Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,571, Frederick Mordaunt Bell, Continental N. H.

Page 1

[printed form with 3 columns filled in by hand]

SERVICE
Continental
N.H.

Bell, Frederick Mordaunt
Bennett, Elizabeth
(Former widow)

NUMBER
W. 15571
B.L.Wt. 738-300
and
B.L.Wt. 2269-300

Page 2

[top left of paper]

Letter to N. Eastman March 19 '[18]47

[right side of paper]
[printed form filled out by hand]

1531
Portsmouth N Hampe
Elizabeth Bennett formerly
widow of Frederick M. Bell deceased
who died on the 4 October 1777
of Strafford in the State of New Hampshire
who was a Lieutenant and Captain in the Company commanded
by himself of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Poor - New Hampshire in the New Hampshire line for 12 months. and 29 days Lieutenant.
 11 months  and  1 "day Captain
Increased from $327.33

Inscribed in the Roll of Portsmouth
at the rate of 393 Dollars 56 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Jany
1838 and sent Nehemiah Eastman Farmington New Hampshire 

Arrears to the 4th day of Sept 1837 $2.508.14
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '3 196.78
_____
$2.704.92

Revolutionary Claim
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3.

Recorded by D. D. Addison, Clerk,
Book A Volume 2nd. Page 22

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No. 738

Frederick M. Bell
Captain
New Hampshire line
Mrs. Mary Shepard & other heirs
Warrant issued February 6th
1819

Hon. J. Gage

Page 4

Frederick M. Bell
No. 2269

Issued in pursuance of the Resolution of Congress approved March 2d. 1839. and in lieu of last Warrant No. 738.

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House of Representatives December 4 1839

James Whitcomb Esquire
Commissioner, etc.
Sir
Enclosed is the requisite evidence of the persons who are entitled to Land Warrant, under the Act or Resolve of last Session, in favor of the heirs of Captain F. W. Bell. Have the goodness to furnish me with the Warrant, for their [illeg]
Your obedient servant
George Evans

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Bells heirs
Genl. Land Office
Respectfully referred
to the B. Land Office 
6 Decr 1839

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[printed form filled out by hand]

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County

At a Probate court holden at Rochester within aforesaid county on the 14th day of September 1839-

I certify that satisfactory evidence was adduced to me to prove that Mrs. Mary Shepard is the daughter and only child now living of Capt. Frederick M. Bell and that Elisabeth, now the wife of Francis Cogswell, William Smith, & Sally Fisher now the wife of George Piper and the grandchildren and the heirs at law in fee to Capt. Frederick M. Bell who was # killed or died in the Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war, and that the above named are the only heirs of Capt Frederick M. Bell as appears by the evidence adduced-

Given under my hand and Seal of Office, this 14th day of September 1839-
Warren Lovell, Judge of Probate

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State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss- I Winthrop A. Marston Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County hereby certify that Warren Lovell is Judge of said Court for said County and that the within signature, purporting to be his, is genuine-
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate on this fourteenth day of September anno Domini 1839-
W. A. Marston, Register

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B. Bennetts
Affidavit

Page 10

I Benjamin Bennett of Alton in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire depose and say that being the son of Benjamin Bennett late of Alton aforesaid deceased I was brought up in the family of said Benjamin Bennett deceased and am knowing that said Benjammin Bennett died, according to the best of my recollection, on the 15th day of January AD. 1827- that I have lived in the same almost all of the time, with my mother, Elizabeth Bennett, since my fathers decease as aforesaid and do know that she has never been married to another since that time, but has continued to be and still is a widow-
Benjamin Bennett
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss. the 21st day of April A.D. 1837 Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin Bennett and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true- and I further certify that I am acquainted with said Bennett and consider him to be entitled to full credit-
Nehemiah Eastman Just Peace

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I Asa A. Tufts of Dover in the State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose and say that I am and for some years past [illeg] have been Clerk of the Church in said Dover over which the Rev. Dr. Belknap was Pastor in 1773- That I have the keeping of the Church Records of said Church and that I find recorded on said Records as follows-
"A Record of Marriages by Jeremy Belknap"
"1773 Dec 1. Frederick Mordant Bell & Elizth Gage both of Dover"
Asa A. Tufts
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss. April 25- 1837 Then personally appeared the above named Asa A. Tufts and made solemn affirmation that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just & true.
Before me Nehemiah Eastman Jus Peace
And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Asa A. Tufts and that consider him entitled to full Credit.
Nehemiah Eastman

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State of New-Hampshire
Strafford County ss- On the 21st day of April AD 1837-
personally appeared before me, Henry B. Rust, on of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Strafford in said state of New Hampshire, Elizabeth Bennett, a resident of Alton in said County aged eight two- years, who from bodily infirmity is not able to appear in Court, and who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 and extended by the act of Congress passed March 3rd 1837- That she was on the fourth day of July 1836, has continued to be and still is, a widow- That after the decease of her first husband - Frederick Mordaunt Bell - as herein after state, she continued to be his widow until #some day of January A.D. 1783 - on which day she was married to Benjamin Bennett - that said Benjamin Bennett died on the 15th day of Jany A.D. 1827 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period - That the said Frederick Mordaunt Bell did enter the military service of the United States in 1775, at Dover in the State of New-Hampshire as [a] Lieutenant in the company commanded by. Capt. Benjamin Titcomb, which company was attached to the Regiment under the Command of Col Poor - that he soon afterwards marched to Winter Hill in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where the Regiment was stationed - that according to

Page 13

to the best of her recollection the said Bell was, some time during the year 1775 or 1776 promoted to a Captancy and as she understood had command of a Company in said Col. Poors Regiment. That the army was marched to Canada in 1776, and the said Bell continued with it in his command as a Captain- That after the return of the army from Canada into the State of New York, said Bell still continued in Command as a Captain until the battle of Stillwater on the nineteenth day of September A.D. 1777, in which battle as she has always understood he received a mortal wound, of which he soon after died-
She further declares that she was married to the said Frederick Mordaunt Bell on the first day of December A.D. 1773 and that said Bell did die on our about the fourth day of October A.D. 1774, as before stated herein-
Elizabeth Benet
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
Before
Henry B Rust Justice of the Court of C.C. Pleas
Thereby certify that being acquainted with the above Elizabeth Bennett I consider her to be a person fully intit[led] to Credit-
Henry B. Rust
# The day not recollected

Page 14

I Elizabeth Bennett of Alton in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, Widow dispose and say in addition to my Declaration in this Case, that my first husband, Frederick Mordant Bell ever after he entered the army at Dover in this State, as a Lieutenant under Captain Titcom, did continued as I understood to act as a Lieutenant in the army, or as a Captain, without a Commission, until he was commissioned as a Captain, which I now understand was on the 8th of Nov. 1776- That according to the best of my recollection and belief my said husband continued with the army in the vicinity of Boston thro [through] the season of 1775 and the winter of 1775-6 and so much of the season of 1776 as elapsed before the army was marched to Cannada- That at the above mentioned time I was residing at my usual place of residence in Dover aforesaid and that I have no recollection of my said husband being at home more than twice after he first entered the army and went to the encampment in the vicinity of Boston and on both of those times he was on the business of the army and made but a short tarry- one of the times I recollect distinctly, he was in pursuit of Deserters- and was succesful in recovering them, as I recollect, except one- I further say that I have no recollection of my said husband belonging to any other Company but Captain Titcoms until he had the Command of a Company himself-
Elizabeth Bennet 
her X mark
Witness
Nehemiah Eastman
Morrison Bennett
State of New-Hampshire Strafford, Nov. 30th 1837 Then personally appeared the above named Elizabeth Bennett and made oath that the above affidavit by her mark subscribed is just and true.
Before me, Nehemiah Eastman Justice of the  Peace

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I Eliphalet Cloutman of Manchester in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire Esquire depose and say I was a ["soldier" scratched out] Sergeant in the war of the Revolution attached to the Company of Capt. Benjamin Titcom- that Lieutenant Frederick M. Bell was also attached to said Company- that we marched from Dover N.H. to Winter HIll in June 1775- that my engagement was for eight months- that I volunteered in the service until the latter part of September following, but having become sick & unwell to do duty, [scratched out words] I returned home and left the service- that while I was in the service Lieutenant Bell continued to be the Lieutenant of our Company- that my home was at that time in said Dover and I understood and have no doubt of the fact that Lieutenant Bell, soon after our eight months had expired received Captain's orders & raised a Company for himself to command [illeg] continuing in the service went with the Army to the north, and was there, in Canada, New York, &c until he died
Eliphalet Cloutman
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss. December 2d. 1837-
Then personally appeared the above named Eliphalet Cloutman and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true-
Before me
Nehemiah Eastman Jus. Peace
N.B. the word - the word "soldier" in the third line - and the words "expiration of that time" in the 9th line and the words - "after my time was out" in the tenth line from the top were erased - and the words "Sergeant" - "the latter part of September following" - [word scratched out] and - "Bell" - were interlined before signing-
Nehemiah Eastman Jus. Peace

Page 16

New Hampshire.

Revolutionary WIDOW, etc.
---
No. 15571

Elizabeth Bennett
Former Widow of
Frederick M Bell
Captain Revolutionary War

Act: July 4th [18]36
Index: -- Volume A, Page 52

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 17


[Right side:]
Amos Eastman
Nov 23, 1837
[Left side:]
1531
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Elizabeth Bennett formerly
widow of Frederick M. Bell deceased
who died on the 4 October 1777
Stafford in the State of New Hampshire
who was a Lieutenan and Captain in the Company commanded by himself of the 
Reiment commanded by Colonel Poor in the New Hampshire
line for 12 months. 29 days Lieutenant
11 months and 1 day Captain
Increase to $393.56
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth
at the rate of 327 Dollars 33 Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of November.
1837 and sent Nehemiah Eastman Farmington New Hampshire
---
Arrears to the 4th of September 1837 $2.127.54
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Mach [18]48 163.66
$2.291.20

Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836
Section the 3rd Act passed March 1837

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk
Book A Volume 2nd. Page 22.

Page 18

V
Elizabeth Bennett
widow of
Frederick Mordaunt Bell
New Hampshire
Sent letter Nehemiah
Eastman May 8
1837 ditto to same June
26.1837 = ditto Honorable James
Farrington 9 September 1837


October 4 July 1836 -
March 4th 1837

Act 4 July 1836 and March 2nd 1837

3 warrant [illeg] Number 738
The Claim of Mary Sheppard
as one of the Heirs at Law of
Captain Frederick. M. Bell of
the New-Hampshire Line

Wrote [illegible] N. Clay July

Page 19

Farmington NH    Free
Jan'y 1st

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Com. Pensions
Washington D.C.

Page 20

Farmington N.H. Jan. 1. 1838
J. L. Edwards Esq.
I think it is four weeks to-day since I returned to you Mrs. Bennetts Pension Certificate with additional evidence, hoping to have an immediate return, without waiting the long delay some times necessary when Congress is in session, but not having recd. any thing I write this merely to express a wish that I may now have an immediate answer, as I have business in a short time, that will call me fromthis place to be about some considerable time, and I should be glad to put into the old Ladys hands a new Certificate before I go-
Yours &c
Nehemiah Eastman

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Farmington NH Freed

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com. Pensions
Washington City

[in faint script perpendicular to address]
24 June
N. Eastman
[illeg] Elizth Bennett

X

Page 22

Farmington N.H. June 19th 1837
Sir,
According to yours of the 8th ult "the decision upon the Claim of Elizabeth Bennett formerly the Widow of Capt. Bell would be deferred until the alleged service in 1775 be sustained by the Rolls, should they be found."
I was informed by the same letter that you had written to Gov. Hill of this State requesting him to send you the rolls of 1775 - By the information, which I have recd from Concord I am inclined to believe that the rolls, which may have bent sent from Concord will not afford the expected information, and am induced to enquire, what if they should not? Is not the evidence already filed in the case satisfactory that he (Bell) entered the army as a Lieutenant, under Capt. Titcomb in 1775? If not I have no doubt other evidence could be had tho I do not know at this time exactly the witness to be called upon. It is, however, as well known as any of those old officers, in the vicinity of Dover that

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that soon after the battle of Bunker Hill (June 17th 1775) Capt Titcomb raised his Company and that Bell was his Lieutenant - and that further, he continued in the service from that time until he died Oct 9. 1777 - making something over two years in all that he was in the service -
Yours respectfully-
Nehemiah Eastman

Page 24

Pay Roll of Captain Benjamin Titcombs
Company in Colonel Enoch Poors Regiment to the
1sr of August 1775
---
Names Frederick Mordaunt Bell
Rank Lieutenant
Time in Service 2. 11
Rate per Month 50 /
Amount of Wages  9.11.5
No. of Miles Traveled 66.56
Whole Amount 916.11
Wages Received 4
Amount of stopages 4
Paid by S. Hobart 516.11

State of New Hampshire
Secretary's  Office September 22. 1837.
I certify the above to be a true transcript from
a pay roll of Captain Benjamin Titcomb's Company
in Colonel Enoch Poor's Regiment, now on file in this office, and that I can find further evidence of his service in this office, that there are but very few similar [illegible] [illegible] said office. In testimony whereof I have hereto set the Seal of the State.

Ralph Metcalf Secretary.

Page 25

I George Bell of New-Castle in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire aged seventy five years, testify depose and say, that I am a Brother to Frederick M. Bell, who was a Lieutenant and Captain in the Army, in the War of the Revolution; - That my brother aforesaid entered the service as a Lieutenant on or about May 17th 1775, and that he never left the service, to my knowledge or belief until his decease; on, or about the 9th day of October, Seventeen hundred and Seventy seven, when he was killed in Battle, he was a Captain and acted as a field Officer and had command of the Regiment, as I understood, on the day he was killed: During the time he served, he was home once or twice, on furlough; but I always understood he held his Office in the Army, and wore his uniform whilst at home.
George Bell

Page 26

State of New Hampshire
County of Rockingham Ss

Portsmouth the first day of December 1837
Then George Bell, personally appearing, subscribed and made affirmation in due form of law, that the facts stated in the foregoing affidavit, are, in all points just and true: Before me:--
I also Certify, that I have been acquainted with this affiant, for upwards of twenty years, during which time has always been a Magistrate and for several years, in addition, an Officer of the Customs for this District; and that, in my opinion, he is one of the most respectable men, and credible Witness in this Community.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my [illeg] seal this day month and year, last aforewritten
William. B. Parker
Notary=public

Page 27

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC.

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Farmington New Hampshire December 4 1837
J. L. Edwards Esquire-
Believing that the enclosed and accompanying affidavit clearly prove that Capain Bell did continue in the public service ever after he entered it in May 1775 until he was killed in October  1777 I return to you Mrs Bennetts Certificate as requested in your letter to me of 23d. ultimo.
Should you be satisfied with the evidence you will please send me a Certificate of husbands Pension tho'[though] it is proper for me to observe here that Mrs. Bennett has drawn the amount due to 4th September last now returned-
Yours etc etc
Nehemiah Eastman
8=

Page 29

Farmington NH.    Paid 10
March 15

Mar 19 47

J L Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, DC
Paid

Elizabeth Bennett
New Hampshire [illegible] 36
and
Mr.Hanson

Page 30

Farmington N.H. March 13th 1847
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir,
Congress having come to an end I suppose you may possibly leisure to answer such enquiries I may here make. It is my intention to make no improper enquiry, but on a full examination of the laws pertaining to the questions hereafter put, I must confess myself unable to satisfy my own mind in relation to this matter-
1st Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, a Pensioners under the act of 1836 died sometime since leaving a considerable sum due from the U.S. Administration is taken on her estate She was the wife of Major Bell by whom she had children- he having been killed in battle & she having since that time married Capt Bennett, by whom she also had children, the question is, to which family of children - the Bell family, or the Bennett family, shall the money go?
2nd. Isaac Hanson was a pensioner but lately died leaving a widow- Their marriage took place in 1798- Can she obtain a pension? I have examined the several acts of Congress on this subject, but do not satisfy myself fully about her rights. In your letter of June 26 1844 published in Doc. No. 95 - 1st Session of 29th Congress, Page 173 you say

Page 31

many persons will be entitled to pensions under the act of June 17 1844, who have not been &c under other acts ... again "in all cases in which the husband was a pensioner, the widows pension will commence on the day of his death, under" &c &c
Is the law as this letter indicates? Can all widows of Pensioners whenever married become pensioners or must their marriage have taken place as is provided by the acts of 1836 and 1838?
I need not trouble you by saying more but will express a hope that you answer this soon-
Respectfully yours &c
Nehemiah Eastman

Page 32

[Illegible] 
Eliz Bennet
Nov 22
No. 1531

Farmington, N..
No. 17
Free

L. Edwards Esq--
Com. of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Page 33

under any mistake as to law and the mode of counting at the Department the amount would be entitled to bring for his service for 13 months less one as a Lieutenant and 11 months and one day as Captain would be not far from $420.00
How then does the Certificate happen to be for $327.33 only? Is it in consequence of an error in the least, or is it because the officer to whom the decision belong to make, was not satisfied from the witness produced that the service was continuous from the time he entered the service?
If the latter than we ask permission to introduce further evidence; because the fact is so that he (Bell) did continue in the service after he first entered until he died and there can be no doubt that evidence of the fact can now be produced. I would have produced more evidence  before as I intimated in some of my former letters but I did suppose that the evidence was plenary and therefore, that further evidence was unnecessary- I will, however, produced it if necessary to establish the Widows right-
I shall be happy to hear from this with all convenient dispatch-
Your obedient servant
Nehemiah Eastman

Page 34

Bloomfield Decr 28th 1818
To the Secretary of War
Please to deliver to the Hon Joshua Gage, member of Congress, the law warrant which may be granted me as on of the items at law of my late Father Fredk M. Bell of New Hampshire decead and I hereby authorize the [illeg] Gage to [illeg] any receipts on his recovery my land warrant aforesaid
with much respect yours
Mary Shepard
Witness Euselius Weston

Page 35

Department of War
Pension Office
December 17, 1818
I hereby certify that it appears from the Muster rolls from the State of New Hampshire, on file in this office that Captain Frederick M Bell, of said line, died on the 9th October 1777.
J. L. Edwards

Page 36

I Michael McClary of Epsom in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, marshal of said State, late an officer in the War of the Revolution, and in the New Hampshire line, do upon oath testify and declare that I knew the late Captain Frederick M. Bell, who was attached to the N.H. Regiment in the year 1777. The said Bell was in the battles at the taking of Burgoyne, was wound at StillWater on the 4th October, and died of his wound on the 9th or 10th of the same October 1777. - I myself belonged to the Army at this time, and was well acquainted with the said Fredk M. Bell.
MIchl McClary
State of New Hampshire\
Rockingham County ss.
Subscribed and sworn to
this 25th day of January 1819
Before me
Saml Morril Jus. Peace

Page 37

House of Representatives
Feb 9th 1819
I Certify that I am well acquainted 
with Samuel Merrell Esq within named,
I am satisfied the within his signature, 
and that he is a Justice of the Peace
for Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Joshua Gage

Page 38

Payment to be made
at Portsmouth N.H.
by [illeg] [illeg] Bk
Agent for paying Pen'ers
in the Agency of 
Portsmouth

Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Book A Vol. 2
Page 22 by D D Addison
Clerk

Page 39

[printed letterhead]
WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States, of the 4th July, 1836, & the law of March 3 1837 Elizabeth Bennett of New-Hampshire, formerly widow of Frederick M. Bell dec'd. who was a Lieutenant & Captain in the War of the Revolution is entitled to receive Three hundred & twenty seven dollars and thirty three cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March and 4th of September.
Given at the War Office of the United
States, this 4th day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty-Seven
J. R. Poinsett
Secretary of War
Examined and
Countersigned.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

Page 40

No. 2047 Declaration -
Enld 8 Nov 76
died Oct 9 1777 Capt
Recd Regt p 13

Page 41

State of New Hamphire
Strafford County ss
I Francis Cogswell
Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas for said County hereby certify that Henry B. Rust Esquire is a Justice of said Court of Common Please and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine -
I also certify that Nehemiah Eastman Esquire is a Justice of the Peace for said Country of Strafford and his signatures affixed to the annexed affidavits are genuine -
In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this twenty-fifth day of April AD 1837 -
Francis Cogswell Clerk

Page 42

Fred Mordaunt Bell
Captain 11 mo and 1 day
[illeg] 176 rolls. Ried,
Regt p 13.
[illeg] [illeg] 8 1776 &
[illeg] Oct
of 1777

[at bottom of paper]
James [paper torn]
affidavit

Page 43

I Samuel Runnals now of Rochester (but formerly of Durham) in the Country of Strafford and State of New-Hampshire depose and say that I was acquainted with Frederick M. Bell, who was a Captain of a Company of New Hampshire Troops in Col. Poors Regiment -- In 1775 while the troops were stationed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at a place called Winter Hill, I saw said Bell after, and continued [edge of paper torn] my acquaintance and knowledge of him until after the troops were marched to Canada in 1776, - and return [paper torn] over Lake Champlain - At this time the Regiment to which I belonged was stationed, as I understood at a place there called Chimney point, after this I never had any personal acquaintaince with him, but understood by common report and have no doubt of the truth of it, that he continued in his Comman in the Army until the battle of Stillwater on the 19th Sept. 1777 in which battle he was either killed or mortally wounded and died soon there after - that I have been acquainted with the Widow Ben[paper torn] who was said to have been the wife and widow of said [paper torn] M. Bell before she became the wife of Benjamin Bennett having lived a long time in her neighbourhood and do know that said Benjamin Bennett has been deceased a considerable number of years and that Mrs Bennett ha[s] continued to be and still is a widow -
Samuel Rannals
State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. April 12th 1837 There personally appeared the above named Samuel Rannals and made solemn affirmation that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is just and true
Before me
Nehemiah Eastman Jus.Peace
And I hereby further certify that the above named Samuel Rannals is fully entitled to Credit he being a person of the first respectability
Nehemiah Eastman Jus Peace -

Page 44

I James Burnham of Somersworth in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire depose and say that I did enlist as a Soldier in 1775 at the Town of Dover in said State, into the Company there formed and commanded by Capt. Benjamin Titcomb that Frederick M. Bell was then Lieutenant of the same Company and Ephraim Evans was ensign- that said Company was attached to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Poor - That my first engagement was for eight months only and we were stationed at Winter Hill some time during that time - that after our first engagement was out, I reenlisted and said Bell became a Captain in the same regiment - In 1776 the army was marched to Canada and I am knowing that said Bell continued in his Command - After we left Canada I am knowing that Colonel Poor's regiment was stationed at a place called Chimney point near Crown Point - Then after awhile we went to Mount Independence - that I left the army in the Spring of 1777 at which time said Bell was continued in his Command as Captain - that I have never seen him (said Bell) since I left the Army above stated, but I understood by rumor report and have no doubt of the truth of it that he continued in his Command in the Army until the battle of Stillwater on the 19th September 1777 in which battle he was mortally wounded and soon there after died -
That I was acquainted with Elizabeth Gage before she was married but knew that she was married to said Bell before he went into the Army - that she continued a widow since time, but was afterwards married to Benjamin Bennett, who has been some years deceased and that she has continued and still is a widow -
James Burnham

Page 45

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss April 12th 1837 Then the within named James Burnham personally appeared and made solemn oath that the within affidavit by him subscribed is just & true before me 
Nehemiah Eastman Jus. Peace
And I hereby further certify that being acquainted with the within named James Burnham I consider him to be a person fully entitled to Credit-
Nehemiah Eastman Jus Peace

[written in lower right corner]
James Burnham
Affidavit

Page 46

V2047
Elizabeth Bennett
wid of F. M. Bell
NH

Admd
8 mo. Lieut $106.66
11 mo 1 d Capt 220.67
______________________
$327.33

NH Troop
Cap Titcomb
Col Poor

[in center]
J.L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washintong D.C.

Page 47

Farmington New Hampshire April 27 1837
Dear Sir,
Accompanying this are the papers of Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, to the preparation of which I have personally attended and hope they will be found to be correct - and hope you will excuse me for bespeaking an early attention to them [3 words underlined]. The old Lady as you will see is very aged, and I will add is very poor, tho [though] she is the survivor and was once the wife of as brave a man as ever led a Company to the field of Battle-
You will of course have the return directed to me-
Your etc
Nehemiah Eastman

Page 48

I James Burnham of Somersworth in the County of Strafford & State of New Hampshire depose and say in addition to what I have testified in this case, that soon after or about the time that our term of eight months expired for which we engaged when we entered the public service in the summer of 1775 in the Company commanded by Captain Titcom, Lieutenant Frederick M. Bell, who had been our Lieutenant, took Captains orders and in a very short time raised a company for himself to command, but whether he recd a commission, or if he did receive one when he recd it, I know not. That when the army left Boston for the north by the way of New-York, which I think was in the spring of 1776, said Bill did command a company to my certain knowledge, for I was well acquainted with him, frequently saw him - that his, said Bells Comany was attached to the same Regiment Capt. Titcoms Company belonged to, which Company I still belonged - That the REgiment to which both companies were attached still was commanded by Col. Poor-
I further testify and say that I do know from my personal knowledge that said Bell did continue in the public service and was attached to the army, acting either as Lieutenant or Captain from the time he first entered it in the summer of 1775 until he died in the fall of 1777-
James Barnham
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss December 2d. 1837- Then personally appeared the above named James Burnham and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit by him signed is true
Before me
Nehemiah Eastman Jus Peace
And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Elizabeth Bennett, Eliphalet Cloutman and James Burnham and that they are personally entitled to Credit- Ihave known the said Cloutman for many years as a magistrate in the county where we reside, a member of the Legislature of this State &
Nehemiah Eastman Jus Peace

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State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss.
I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Superior Court of Jurisdiction for said County hereby certify that Nehemial Eastman Esqire before whom the foregoing affidavits appear to have been taken is a Magistrate as there stated and that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this fourth day of December Anno Dominini 1837
F Cogswell, Clerk

Page 50

Mary Shepard of Bloomfield County of Somerset and District of Maine certify, that I am daughter & one of the legal Heirs at law of Frederick M. Bell of Dover, State of New Hampshire deceased who had a Captain's Commission in the United States Army in the Revolutionary War and died in October seventeen hundred and seventy seven at or near Stillwater in the State of New York of a wound he received in action while in the service -
Bloomfield June 4th 1818
Mary Shepard

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Somerst ss
I Bryce McLellan Esq Judge of Probate within and for said County of Somerset hereby certify and make known that it has been satisfactorly proved to me that Mary Shephard of Bloomfield in said County is one of the legal Heirs at law of Captain Frederick M. Bell deceased who was an officer in the United States service in the Revolutionary War Also that the foregoing Statement of facts by her subscribed

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[second page]

- are strictly true -

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed mySeal Oficial this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighteen
Bryce McLellan J of P