was allowed.
It was stated that Cuff and Bette Chambers had several children; the only name given is that of the above noted Elizabeth Roberts.  In 1879, Lydia Gannon, a resident of Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine, stated that she was the daughter of Elizabeth Roberts, who resided with her.  The age of Lydia is not given and there are no further family data.
To be sent if ever called for.
It was written just to have a record of negro soldiers.
I did not use state report because it only gave him credit for 2 mos & 9 das.  Identified Capt Forbush as in Bridgers Regt 8 mos in service

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Received Nov 23 934
Mail Sub-Div.
Reader 19
Vets. Adm.
North Leeds, Me.
Nov. 22, 1934
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs;
Accrding to the History of Leeds, Me., the following persons were soldier's in the Rev. War; Prince D'Onset and Cuff Chambers (A negrow), acording to the records of the Town Clerk of Leeds, Me.; Cuff Chambers (a black man) died in Leeds, Me., June 8, 1818, I have been unable to find any record showing that these men served in the Rev. War, is it possible to settle the matter in Washington, as to whether these men did, or did not serve in the Rev. War., if so I shall be very thankfull for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Albert S Bryant