Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 701, Russell Ballou, Vt.

Page 1

SERVICE
Vt.

 Ballou, Russell
Bebee

NUMBER
W.701

Page 2

5048
New Hampshire
=============
Russell Ballou
of Swaney in the State of N Hamp
who was a Private in the Compay [sic] commanded by Captain Pratt of the Regt commanded by Col Fletcher in the N Hamp
line for 7 months 
=================
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Hampshire
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=================
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Feb
1833 and sent [illegible] H Hubbard House of Reps
================
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $34.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33   11.69
=====
$46.66
===========
{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book D  Vol 1st   Page 144

Page 3

9509  
Declaration
of Russell Ballou

op Swanzy Chishmi [illegible]

Page 4

State of New Hampshire
Cheshire County SS -
On this twenty fourth day of January AD 1833. personally appeared Russell Ballou known to me as the Identical person who subscribed & Made oath to the foregoing declaration, and now on oath deposes and says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below & in the grade therein mentioned - From seven months I served as a private. and for such service I claim a Pension. - that he did not procure any evidence to his said service when he first made this application because ['his service' marked out] it was New Hampshire service - that he now makes a deposition to his said service. - [Russell Ballou marked out] That he was born in Cumberland Vt in the year 1763 - That there is a record of his age on the town book in said Cumberland - was a volunteer in his said service - recollects no officers or Regiments - none where he was mentioned except the Regt to which he belonged. Did not receive any written discharge. -
Russell Ballou
Subscribed & Sworn to
the day & year aforesaid
Before me Thomas M Edwards
Jus Peace. -

Cheshire January 24 1833
I Salma Hale clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature in said county certify that Thomas M Edwards is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and that he foregoing official signature is his. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of said Court.
S. Hale, Clerk
[seal affixed at left]

Page 5

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832
State of New Hampshire,}
County of Cheshire}
On this Eighth day of August 1832 personally in open Court. Before the Hon Aaron Matson Judge of the Court of Probate for Said County of Cheshire -
now sitting, Russell Ballou, a resident of Swanzey in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged 69 years last July who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he served in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary Army as follows In May 1781. enlisted for 6 months in Capt. Pratts Company N. Hampshire troops marched from Richmond & formed The Regt Commanded by Col Fletcher at Castleton Vermont stayed there about 3 months then went to Skenesborough went out in a scout to Fort Ann heard firing & expected an engagement but it proved to be the rejoicing of the troops with the news of Cornwallis surrender, returned back to Skeneborough and remained there till into December, making some scouts eight months I was dismissed there.

Went from Richmond in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire into the service - in which place I then resided

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Russell Ballou

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before me Aaron Matson Judge of Probate

Page 6

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [all marked out]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, [last ten words marked out] that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appear to them [last ten words marked out]
Aaron Matson Judge of Probate

I, Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate for said Count of Cheshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Russell Ballou for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August A.D. 1832 -

Asa Parker {Register of the Court of Probate

See Vol 3 Bounty paid & service [illegible] Richmond 15 men 1787 - 10.16 8 p 57

Page 7

Russell Ballou
No 9509

The requirements in the
5, 11, 12, 13 & 17 interrogatories
in the brief not 
complied with

[illegible]
T.M. Edwards
Keene
N.H.

Page 8

Brief in the case of Russell Ballou
of Swanzey in the State of N Hamshire
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3.  How old is he? 68 years
4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[four columns] Period./Duration of Service. - Years, Months, Days./Rank./Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.

May in 1781/ 4 mo, 4 to 5 mo/ Pratt/ Capt Pratt
Col Fletcher

5.  In what battles was he engaged? not stated
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Richmond N.H.
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? neither
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no witness evidence or proof

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

D D Addison Examining Clerk.

Page 9

1671
New Hampshire, Concord,
Bebee Ballou
widow of Russell Ballou
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Private
[illegible]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
23 Dollars 33
Cents per annum, to commence on the 3 day of February 1853 [4th day of March, 1848 marked out]
Certificate of Pension issued the
1st day of Septr/53
and sent to
S.D Stevens
Concord N.H.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act Feby 3/53 [July 29, 1848 marked out] Page 13 Vol. A Feby 3/53
1832

Page 10

State of New Hampshire.
Office of Secretary of State.

I, John L. Hadley, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Larkin Baker is an acting Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Cheshire duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 12th day of November 1841 and will expire on the 17th day of September 1864 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State, this 24th day of March 1853.
John L. Hadley, Secretary of State

[seal lower left]

Page 11

State of New Hampshire.
Secretary's Office, Concord.
March 24, 1853
I hereby certify: That at the dates of the annexed attesting George F Starkweather and Lewis Campbell were Justices of the Peace for the county of Cheshire
in the said State, duty commissioned and qualified; and that to their 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 State, the date above written.
John L Hadley
Secretary of State

Page 12

State of New Hampshire County of Cheshire SS - on this fifteenth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty three, 1853, personally appeared before me the Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County in the State aforesaid Bebee Ballou a resident of Swanzey in said County aged Seventy six years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress passed February 3rd 1853. That she is the widow of Russell Ballou who was a Private in the war of the Revolution that at his death he was in receipt of Pension from the United States at the rate of 23 33/100 Dollars per Annum payable at the Concord N.H. Agency. She further declares that she was married to the said Russell Ballou on the Sixteenth day of April in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty nine 1829 in the town of Swanzey aforesaid, that her name before her said marriage was Bebee Mellen, that her husband aforesaid died in said Swanzey on the twelfth day of November A.D. 1847. That she was married at the time above stated & that she was a widow at the passage of the Act. And is still a widow and that she has never before made application for a pension.

Bebee X her mark Ballou

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me in open Court, and I certify that Bebee Ballou aforesaid is a respectable resident of this County and is the same person she represents herself to be in the foregoing declaration.

Larkin Baker Judge of Probate

Page 13

The following marriages were solemnized by me -
April Sixteenth Eighteen hundred and twenty nine. Mr. Russell Ballou of Royalston Mass and Mrs Bebe Mellen of Swanzey.

Elijah Belding} Justice of the Peace
Recorded for Elijah Sawyer} Town Clerk 

I Joseph Hammond Jr certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the Exception of the date which is expressed on the recording as legible figures as follows, April 16. 1829.
Joseph Hammond Jr} Town Clerk

I Joseph Hammond Jr depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town of Swanzey Cheshire County & State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me.
Joseph Hammond Jr} Town Clerk

Sworn to and Subscribed Before me this twenty first day of February 1853. George F. Starkweather Justice of the Peace

Page 14

We Alonzo Ballou and Lincoln Wheelock of Swanzey, in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire depose and say that Bebee Ballou whose application for Pension under the act of Feb.3.1853 was on the date Feb. 3, and still is the widow of Russell Ballou who was a Revolutionary pensioner. We further state that Russell Ballou her said husband died at the time she states, to wit, Nov. 12, 1847 and that we are not interested in the issue of her said application.
Alonzo Ballou
Lincoln Wheelock

Cheshire SS Subscribed and sworn to before me March 15, 1853. And they are credible persons. I certify that I am not interested in this cause.
Lewis Campbell Justice of the Peace

Page 15

Rs[illegible]y
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 701
Bebee Ballon Widow
Russell Ballon Pri Rev. War
Act: Feb. 3, 1853
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 28
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 16

April 8, 1853
No 2179
Appl of Bebee Ballon widow of Russell Ballon
N. H.
5048
Act 3d Feby [February] 1853
$23.33 per Annum
Com. Febry [February] 3d 1853,
Rev:
L. D. Stevens
Concord
N. H.
[Typed] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office, Official Business

Page 17

[Postal Envelope]
[Postmark "Concord N.H. Sep 3"]
on Loren P. Waldo
Comm of Pensions
Washington D. C. 
Bebee Ballon
Wid
Russell
S 
Geddes HBB
[stamp "FREE"]

Page 18

[Postal Envelope]
Hon Loren P. Waldo
Comr of Pensions
Washington City D. C.
[Postmark "CONCORD N. H. APR 8"]
S
HBB
[Stamped "FREE"]
[Stamped "FREE"]

Page 19

I Richard Wastcoat of Warwick in the County of Franklin and commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy one years of age depose and say that in the summer of 1781 either in June or July I with Russell Ballon of Swanzey
in the County of Cheshire and State of Newhampshire [New Hampshire] enlisted both of us into Captain Prats Company, Cole of
Richmond and Cooke of Keane [Keene] were the Lieutenants. Capt Prat belonged to Chesterfield we enlisted for six months we marched immediately after we enlisted from
Richmond aforesaid to Castleton in the State of Vermont there we were stationed I think about three months from thence we marched to Skensborough in said Vermont now
known by the name of Whitehall and there we
each of us served our time out making six month
and some more, I think that our troops were called Newhampshire [New Hampshire] militia or Newhampshire [New Hampshire] State agents
I believe the said Russell Ballon to be sixty nine
years of age at this time
Richard Wastcoat
Cheshire ss January 23rd 1833 this Richard Wastcoat personally appeared and made oath that the above affadavit by him subscribed was just and true
Before me Joseph Weeks Justice of the Peace
Cheshire ss January 23rd 1833 we hereby certify that Richard
Westcoat signer of the above affadavit is a man who sustains a good moral character for truth and Verasity and is a man who is to be believed under Oath
Joseph Weeks Justice of the Peace
Jonathan Rawson Justice of the Peace

Page 20

Cheshire ss. January 24. 1833
I Salma Hale clerk of the Superior Court
of [Illegible] for said County certify
that Joseph Weeks is a Justice of the peace
in and for said county - and I believe
that the two foregoing official signatures
of his name are in his own
hand writing. - In testimony whereof
I hereunto affix the seal of said Court
S. Hale
Clerk
[Illegible Seal attached to page]

Page 21

Russel Ballon
No 9509
Hon: H Hubbard
HR
[Illegible]
T. [illegible] Edwards
Keene N. H.

Page 22

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Russell Ballou which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No--

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

Page 23

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? None but the third

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For -------- year ------- months and ------- days, I served as a ------. For ------ months and -------- days, I served as a -------; and for such service I claim a pension."

Page 24

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase 'about three or four months' is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. 

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service. 

In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed. 

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. 

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Page 25

Ballou

Page 26

Brief in the case of Bebee Ballou, widow of Russell. Cheshire County and State of New Hampshire.
act 3rd Feby: 1853.

Claim, ("original,")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under the act of 7th June. 1832.
Record evidence of marriage.

(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?

L. D. Stevens Esq}
Concord, N.H.
Name and residence of Agent

G. C. Boynton.
Examining Clerk.

Page 27

Concord NH April 5 1853

Sir

Herewith forward you the application Bebee Ballou wid of Russell Ballou, for Pension under the Act of Feb 3 1853.


Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
L D Stevens

Page 28

Concord N.H. Sept. 3 1853

Sir,

On the fifth day of April 1853 I forwarded to your office papers in the application of Bebee Ballou [underlined] widow of Russell, for pension under the Act of Feb 3rd 1853 and have heard nothing from the case since I fear it may have been overlooked.
I wish respectfully to call your attention to said case and that you will report to me concerning the same.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
LD Stevens