Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19,200, William Dunton, Mass. Vt.

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Mass.     Dunton, William  W. 19,200
Vt.                        Mary

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Vermont 18.550
William Dunton of Dorset, in the State of Vermont, who was a private [inserted above line] Corp. SSgt in the  company commanded by Captain Lemuel Stewart of the Regt. commanded by Col. Easton in the Mass. ma. line for 
11 mo. 14 da. Private, 
21 da. Corporal,
1 mo. 19 da. Sergeant

Inscribed on the Roll of [blank] at the rate of 48 Dollars 88 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Sept 1833 and sent to S. Swift, Manchester, Vt.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833          $122.20
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '34  $24.44
[Total]                                                    $146.64

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by EW Brown -- Clerk
Book E.  Vol. 3  Page 60

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3412
Vermont Poultney
Mary Dunton widow of William [illegible] who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 48 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1849.
Certificate of Pension served the 26th day of July 1849 and sent to S.A. Peugh [sp?], Present

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Letr to [illegible] 49

Reported
Reported [Apr or Sept] 16, 49

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State of Vermont County of Bennington.  On this 1st day of August in the year 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Myron Clark Judge of the Probate Court, for the Probate District of Manchester in the County of Bennington & the State of Vermont, now sitting, William Dunton, a Resident of the Town of Dorset in said County of Bennington aged 77 years, 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 7, 1832.
     That he was born in the Town of Western in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts on the 7th day of January AD 1755.  & he has understood by his Parents, that there was a Record of his age made in the town Records of said Town of Western - that in the month of October 1760 as he believed, he removed with said Parents to the Town of Williamstown in the County of Berkshire & said State of Massachusetts - where he lived until some time in the month of October 1780.
     That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
     That some time in the month of July 1775 as early as Last July has now believes, he enlisted at said Williamstown, for the term of six months in the Company commanded by Capt. Leml Stewart,  Lieut. Ezekiel Blair, but the names of the Ensign [inserted above] Jas.  Easton [end insert] he does not distinctly remember,  in the Regiment commanded by Col. Easton [inserted above line] & Maj. Brown [end insert] in the Massachusetts line - [inserted above line] State Troops as he believes [end insert] from thence marched 1st Augt. thro' Bennington, Manchester Castleton &tc. in the State of Vermont to Crown Point on Lake Champlain, where he was stationed & went down The Lake in Boats at different times as scouts, until in or about the month of October of the same year, - when the Regiment was ordered to go up said Lake to Ticonderoga, where he was stationed for some time. He was taken sick - after remaining sick for some time in the hospital there, an order came as he understood, from the commanding Genl. Schuyler, that such of the sick in the hospital as chose, might retire from the Fort & provide for themselves - that he among others availed himself of that privilege, & that some time in the month of November of the same year, as near as he can now recollect, he was sent with others in Boats up said Lake, [inserted above line] & had [illegible] [end insert] by the commanding officer at said Fort,  to Skenesborough, since called Whitehall - from where he sent for his father, who came to him & by very short stages, conveyed him home he being very sick, & he remained, until after the expiration of his said term or service [inserted above line] in actual Service at least 8 months [end insert] & he never did return to said Regiment that afterwards, according to his best recollection (soon after the capture & destruction of the fleet on Lake Champlain, under Cols. Arnold & Waterbury) in the latter part of August or first of September 1776. He was called out & volunteered in an alarm at said Williamstown in the militia of the said State of Massachusetts [inserted above line "in Co. of Capt. Smeadley"], under Lieut. Ezekiel Blair & he with others constituted a Company, & chose Capt. Danforth as Capt. and the said Blair as Lieut [inserted above line "in Col. Simons' Regt."] marched thro' Bennington & to Skenesborough at the head of Lake Champlain - there went in Boats sent for them to Mount Independence

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in Vermont  opposite to Ticonderoga, where they were stationed for about or as much as  five weeks, as he now believes, when other troops came in, & the commanding officer of said garrison, Genl. Gates, as he thinks, gave liberty to his company & other [illegible] to return home, & he with others accordingly left in Boats provided for this, & returned to said Skenesborough & thence home & said Company was disbanded - the only Field Officer, as far as he now recollects was Maj Hyde of Lenox - afterwards some time in the fall of the same year 1776. thinks it must have been in the month of November a draft was made in the company to which he belonged, & others Companies in said County of Berkshire, for men to go out upon a winter Campaign of 4 months, & a man belonging to said Company of the name of Elisha Williams was drawn & being unwilling to go, offered to hire him to go in his stead but he refused to be hired,  & said that if he went, he would go on his own account, & finally concluded to volunteer & have the names of the said Williams erased, & his own substituted on the roll of said company - which was done. & he engaged in said service at said Williamstown, under the command of Capt. Wm Douglass, Ensign Danl. Burbank, the name of the Lieut. he has forgotten & in the Regiment commanded by Col. Benj'n Simon and Maj. Hyde - the names of Lt. Col. he has forgotten, in the Massachusetts militia [inserted above line [appointed Corpl & did duty as orderly Sergt. [end insert] thenss marched to New Lebanon in the Sate of New York - & from thenss was ordered & marched to Albany N.Y. where they were detained until on or about the first day of January 1777. from thenss marched to Saratoga, where they staid a few days & from thenss to Skenesborough - & from thenss on the ice on Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, where he was stationed until the 16th day of March of that same year 1777. The said Regiment was marched across said Lake to Mount Independence, where they were discharged by parol & each one permitted to return home, by Genl. (then Col. as he believes) Wayne who then commanded at said Fort {inserted above line] descd. 4 mo. [end insert] and afterwards, some time in the month of April of the same year 1777. but the precise time he cannot recollect, he was enlisted at said Williamstown by Lieut. Ezekiel Blair for the term of six weeks, to go & furnish a team, as a teamster for the United States Arm, & immediately thenss often went to the town of New Providence in said County of Berkshire with two yoked oxen & a Cart, when he took a load of grain & conveyed the same to Albany N.Y. thenss carried other loading to Lake George, & from thenss returned to Fort Edward & took loading from thenss to said Lake George & so back again & continued thenss to transport flour, cannon & other loading between said two last mentioned places for several times being constantly employed whatever might be the weather or or roads for said term of six weeks, drawing during the time from the public stores his rations for himself & forage & provender for his oxen- And afterwards {inserted above line]  & soon [end insert] after the evacuation of Ticonderoga, & in the latter part of July of he same year 1777. as he now believes, an alarm was excited, & a Company was formed & turned out at said Williamstown, in which he was one - who chose their own officers - & he thinks that the said Jon. Danforth was chosen Capt, but there were other Captains & other officers who turned out in said Company & he may be mistaken as to the one who was chosen to command, - they turned out

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as Massachusetts militia - marched thru Bennington to Manchester in Vermont, where they placed themselves under the command of Col Warner who commanded a Regiment there at that time, & then they was stationed for two or three weeks [inserted above line "but at least 3 weeks"] then was dismissed & returned home & afterwards in he same year 1777, in the month of August, upon an alarm that the British were comin to Bennington to take or destroy the Stores there, he turned out again with others as a Volunteer [inserted above line "as Corpl."] & went to said Bennington [inserted above line "not having found"] any organizations before going there, where they formed a Company & chose their Officers, who were the said Jon. Danforth as Capt. Lieut. Ezekl. Blair, Ensign Bigelow & attached themselves to the Regiments commanded by Col. Simons, & Maj. Isaac Stratton, & engaged in the Battle there on the 16th August, under Command of Genl. Stark after which guarded Prisoners to said Williamstown & said company were disbanded, - he was absent & in service at the time, at least one week afterwards, upon an alarm, sometime in the month of October 1780. he turned out again as a Volunteer at said Williamstown, with others & marched under Officers of heir own choosing, as here named he does not distinctly recollect, [inserted above line " Col. Simons Regt. Capt. Danforth he thinks"] & marched thru said Bennington to Castleton in Vermont where they were stationed at the Fort at that place at least one fortnight & were dismissed by parol & returned home to his fathers house, who had previously removed to said Town of Dorset, [inserted above line "gone at least 3 weeks"] where he remained until some time in the month of December this same year 1780. then returned to said Williamstown, then back to said Dorset where he has ever since resided - & afterwards in the month of October 1781. upon another alarm he turned out again as a Volunteer [inserted above line "as duty Serg."] in the Vermont militia in the company commanded by Capt. John Gray, & Lieut. Isaac Underhill no Ensign went out [inserted above line "Col. Peals Regt. commanded"] marched to Castleton where they were stationed as a guard at the Castleton mills there, about at least 3 weeks. (The Vermont Rangers were at the time at the Fort there) were then dismissed by parol, & he returned to his home in said Dorset [inserted above line "E[illegible] C[illegible] & sergt. also"] that he was also called out at several of the times During the said revolutionary war on short terms on duty of a day or two, or two or three days at a time & that during several of the times when he was last called out & served, he was appointed & officiated as an orderly Sergeant in the company to which he belonged - that he had no documentary evidence to substantiate his aforesaid statements - & he knows at present of no living witnesses whom he can procure to p{illegible] this [illegible] that [illegible] & only Clergyman in that part of said town of Dorset when he resided, is the Revd. Wm. Jackson, whom he called upon, and found that he could not consistently with other engagements come here today to give his Certificated, but who offered to give him a Certificate of his character, but not deeming it as very essential he did not take it & had produced,  & [illegible] to the testimony of two other respectable neighbors resident in said Town of Dorset to wit John Frost Esq. Wm Joseph Myrick, as to his character, & the correctness of his above statements sworn to & subscribed  the day & year aforesaid   [signature "Wm Dunton"]
[written sideways on the left side of page: "While to then Capt. afterwards Genl. Isaac Clark was sent down the Lake to Crown Point with a flag of truce in a Boat to the Moriah to the British Commander - he was saluted & did go as orderly Sergt. of Expedition in consequence was absent on duty about a week longer than the rest of Co."]

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We John Frost & Joseph Myrick, both residing in the Town of Dorset in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Dunton who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declarations, that we believe him to be 77 years of age that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [signatures "Joseph Myrick _ John Frost"]

And the said do hereby declare their opinions, after the investigations of the matter, & after putting the interrogation prescribed by this War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he stated - And this further certifies, that it appears to them that John Frost & Joseph Myrick who have signed the preceding Certificate are Residents in said Dorset, & are both credible persons & that their statement is entitled to end it. Sworn to certified by & before me [signature "Myron Clark Judge of Probate Court"]

State of Vermont
I Henry Robinson, Clerk or Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of he said Court in the matter of the application of William Dunton for a Pension --- In testimony whereof I have herein to set my and & Seal of our said Probate Courts at Manchester within & for the County of Bennington, this 1st day of August AD. 1832 -- & of the Independence of the United States the 57th --- {signature "Henry Robinson Register of Probate Court"]
[Written on left side of bottom of page "No. 3070"]

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3070
Claim of Wm Dunton
Admd
11 mos 14 da Priv.
21 ___ days Corp
1 mo 19 days Sergt.

L. Swift Esq Manchester Vt

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War Department, Pension Office, 22 April 1863

Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when your return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service William Dunton
[Column headings: 
1. Period when the service was rendered. 
2. Duration of the claimant's service: (a) Years (b) Months. (c) Days. 
3. Rank of the claimant. 
4. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. 
5. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
6. Proof by which the declaration is supported.

1775 - 6 0  Private.  Col. Easton & Majr. Brown.   78 years Williamstown Mass. }  Oath of Applicant & Traditionary evidence

1776  -  1  11  Private.  Col. Simonds & Magr. Hyde  D[itt]o.  D[itt]o.  D[itt]o.

1776 & 1777. -  4  -  Private.  Col. Simonds Majr. Hyde  Do_   Do_    Do.

1777  -  1  14  Teamster  Lt. Blair  Do  Do.  Do.  [handwritten at end of line "inadmissible"]

1777  -  -  21  Corpl. & did duty of orderly Sergt } Col. Warner  Do_    Do_    Do.

1777  -  -  7  Do.  Col. Simonds  Do_   Do_   Do.

1780  -  -  21  Sergt.   Col. Simonds   Do_   Do_   Do_

1781  -  -  21  Sergt.   Col. Pearl   Dorset VT  Do_   Do_
[underscore under weeks and days column with "9" under that]

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.

[handwritten at bottom of page:
10 . 14 Priv.
     . 21 Corp.
  1 . 19 Sergt.
Mr Wm Dunton

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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE , 1832
    The following regulations have been adopted:
    This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
    Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
      1.  The Regular Troops.
      2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
      3.  Persons employed in the Naval Service.
      4.  Indian Spies.
  As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will in the first instance make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
    DECLARATION
   In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
     State, Territory, or District of 
          County of                          } 88
On this ____day of ________ personally appeared (a) before ____________________________A.B. a resident (b) of ______________ in the county of ___________ and State, Territory or District of _______ aged (c) _________ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, that in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _______, with ________ and served in the ______  (e) regiment of the ____ line, under the following named officers: 
    [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
    He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State; or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____________________________
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ___________________ A.B.
  [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
   And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
   I __________________________________ of the Court of __________________________________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___________________________________  for a pension.
    In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _________
day of _____________&c.
     If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
     [The following two paragraphs have a handwritten parentheses around them:]
     Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
     (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the ______________________ and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ______________________________, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _________ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. [end of paragraphs with handwritten parentheses.]
    Sworn and subscribed the das and year aforesaid.
     [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
     And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___________________________________ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________________ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
     I, _______________________ Clerk of the Court of ______________ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _________________ for a pension.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _______ day of _____________ &c.
     [The following two paragraphs have a handwritten set of parentheses drawn around them:]
     Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
     If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are know at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person 
[end of paragraphs marked with handwritten parentheses]

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3 

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All Applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
     The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except for Militia on New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
     1.  Where and in what yea were you born?
     2.  Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
     3.  Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
     4.  How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
     5.  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
    6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who was it given, and what has become of it?
        { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
    7.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
     The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
    The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -- one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
     The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the part.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
     Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 
    Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
     No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
       _______________________
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the country where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period of periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and he 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.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, sate precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making a affidavit in the following works:
    "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  claim a pension."
[the following paragraph is marked with handwritten parentheses]
    It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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 [italics] about three or four months [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. [end section marked with handwritten parentheses]
    [f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
    [g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
    [h] The Clerk must give his certificated in every case.
    [i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if has no public seal of office, the certificated of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

    Mode of authenticating papers.
  [the following paragraph is marked with handwritten parentheses]
  In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.   [end section marked with handwritten parentheses]

   Proof of Service
    [the following paragraphs are marked with handwritten parentheses]
    [j] 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 claimant's 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
    The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
    [k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
    [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[end section marked with handwritten parentheses]
    [m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

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No 5136, Vert
Mary Dunton
  widow of William
Act July 4, 1836

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State of Vermont County of Bennington
On this 10th day of March A.D. 1840 personally appeared before Alexander Bliss an  assistant Judge of the Bennington County Court, Mary Dunton a resident of Dorset in the 
County of Bennington and State of Vermont aged seventy eight 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 4th 1836 -
That she is the widow of William Dunton who was a private corporal and sergeant during the revolutionary war, that he was a pensioner, entitled to receive Forty eight dollars and eighty eight cents per Annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th day of March 1831 and payable semiannually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year, that he held a pension certificate which was given at the War Office of the United States the 18th day of September 1833 and signed by Lewis Cass Secretary of War, and examined and countersigned by J.L. Edwards commissioner of Pensions, that the certificate was filed "Recorded in the pension office in Book E. Vol. 3 Page 60 by Eli Brown Clerk" -- She further declares that she was married to the said William Dunton on the
15th day of November in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one, that her husband the aforesaid William Dunton died on the 5th day of February A.D. 1840 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed, sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written.
[handwritten signature] "Mary Dunton"
Before Alexander Bliss Assistant Judge of the Bennington County Court

Page 15

Revolutionary War Records Section.  3--525
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions.
W.F. 19,200  Washington, D.C., ____________, 19___

In reply to your request of _________, received ___________ for a statement of the military history of William Dunton, a soldieir of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
[Column Headings: (1) Dates of Enlistment or appointment (2) Length of Service (3) Rank (4 & 5) Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered: Captain  Colonel  (6) State

July 1775   3 mos _____ Capt Lemuel Stewart   Col Easton    Mass.

Aug & Sept 1776   5 or 6 weeks  Lemuel Stewart    Easton    Mass

Nov 1776  4 mos  Corp & Sgt  William Douglass  Benjamin Simonds

Apr 1777  6 weeks  Teamster and conveyed provision &c from Lake George to Ft. Edwards

July 1777  6 weeks  Corpl & Sgt  Jonathan Danforth   Simonds

Aug 1777  1 week Corpl & Sgt   Jonathan Danforth     Simonds

Oct 1780  3 weeks  Corpl & Sgt  Jonathan Danforth     Pearl   Vt.

Oct 1781  3 weeks  Corpl & Sgt  John Gray             Pearl

Battles engaged in Bennington
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Williamstown Berkshire Co. Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug 1, 1832 [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Dorset, Bennington Co. Vt.
Age at date of application { b. Jany 7 1755 at Winston [?], Worcester Co. Mass.
                             d. Feb 5, 1840
He wed Sept 15 1781 or 82 at Dorset Vt. Mary Bloomer. She was at pension on an app, ex. Mar 10, 1840 when a resident of Dorset Vt aged 78 yrs.  Wm Dunton was 85 yrs old in 1840 and also a resident of said Dorset at that date.
 Respectfully,
 ______________________  Commissioner

Page 16

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
-------------
File No. 19200
Mary Dunton
 wid of 
William Dunton
 Priv Rev War
-------------
Act: Febry 2nd '/48
Index;---Vol. A, Page 200

[arrangement of 1870]

Page 17

1914 Aug. 24 Hist. to Mrs. Chas. O. Horton, V. L. M.

Page 18

BY HIS EXCELLENCY
THOMAS CHITTENDEN,
ESQUIRE. CAPTAINGENERAL, GOVERNOR, AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF, IN AND OVER THE STATE OF VERMONT

To William Dunton Gentleman Greeting.

You being elected Captain of the 2nd Company in the Second Regiment, in the First Brigade of the milita of this state; and reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valour, and good conduct, I DO, by virtue of these presents, In the name and by the authority of the state of Vermont, fully authorise and empower you the said William Dunston to take charge of said Company as the Captain. You will therefore carefully and diligently discharge said duty by doing and performing all and every matter and thing thereunto relating:  You will observe and follow such orders and directions as you shall from time to time receive from the governor of the state for the time being, or any other your superior officers, according to military discipline and the laws of this state: And all officers and soldiers under your command, are to take notice hereof, and yield due obedience to your orders as Captain in pursuance of the trust in you reposed.

Given under my hand and the seal of this state, dated the 7 day of May AD 1793.
By his excellency's command,

[handwritten signature] Joseph Trayhey   Thos. Chittenden

Page 19

Vt.
[crossed out] Rejected [end crossed out]
Mary widow of Wm Dunton, private, $20 per ann (six months) Act 1838
Land cert: to S. Swift
Manchester VT
Act 7 July 1838

Page 20

Mary Dunton of Vert
widow of William
Act 1836 __ No 5736
Let to A. Bliss 
3 Aug. 1840. to same Nov 28, '40

Page 21

7462
Vt
Rejected
Let to A. Bliss
Nov. 28.40
let to S. Swift April 15 1843
let to S. Swift June 12, 1843
Act 7 July 38

Page 22

7474
Vermont, Poultney
Mary Dunton
Widow of William
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 5 Feby 1840 of Bennington Co in the State of Vermont who was a pri. in the Company commanded by Captain Stewart of the regt. commanded by Col. Easton in the Mass line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Poultney at the rate of 48 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. Increased from $20.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Feby 1849 and S.A. Peugh Present

Total amount, $_______
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Leo Jenkins Clerk, 
Book D Vol. 1 Page 125.

Page 23

2719.
Vermont Burlington

Mary Dunton
widow of William Dunton
who was a Private
in the Mass line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of Nov. 1843 and sent to S. Swift Manchester Vt.

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol 1 Page 34

Page 24

Rept Nov 15

Page 25

3412
Vermont,  Poultney
Mary Dunton
widow of William
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars --- Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Jany 1849 and 
sent to 
Hon. Robert Smith
H of R

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 51 Col 3

Page 26

Reported
Jany 26 / [18]49

Page 27

Wm Dunton

75. Leml Stewart - no roll  pri 6 mo
76 Aug - Ezekiel Blain Lt  Capt Smedley    1.12
76 Nov.  Wm Douglass [struck thru] 17-162 [end strikethrough] __ 18. [struck thru] 164[end strikethrough] 192.     3 mo 6 d     {struck thru] 4 [end strikethrough] __
77 Apl.  Teamster  X
77 July  Jonathan Danforth   Vt.        Corpl    21
77 Aug     [ditto]     [ditto]    [ditto]     [ditto]   7
80           [ditto]     [ditto]       Vt                      21
81 Oct.  John Gray       Vt      Serg                   21          

1777

Page 28

2719
Vermont, Poultney
Mary Dunton
widow of William
who was a private
in the Mass. Line

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
48 Dollars 88
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Increased from $20.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Feby 1849.
and sent to S.A. Peugh
   Present

[Acts of March 3, 1843, and June 17, 1844]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 61

Page 29

Vernont 7474

Mary Dunton
widow of William Dunton
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 5. February 1840
of Bennington Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the company 
commanded by Captain Stewart 
regt. ommanded by Col. Easton
the Mass. line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington
a the rate of 20 Dollars -----
[struck thru] Cents [end strikethrough] per annum, to commence of the 4th
day of March 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day
July 1843 and setn to S. Swift Esq.
Manchester, Vermont

Whole amount due . . . . . $100

[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book A.  Vol. 2.  Page 37

Page 30

I William Jackson a clergyman residing in the town of Dorset, hereby certify that I am well acquainted William Dunton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. - that I believe him to be about seventy eight years of age; that I understand hi to be respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I fully swear in that opinion.
[illegible] William Jackson

State of Vermont
Bennington County Js Personally appeared Rev Wm Jackson & made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed this 2nd day of Augt. AD 1832 before me
G B Southworth Justice Peace

Page 31

Pension Agency
Burlington May 4 1849

Sir
A Pension Certificate has been issued to Mary Dunton, widow of Wm under the Joint Resolution of July 1 1848 to draw from the 4th Mar 1836 - for five years - It also says she will be paid under Acts of 3 Mar 1843 and 17th June 1844.  What I wish to know is whether it is necessary to require separate vouchers for the amt. due under each act. If it is not necessary, under what act is the amt. to be charged - Waiting a reply at your convenience
I have the honor to be
Very Resply
Your Obt Servant
J H Peck Pen Agt
[illegible] Chas. F. Warner

[address block appearing on bottom left of page]
J.L. Edwards Esqr
Comm. of Pensions
Washington

Page 32

Payment to be made at Poultney by Merritt Clarkly Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Vermont

[handwritten block to the left of form]
Udr Acts
'38
'43 & '44
'48
at $48.88 per annum
ded'g former payt.
at $20. per an,
Mr Cole
[end of handwritten block]

Payable on the 4th September and 4th March

Recorded in the Pension Office on the Roll of Pensioners under act February 2d, 1848, Page 57 Vol 3.
Leo Jenkins, Clerk.

A.S. Pugh
S.A. Peugh, 
 [illegible]
S.A. Peugh
applies for increase

Page 33

War Department
Widow's Pension.

I certify that in conformity with the act of February 2d, 1848, Mary Dunton, widow of William Dunton who was a private in the revolutionary war, is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of twenty dollars per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1848, and continuing for life, unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 26th day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.
W.L. Marcy
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned
J.G. Buret for Commissioner of Pensions

Page 34

State of Vermont, Bennington County js.
On this 4th day of October 1843, personally appeared before the Sunscriber a Majistrate within & for the County of Bennington aforesaid Mary Dunton a Resident of the town of Dorset in said County, aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declararation in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3d. March 1843, granting Pensions to widows of Persons who served during the revolutionary war - that she is the widow of William Dnton late of said Dorset deceased who was a Private in the army of the United States during that war, & who enjoyed a Pension therefore until the time of his decease, under the Act of June 7. 1832 - O[ink blot] whose said services she also since his decease, has received a Pension of twenty Dollars per annum, under the Act of July 7. 1838. __ She further declared that she is still a Widow.
Mary X Dunton [inserted above & below the X "her mark"]
Witness G.B. Southworth
        Wm Es. Dunton
Sworn to & subscribed this day & year last above mentioned before me, -- And I do further certify, that the above named Mary Dunton the Declarant is personally well known to me - & that she is a reputable & respectable Person. Attest
Gordon B. Southworth -- Judge & Justice of the peace

State of Vermont Bennington County } I Samuel A. Blackmer Clerk of the County Court within & for the County & State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Gordon B. Southworth is a Judge of said Country Court, & ex officis a Justice of the peach in aforesaid County, duly commissioned & qualified - that his Commission bears date from the first day of December 1842, & will expire on the 30th day of November 1843. - & that his signature above written is genuine Given under my hand, & the seal of said County Court, this 6th day of October 1843. & of the independence of the U.S. the 68th
Saml. H. Blackmer  Clerk

Page 35

[Envelope addressed to]
Hon. James S. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

[Written sideways to the address]
July 5 1843
Mary Dunton 
Vt. Suspd.

[Postmarked]
Manchester Vt
Jul 1

Page 36

[Envelope addressed to]
Hon. James S. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

[Written sideways to the address]
July 5 1843
Mary Dunton 
Vt. Suspd.

[Postmarked]
Manchester Vt
Jul 1

Page 37

Manchester June 30th 1843.

Hon. J.S. Edwards,
  Hon. Sir, Since I recd your proposition respecting the claim of Mrs. Mary Dunton, I have seen & stated the same to her & she at length came to the conclusion that altho' she much preferred to receive the full amount, & felt somewhat unwilling to accept of less - & also considered herself entitled by the services of her late husband to as large a Pension as he received in his lifetime - & altho' by reason of her infirmities, advanced age, & ill health, she needs it - yet not being so entirely dependent thereupon, for her support, as many others - & considering the difficulty & expense, if not the impossibility, at this late day, unacquainted as she is with the proper persons, if now alive, to apply to, who were conversant of the facts, to prove the full services of her husband - & in deference to your better discretion & understanding, she consents to accept the proposition so made by you, provided you still remain of opinion that the proof already addressed will not warrant the allowance of a greater sum, at this time - but with a reserve, nevertheless, that it shall not be considered, as admission of any want of confidence, or doubt, of the integrity, or truth in the statements of her husband, as to his said services, in any particular.
With due respect, I am Hon. Sir,
Your most obedt. 
S. Swift

Page 38

[Envelope addressed to]
Hon. James L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

[Handwritten sideways to the left of the address]
May 3 1843
Vt.
Mary Dunton

[Postmarked]
Manchester Vt 
Apr 20

Page 39

[Envelope addressed to]
Hon. James L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

[Handwritten sideways to the left of the address]
May 3 1843
Vt.
Mary Dunton

[Postmarked]
Manchester Vt 
Apr 20

Page 40

Manchester Apr. 28th 1843

Hon. J.L. Edwards,
   Hon. Sir, I recd your fav. relative to the case & claim of Mrs. Mary Dunton, bearing date the 14th inst. about or more than a week since, & have deferred on and even until I could have some communication with his & her family - today I have seen them, but, as she had in some measure anticipated, she not having known her husband during the period, whereas the greater part of his services in the revolutionary war was performed,  indeed, until a short time before they were married- & living & having ever lived in a place remote from where he resided, when those services were performed, she & they are unable to give me any light or information, to remove those difficulties & obstacles suggested by you, as in the way, & opposed to his claim, & know nothing in relation those acts, except what they have heard stated by him - But her husband & the estimation in which he was generally & I may add universally held by others, & have known for many years, & I can say with confidence, I never knew a man whose character stood fairer & higher for truth & integrity than he was, & against whom I never heard a syllable [illegible}, implicating in the last, his moral honesty, uprightness & veracity,  for those [illegible] he was often & generally referred to as a model & exemplar - & indeed, he was scrupulously conscientious in all his statement of facts, & such he appeared to me, as much or more so, than any others for whom I have drawn Declarations for Pensions, at the time his was made out, & he seemed to be party careful not to state any service nor for a longer term, than he actually performed - but I am wholly unable to explain the variance & discrepancy which appears [illegible] his statement & the rates and of the amount, of service under Capt. Douglass - yet I do not hesitate to say, that I fully believe that if he was alive, he could entirely & satisfactorily explain them, & that he actually served, or supposed he was entitled, in some way, to the allowance of the full terms of 4 Mo. & was thus long, at least absent from home, on that duty.

Page 41

As a proof of the estimation in which he was held by his Townsmen  & neighbours, are the various offices & trusts which he sustained for a long course of years - such as, Majistrate of the County, County Surveyor, Representative from his town, in the State legislature, Town Clerk, Selectman - Captain of militia & C.G. besides he was for many years, I believe at the time of his death, a Deacon of [inserted above line] the [end insert] Church - & in fairness, he was considered as one of the fathers of the town.

As to the decd. terms of service which he states to have performed uner Capt. Leml. Stewart, Lt. Blair in Capt. Smedley, Co. & Capt. Danforth, I have little or no doubt that his statements were correct - As to the this first named Gentlemen, I had formerly some knowledge of they all resided in Williamstown, in the State of Mass. bordering upon Vermont, & it is not unlikely that they might have turned out in alarms & otherwise in conjunction with, & to assist the Vermont Militia in her defenses, & that their services were not paid by the State of Mass. nor their Rolls [illegible] returned, or registered -- As to Capt. Stewart, I very well recollect to have heard Mr. Eli Pettiborn formerly of this town, & who died last year mention that he was at the [illegible] upon the Lake, & I think in Canada [inserted above line] in company with him [end insert] during one [illegible] & I believe the season named [1775] & he mentioned sevl. [illegible] which induced one to recollect the fact, & I think it probable that Capt. Stewart's name is mentioned in connection, in Mr. P.'s Declaration now in the Pension office but I have in some way either lost, mislaid or destroyed Mr. P.'s statement, which I formerly took & preserved, & cannot therefore be very confident as to the contents -- but whether Capt. Stewart & this Co. turned out under Col. Ethan Allen, as I have understood that some of the Berkshire Co. militia did, or under Co. Herrick, who was also a Vermonter or under Col. Easton who belonged to Mass. or in what if any Regt. I cannot say -- but I presume that if the Rolls of the above Companies of the period named are ever found, the name of William Dunton will be found upon them.

As to Capt. Gray he belonged to Dorset & [inserted above line] with whom I was well acquainted, & he turned out, as I have been well informed, & frequently, with a part, or the whole of his Co. during the war & I presume that at the times mentioned, & afterwards, Esq. Dunton turned out with them as he belonged to that Co., & afterwards commanded it, & his Capt's Commission [illegible] herewithin enclose, to show that fact, & also to show that he enjoyed that confidence & respect amongst his neighbors, which he would not have received,

Page 42

had he been capable of making & swearing to a tissue of false representations.
   Under all the circumstances above stated, [inserted above line] & at this late period after as great a lapse of time [end insert] your Honor will [illegible] [illegible] that it would be extremely difficult, if not out of the [illegible], of the widow, to hunt up & procure testimony to prove the services of her husband, which by the existing laws & regulations at the time he made out his own Declaration, he had a right to establish by his own oath, the absences of the confirmatory testimony of the Rolls, may at this time be well accounted for, by this loss [inserted above line] in some way [end insert] or by this not having been duly returned to the Secy of State's Office, or if still existing, [inserted above line] that [end insert] they belong & are placed in the archives of some other State, or Department. 
   If abundant proof of the high character of Esq. Dunton for truth & integrity will avail any thing, I will procure & forward it (if acquired) - Or, as it is probable that some of the aged people in Williamstown or vicinity, who were knowing directly, as by general respects, to the sevl. [inserted above line] or some of the tours of duty referred to in the statements of Esq. Dunton, are still living, if their testimony to that effect will be satisfactory, I will also endeavor to obtain, & send on the same [illegible], if any other mode of proof may be suggested as an equivalent or substitute for the Rolls not found, which can be sought out, we will endeavor to hunt up & supply the same -- I do acknowledge that for the reasons already suggested, & also for that, I was showed today, a letter lately recd. from a Mr. Addison, who represented that he had been for some ten years a Clerk in the Pension Office, addressed to Mrs Dunton, in which he stated, in effect, that there could be no difficulty in her obtaining the Pension, which her husband enjoyed in his lifetime, I do feel somewhat anxious in this case, & believing as I do also, that it is perfectly just, honest & right, & that, if at the time, he had stated an [illegible] [inserted above line] or later [end insert] tour of duty, & terms of service, she might have been entitled, & enjoyed it for her life time. 
   I have in my possession also, her Declaration taken sometime since, before the proper Authority, & handed to me today. for the additional [illegible] year pension under the late law, [illegible] as the [illegible] remained in [illegible] & besides, as I know not that it will be required, or proper, I shall defer sending it, until the result be known.  I am Hon. Sir, very respectfully
Your most Obedt. & [illegible]
S. Swift

Page 43

7462.
Mary Dunton
 [illegible]
Act 7. July '38

M [illegible] d '40

Page 44

State of Vermont, Bennington County, ss.

    On this 23rd day of October 1840. personally appeared before the Hon. Alexander Bliss one of the Judges of the County Court within & for the County of Bennington aforesaid, being a Court of Record, Mary Dunton a resident of the town of Dorset in said County, aged seventy eight 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 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows" that she is the widow of William Dunton late of said Dorset deceased, who was a Private Corporal & Sergeant in the Army of the United States, during the revolutionary war & for which services he obtained & enjoyed, during his lifetime, a Pension from the United States, under that Act of the 7th of June 1832. of forty eight Dollars & 88 Cents or about that sum, per annum for the particulars & certainty of which, she begs leave to refer to the files, records & rolls in the Pension Department, at Washington. She further declares that she was [inserted above line] lawfully [end insert] married to the said William Dunton decd. at said Dorset, on the 13th day of November, in the year seventeen hundred & eighty one, that her maiden name was Mary Bloom & that she understands & believes, that a [illegible] or entry of their said marriage was made & is preserved [inserted above line] in & [end insert] amongst the Town Records of said Town of Dorset, a certified Copy whereof she expects to be able to procure & forward herewith -- that her husband, there aforesaid William Dunton died on the 5th day February 1840 & that she has since that time, remained his widow, single, & unmarried -- that she was married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, to wit at the time above stated & that she has no documentary evidence in her possession, to prove his services, or support her claim to a pension.
    [Signed with a handwritten signature] Mary Dunton

Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me - And I do further certify that the above Applicant Mary Dunton is well known to me & that she is a person of respectability & veracity And I do further certify that she is unable & cannot attend Court, from, & by reason of, bodily infirmity -

Attest Alexander Bliss Judge of Country Court

Page 45

I Herman Morse Town Clerk of the Town of Dorset in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, do hereby certify, that I have examined the Town Records of said town [illegible] in my possession & custody & find there a minute or entry therein recorded in the following words, (viz.) "William Dunton married to Mary Bloomer, November the fifteenth day, seventeen hundred, eighty one" & I do [illegible]thus certify that the same is a true Copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows "November the 15th day 1781."  Attest
			Herman Morse Town Clerk

I Herman Morse above named, depose & say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the County, Town & State aforesaid, that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town with the exception above named, as certified by me,  Herman Morse Clerk of the town of Dorset.
   Sworn before me this 4th day of November 1840. Attest

   Alexander Bliss Judge of Bennington County Court
I William B. Dunton a resident of the town of Dorset in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, aged fifty three years, do testify depose & say that I am the respected son of the above named Mary Dunton & the said William Dunton Esq. deceased - that I am well knowing that he the said William Dunton enjoyed a Pension from the United States, in his lifetime of the sum or about the sum of forty eight Dollars & 88 Cents for his services during the revolutionary war, & as I believe under the Act of the 7th of June 1832.- that agreeably to my best present recollection & belief he died on the 5th day of February AD 1840. that since his said decease, the said Mary has remained his widow & unmarried - that previous to his death, they resided in the same house with me, & that since that time, she has continued to live with me.
         Wm B. Dunton
Sworn to & subscribed the 23rd day of October 1840. before me - And I do [illegible] thus certify that the above officiants are all well known to me, & are all Persons of respectable standing, & tacit credibility, & their statements are [illegible] to full credit.  Attest
          Alexander Bliss Judge of Bennington County Court

Page 46

State of Vermont
Bennington County
[stamp or seal attached, too faded to read]
I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington County Court, hereby certify that Hon. Alexander Bliss, whose Signature appearing to the foregoing is an Assistant Judge of the County Court within & for the County of Bennington aforesaid, duly Commissioned & qualified by law as such - that I am well acquainted with his handwriting & believe his signature to be genuine -- 
In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name & affixed the Seal of Our Said Court at Bennington in the County of Bennington this fifth day of November, AD. 1840 --
                 Henry Robinson

Page 47

[Envelope - written sideways on left side]
Mar 20 - 43
Vt -
Mary Dunton

[written upright on center of envelope]
Hon. James L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Page 48

[Envelope, written sideways on left side:]
Mar 20 - 43
Vt -
Mary Dunton
[written upright on center of envelope:]
Hon. James L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Page 49

Manchester March 14th 1843.

Hon. L.S. Edwards,
  Hon'd. Sir, Enclosed I send you the Declaration of Mrs. Mary Dunton for a Pension __ She formerly (I believe in the fall of the year 1840) made application under the same law, best as I understand her application was then rejected, on the ground that her husband was alive at the time of the passing of the law, & that of course her case did not then come within it & I believe that the proof of her marriage, & other necessary proof in such cases, was forwarded at the same time, & will probably be found there within the Pension Department - & for that reason, that proof is now omitted & for the same [inserted above line] reason [end insert] the Certificate of the County CLerk, to the official character & signature of the Judge, before whom this Declaration is taken, has not been obtained, as I presume it will be considered unnecessary __ but if otherwise, there is another case presented, which I expect will be obliged to be taken within a few days, before the same Judge, to the Certificate in which, I will procure to be attached, the proper Certificate & Seal of the County Clerk, attesting the official character & signature of he Judge & The Papers above referred to were went on, I think, by Judge Alexander Bliss,
 
Very respectfully, I am Hon'd. Sir,
Your most obedt.
S. Swift

Page 50

I certify that Mrs. Mary Dunton above named, from bodily infirmity can not attend in Court, and that her character for truth and veracity is undoubted --
    Alexander Bliss Assistant Judge of the Bennington County Court

I Darius Moor of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont of lawful age being duly sworn do depose testify and say that I am acquainted with the widow Mary Dunton and have known her for thirty years last past, that her husband William Dunton died on the 5th day of February 1840 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, -- sworn to and subscribed this 10th day of March A.D. 1840 --
    Darius Morse
Before me, Alexander Bliss Appointed Judge of the Benningon County Court

I certify that the above named Darius Moors is a man of Credibility for the truth, ---
    Alexander Bliss Assistant Judge of the Bennington County ourt

William Dunton Married to Mary Bloomer November the fifteenth day seventeen hundred and eighty-one, -- I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of rhe record, with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows, 
"November the 15th day 1781"        Herman Morse Town Clerk

I Herman Morse above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town of Dorset, Bennington County and state of Vermont, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town, with the exception above named as certified by me --
        Herman Morse
Sworn before me Alexander Bliss, Assistant Judge of the Bennington County Court.

Page 51

State of Vermont - Bennington County [illegible abbreviation]

I Henry Robinson Clerk of Bennington County Court, hereby certify that Hon. Alexander Bliss Esq whose Signature appears to the foregoing, was at the taking of the aforesd. Deposition & State is An Assistant Judge of the County Court within & for the County of Bennington aforesd. duly Commissioned & qualified by Law as such, & that his foregoing signature is genuine --
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of our Said Court & Subscribed, my name at Bennington in the County of Bennington this 18th day of July AD. 1840 --
    Henry Robinson
Feez 50.

Page 52

Application for benefit of Jt. Pies. of July 1st 1848, and for renewal under act of 2nd Feb. 1848.

Robert Smith

Page 53

State of Vermont
County of Bennington. p: } Be it known that on this 25th day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty eight, before the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Mary Dunton and made oath in clear form of law, that she is the widow of William Dunton who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and who drew a pension from the United States at the rate of forty eight Dollars and eighty eight cents per annum, that he died on the 5th day of February 1840, that she, this deponent has drawn a pension at the rate of twenty Dollars per annum from the 4th day of March 1836, and is the identical person who drew a pension of same rate, under the Act of 17th June 1844. - that she is 86 years of age, and resides in the Town of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, and is still the widow of the said William Dunton.
   [signature of] Mary Dunton

Subscribed and sworn to Before me, his 25th day of November 1848.
Cyrus Farwell, Justice of the Peace.

I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Mary Dunton and I believe that she is the same person she represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit, a widow and a pensioner.
Dated, Dorset Vermont
Nov. 25, 1848.
Cyrus Farwell,
Justice of the Peace.

Page 54

State of Vermont
Bennington County for }  I Samuel H Blackmer Clerk of he Bennington County Court do hereby certify that Cyrus Farwell whose name is subscribed to the within was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Bennington duly commissioned & qualified & that I believe his signature is genuine--
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the Seal of Said County this 30th day of November A.D. 1848 --
Samuel H Blackmer Clerk

Feez 25 cents-

Page 55

[Envelope addressed to:]
Hon. James S. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[written sideways on left side of envelope:]
Oct 17 1843
Vt. Mary Dunton
veto Carez [?}
Mar 3 1843

[written sideways on right side of envelope:]
S. Swift
Manchester Vt.

Page 56

[Envelope addressed to:]
Hon. James S. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[written sideways on left side of envelope:]
Oct 17 1843
Vt. Mary Dunton
veto Carez [?}
Mar 3 1843

[written sideways on right side of envelope:]
S. Swift
Manchester Vt.

Page 57


Hon. J.S. Edwards,
   Hon. Sir, Enclosed I return you, the Declaration of Mary Shattuck with the County Clerk's Certificate & seal annexed, which is all the correction which I can discover as requisite -- I also send you the Declaration of Mary Dunton taken anew, with the emendation become necessary under the different circumstances of her case, & with the County Clerk's Certificate also attached.
   The reason why I did not before procure the Certificate of the County Clerk was, that his general Certificate for the Magistrate taking the same was annexed to other Declarations which had been previously taken, (towit) in the case of Mary Shattuck, to the Declaration of Judy Clark & to the Declarations of Sarah Warner & Anna Norton for the same Magistrate, who took Mrs Dunton's - which I had supposed was sufficient, & would answer the acquisitions of the regulations in reference thereto.
Very respectfully I am Hon'd Sir,
Your most obed't servt.
S. Swift

Page 58

State of Vermont
Bennington County }
   On this 13th day of March 1843. personally appeared before the Hon. Gordon B. Southworth, one of the Judges of the County Court within & for the Country of Bennington aforesaid Mary Dunton a resident of the Town of Dorset in said County of Bennington, aged 81 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 he Act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838. entitled "An Act granting half pay and Pensions to certain widows" that she is the widow William Dunton late of said Dorset deceased, who was a Private Soldier in the army of the United States, during the revolutionary war, & for which services he received a Pension during his lefetime, under the Act of June 7. 1832

She further declares, that she was married to the said William Dunton on the 15th day of November in the year seventeen hundred & eighty two that her husband the aforesaid William Dunton died on the 5th day of February, in the year eighteen hundred & forty - that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred & ninety four (viz.) at the time stated.
     [signature] Mary Dunton {with "X her mark" in between her first and last name]

Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me
G B Southworth Judge &tc.
And I the said Gordon B. Southworth Judge as aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court. Certified by me GB Southworth Judge &tc

Page 59

[envelope addressed to:]
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

[return address on envelope, upper left corner:]
Dorset Vt
Nov 11

[written sideways of left side of envelope:]
7462 Vt
Nov 23 1840
July 7 1838
Mary Dunton
'32

Page 60

[envelope addressed to:]
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

[return address on envelope, upper left corner:]
Dorset Vt
Nov 11

[written sideways of left side of envelope:]
7462 Vt
Nov 23 1840
July 7 1838
Mary Dunton
'32

Page 61

Dorset Bennington Couty V.T.
    Nov. 14th 1840

Sir:
   Enclosed I send you the papers of the widow Mary Dunton in which she applies, for a pension under the Act of 1838. -- having once before applied under the Act of 1834 --
After examing her claims you will please return an answer to me --
   Respectfully your obt. Servt
       Alexander Bliss

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Washington D.C. ---

Page 62

[envelope addressed in center:]
free

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[return address upper left of envelope]
Dorset Vt
July 24

[written sideways on left side of envelope]
No 5136
July 28
Vt.
July 4 1836
Mary Dunton

Page 63

[envelope addressed in center:]
free

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[return address upper left of envelope]
Dorset Vt
July 24

[written sideways on left side of envelope]
No 5136
July 28
Vt.
July 4 1836
Mary Dunton

Page 64

Dorset, Bennington Co., Vermont
July 24th 1840
Dr Sir,
Enclosed I send you the declaration of the widow Mary Dunton, and other evidence of her claims to a pension.
You will please examine the same and in due time return the answer to me.
Respectfully
Your Oct. Servant.
Alex. Bliss
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Washington
[illegible]
Nov 15 81

Page 65

Dorset, Bennington Co., Vermont
July 24th 1840
Dear Sir,
Enclosed I send you the declaration of the widow Mary Dunton, and other evidences of her claims to a pension.  You will please examine the same and in due time return the answer to me.
Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant,
Alex. Bliss
Hon. J. L. Edwards 
Washington
[illegible]

Page 66

Smeadley -- & he with others constituted a separate Company & chose Capt Danforth as Capt. & the said Ezekl. Blair as Lieut [inserted above line] & said Companies belonged [end insert] to the Regiment commanded by Col. Simonds, & marched from sd. Williamstown, thro' Bennington &tc to Skenesborough, at the head of Lake Champlain - thence was conveyed in Boats, sent for them to Mount Independence, opposite to Ticonderoga, in Vermont, where they were stationed at least five weeks as he now believes, when other troops arrived, & Genl. Gates the commanding officer of said garrison, as he thinks, gave liberty to his company & other volunteers, to return home, & his, with others, accordingly, left there in Boats provided for [inserted above line] again & [end insert] returned to said Skenesborough, & from thence to his home in said Williamstown, having been absent upon said expedition not less than six weeks [inserted above line] as he believes [end insert] - said Corps was then disbanded, the whole having been under the command of Maj'r. Hyde of Lenox, who according to his best present recollection, was the highest in rank & only Field Officer belonging to said Regiment, which was out in said expedition -- that some time in the month of November in the same year 1776 as he now believed, a draft was made in several Companies [inserted above line] of militia [end insert] in said County of Berkshire, for a winters campaign, of four months -- & amongst others, one Elisha Williams, belonging to his Company, was drawn, but being unwilling to go, he volunteered to go in the place of he said Williams, & his name [inserted above line] was [end insert] substituted upon the Roll of the said Company; at said Williamstown, under the command of Capt. Wm Douglass [inserted above line] of Hancock [end insert] & Ensign Danl. Burbank - the name of the Lieut. he has at present forgotten - & in the Regiment [inserted above line] of Massachusetts Militia [end insert] commanded by Col Benj'n Simonds, & Maj'r Hyde - the name of the Lt. Col. has also escaped his memory - [the following text crossed out] & that he was appointed a Corporal & did the duty as said, & also as orderly Sergt. during the whole of said term of service [end crossed out text] that they marched from said Williamstown, to New Lebanon in the State of New York & from thence were ordered & marched to Albany in sd. State of N.Y. where they were detained, as he now believes, until on or about the first day of Jany 1777. - then marched to Saratoga N.Y. where they staid a few days - thence to said Skenesborough - thence on the ice on Lake Champlain, to Sd. Ticonderoga, where he was stationed until the 16th day of March, of the same year 1777 agreeably to present recollection, when said regiment was marched across to Mount Independence, on the opposite side of said Lake, where they were discharged by parol, & permitted to return home by Col. afterwards Genl. Wayne, who, as he now believes, commanded at said Fort, & he then returned to his said home in Sd. Williamstown having been absent, in service during the whole of the said Term of four months, and he now believes - that afterwards, in the month of April, of the same year 1777 as believes, but the possible day he is not able to remember, he was enlisted at said Williamstown, for the term of six weeks, as a Teamster [inserted above line] for the United States Army [end insert] & to furnish his own team, by Lieut Ezekl. Blair, who as he understood & believes, had a charge & authority in that Department in Sd. army - that immediately thereafter, he went with two yokes of oxen & Cart of his own, to New Providence in said County of Berkshire, where he took a load of grain, & conveyed the same to Albany N.Y. & thence carried other loading to Lake George - from thence returned to Fort Edward, & thence back with other loading to said Lake George then again to Fort Edward -  & thence continued to transport flour & other provisions & supplies for the army, cannon & other loading between the said two last mentioned places, being constantly employed in all weather, & whatever was the state of the roads, during the said full term of six weeks, drawing during the whole of said time, from the public stores, Rations for himself,  forage & provender for his oxen - that soon after the evacuation of Ticonderoga, in the latter part of July, of the same year 1777. agreeably to his present recollection, he with others turned out at said Williamstown, upon an alarm, & formed a Company & chose their own Officers -- that there was several Captains & other Officers who thus turned out, & it is possible that his memory may not serve him as to the names of those selected to command at the time, but he now believes that the said Capt. Jon. Danforth was chosen to command said Company, but the names of the other officers chosen, he did not distinctly remember as

Page 67

to state positively - that he was then appointed & served the said expedition as a Corporal, at this he did the duty of orderly Sergt. - that they all belonged to the Regiment of Massachusetts militia, commanded by Col. Simonds, but did not turn out under his particular command - that they marched from said Williamstown, through Bennington to Manchester in Vermont, where they placed themselves under the command of Col. Warner, who commanded a Regiment there, at that time, & then they were stationed & did duty at least three weeks - they were dismissed by parol & he returned to his home in Sd. Williamstown - that soon afterwards, in the month of August of the same year 1777. upon an alarm & notice spread, that the British were on their way, & as was said, to take or destroy the public stores & provisions at Bennington, he with others rallied & turned out at said Williamstown, as a Volunteer, & went without previous organization or embodying to Sd. Bennington, where they formed a Company & chose their officers, who were the said Capt. Jon. Danforth, Lt. Ezekl. Blair & Ensign Bigelow - & were attached to the Regiment [inserted above line] of Massachusetts militia [end insert] commanded by [inserted above line] the Sd. [end insert] Col. Simonds, & a Maj'r. Isaac Stratton & he with the others were engaged in the Battle fought there, on the 16th day of August 1777 under command of Brig. Genl. Stark - after which, they guarded some prisoners, taken in Sd. Battle, to Sd. Williamstown, where said Company was disbanded - that he was about in service in said last mentioned expeditions, not less that one week, during which he held the appointment & did the duty of a Corporal, as well as orderly Sergt. in said Company -- that in another alarm, sometime in the month of October 1780 [inserted above line] agreeably to the best of his recollection [end insert] he turned out again at said Williamstown, as a Volunteer, & he with others, so volunteering from the Regiment of Massachusetts militia, commanded by the said Col. Simonds, formed a separate Company for the occasion, & attached to the same Regiment, & chose the said Jon. Danforth as Capt. agreeably to the best of his present recollection, but the names of the other company officers so chosen he does not now distinctly remember to State with confidence [inserted above line] that he was appointed & did the duty of Corporal as well as orderly during Sd. [illegible] [end insert] - that they marched from Sd. Williamstown thro' Bennington to Castleton in Vermont, where they were stationed at the Fort at that place, but under whose command Sd. fort was at that time, he does not [illegible] distinctly remember - that whilst there, Capt. (afterwards Genl) Isaac Clark was dispatched with a party of men & a flag of [illegible - truce?] [continued with marker along the left side of the page, written sideways to rest of page] to the British Commander thus supposed to be on board the Moriah, a Vessel which lay near Crown Point - that he was selected & did duty as orderly Sergt. of said expedition, down the Lake, & in consequence thereof, was detained upon duty about week after his Company were discharged he then returned to said fort & was also then regularly dismissed by parol, & he returned from thence to his fathers house in said Dorset, to which his father had a short time previously removed - he having been absent in service in Sd. last mentioned expeditions, not less than three weeks - that he continued at said Dorset until sometime in the month of December, in the same year 1780 as he now thinks, when he returned to Sd. Williamstown & within a short time [inserted above line] about 3 or 4 weeks, as he now thinks [end insert] afterwards, went back to said Dorset, where he has ever since resided - that in the month of October 1781 according to the best of his recollections, in another alarm, he turned out again at said Dorset, as a volunteer, in the company of Vermont militia, commanded by Capt. John Gray, Lieut. Isaac Underhill, but agreeably to his present recollection & belief, one Ensign turned out - & in the Regiment commanded by Col. Pearl that he had the appointment & did the duty of orderly Sergt - during the whole of the said expedition - that they marched from said Dorset to Sd. Castleton, where they were stationed as a guard, at the Castleton mills so called [inserted above line] this [end insert] under the command of the Said Col. Pearl ( & that at the same time, the Vermont Rangers, so called, were stationed at the Castleton Fort) at least three weeks, when he, with said Company, was regularly discharged by parol & he returned to his home in said Dorset - that by reason of old age and the consequences of memory, he cannot swear positively as to dates & time & the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned above - & he might also add several other short terms of duty, or for short periods of service, & that for the said times, during which the said several periods of service were performed, he was not employed in [inserted above line] any [end insert] civil pursuit - that he has now no documentary evidence, to corroborate his aforesaid statements,  he knows at present of no living witnesses whom he can produce to prove his said services, except that during the said last mentioned term of service said Castleton, in the fall of the year 1781

Page 68

Joseph Curtis Esqr. of said Dorset, whose memory has become [inserted above line] very [end insert] considerably impaired,  who has become very deaf, by reason & in consequences of severe sickness, & old age, belonged to, & held the grade of first Sergeant in the same Company with him, agreeably to his best present recollection that for the reasons aforesaid, he had omitted to apply for his affidavit -- that to substantiate & prove the correctness of his aforesaid statements, & his credibility & also to show the general understanding & opinion of his neighbors, as to his said services, he expects to be able to produce the testimony of the Revd. William Jackson, the nearest Clergyman resident in said Town of Dorset,  also of Sylvanus Sykes Esqr. another respectable neighbor residing in Sd Dorset who are both well acquainted with his standing in Society, & have also some traditionary knowledge of his said Services. He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of any State.
    [signature of]   Wm. Dunton

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court by & before
   Henry Robinson Register --

Mr William Jackson, a Clergyman residing in the Town of Dorset, in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont & Sylvanus Sykes - residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Dunton who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration -- that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age - that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
     [signatures of]  William Jackson
                      Silvanus Sikes

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid, in open Court by & before 
     Henry Robinson  Register --

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Jackson who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Town of Dorset, & that Sylvanus Sykes -- who has also signed the same is also a resident said Dorset & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit - Certified by me
[signature]  Myron Clark  Judge of the Probate Court

I Henry Robinson Register of the Court of Probate, do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Dunton for a Pension.

In testimony to hereof I have here unto set my hand & Seal of Probate Court at Manchester this 7th day of May AD. 1833
     [signature of] Henry Robinson  Register

Page 69

[envelope addressed to:]
The Hon. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of the Pension Office
Washington

[written on the left side of envlope, sideways:]
Vt  May 14.
Retd.

Page 70

[envelope addressed to:]
The Hon. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of the Pension Office
Washington

[written on the left side of envlope, sideways:]
Vt  May 14.
Retd.

Page 71

Manchester May 7 1833

To the Hon. James L. Edwards, Commr. &c,
    Hon. Sr, Enclosed I transmit you the Declarations of Wm Dunton & John Frost taken anew, & this made out in considerable haste, I trust, that they are so far corrected from the former returned, that they will meet with your acceptance -- they say, that it is impossible for them, after this lapse of time to be more definite, as to the times of service & other particulars - but they are both very cautious as well as conscientious men, & have ultimately fixed upon times of service, of which they have no doubt, & probably much short of the true -- I am Hond. Sir, very Respectfully

Yours &c
S. Swift

Page 72

Mrs. Chas. O. Norton
Kearney, Nebraska
Aug 17th 1914

To the Hon--
  Commissioner of Pensions -
   Washington. D.C.

Dear Sir; -
  Please send me the Pension record of William Dunton - pensioned as Private - Corporal and Sergeant of Mass Troops - Pension dated Sept 18, 1833; and granted in Bennington Co. Vermont - 
I desire especially the PERSONAL and family data - contained - in the application as well as the War record -

Yours very truly - 
L. G. Norton
(Mrs. Charles Oliver Norton)