Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23570, Benjamin Berry, N.H.

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SERVICE
N.H.  
Berry or Berrey, Benjamin
Sobriety   
NUMBER
W:23570  
B. C. Wt. 2437-100
CONTENTS
[blank]

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I Abigail Watson of Durham in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire on oath depose and say that I am ninety years of age and upwards, I was born in Durham aforesaid, and have always lived in this Town from my birth.  I was well acquainted with Sobriety Duda in my younger days who was about my age.  I lived in the same neighborhood with her until she was married.  She was the daughter of Benmore Duda, and recollect two brothers of hers named Lemuel and Asa, there was another brother by the name of Obadiah and I think he was the oldest, there was a brother called Joseph who died when he was Young, the daughters were Sobe, as she was called, Phebe and Patience - Phebe and Patience married men by the name of
Durgin, they have been dead many years- Sobe married a man who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, by the name of Benjamin Berry, whom I used to see at Benmore Duda's about the time she was married.  He was dressed as a soldier and was said to have been a soldier by the People of the neighborhood - Sobe Berry was a widow about sixty years ago and lived at one time in a little House in the road in the neighborhood where she was born and had one or two children.  Benjamin Berry was not a native of
Durham and I never was acquainted with him till about the time he was married.  He had been in the place a short time before they were married.  It was said that he was a
deserter, and that he was taken up and carried back into the Army.  Benjamin Berry died about the time of the close of the Revolutionary War and I should judge the had been married four or five years before his death perhaps more

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there never was any question that Sobe Duda was lawfully married to Benjamin Berry, and I
never heard the fact disputed or questioned and it was always said the were married by Parson Adams. I never heard of or saw any other man by the name of Benjamin Berry.
Abigail (her X mark) Watson

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. 
August 13th 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Abigail Watson, whom I believe to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her signed.
before me Seth S Walker Justice of the Peace

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Portland, Maine
21 May 1849
Sir
I have received your letter of May 17 1849 Military Land Warrant No 2437 issued to Sally Morell the sole heir of Benjamin Berry decd, who was a private in the regiment of the New Hampshire Line commanded by Col Reed in the Revolutionary War for one hundred acres of land and given at the Dept. of the Int. on the 16th May 1849.
I am very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
F. Bradford

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4522
Maine
Sobriety Berry
widow of Benjamin Berry wo died in
N, Hampshire soon after the Rev. War
of Piscataquis in the State of Main
who was a Private in the Comp commanded
by Captain [Blank] of the Regt commanded
Col. Adams in the Revolution for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland
at the rate of 80 Dollars [Blank] Cents
per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of a
[Blank] 1848 and sent to 
Freeman Bradford Esq. of Portland, Me.
Arrears to the 4th of [Blank]
Semiannual allowance ending  none Present
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the [Blank]
Recorded by H. Rumpkin  Clerk,
Book C  Vol. 1 Page 2
[Illegible]

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State of Maine
County of Piscataquis ss. 
On this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven personally appeared before me the subscriber Judge of Probate in and for the County aforesaid Sobriety Berry a resident of Wellington in said County aged ninety one years who being duly sworn according to law doth upon her oath make the following declaration in order to receive the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836.
And this declarant states that her husband Benjamin Berry was a resident of Epson State of New Hampshire in the time of the Revolutionary war, and was a soldier in the continental Army and served as she believes nearly the whole of the war. Her husband enlisted for during the war and she believes was in the Regiment to which Major or Col Winborn Adams belonged for she has heard her husband speak of that officer and say that he was killed in battle. This declarant states that when her husband had been in the service two or three years he had a furlough to go home and overstayed his furlough and was returned a deserted.  He was taken up after he had remained at home some time and again entered the service and remained in the service to the end of the war and had an honourable [honorable] discharge. This declarant states that her husband was taken up by his brother Lemuel

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Duda whom she believes was an Ensign in the Continental Army and went back into the service with him.  She was married and had one child before her husband came out of the Army. This declarant is unable to state the names of the officers under which her husband served but she has heard him name many officers of the army but has forgotten their names.  After the close of the war he went to sea and died in South Carolina of the Yellow fever soon after the close of the war of the Revolution.  He sailed from Portsmouth she believes with Capt Chapman. Her oldest child is now living and is about seventy years of age.
And this declarant says that she was married to Benjamin Berry in Durham New Hampshire by the Reverend Mr. Adams more than seventy one years ago and at the time of her marriage was a resident of Durham and lived in that town while her husband was in the service and that her husband died soon after the close of the war as she has before stated and she has remained a widow ever since.  She therefore claims a pension by virtue of the act aforesaid and adduces the following testimony in support of her claim.
[signature] X her mark Sobriety Berry
Witness James Bassel
M Smith

On the day and year first above written personally appeared the above named Sobriety Berry an aged woman to whom the foregoing declaration was read as the same is written & she understanding the same signed & made oath that the same is true. And I do further certify that by reason of bodily infirmities the said declarant is unable to attend court and

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that the foregoing proceedings were at her  residence in the town of Wellington.
E. Packard
Judge of the Probate Court for said County

State of Maine
Piscataquis  ss.
I Lyman Lee, Register of Probate of said County hereby certifies that Ephraim Packard is Judge of the Probate Court within and for the County of Piscataquis, duly commissioned and qualified agreeably to the laws of the state, that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and forty seven.
Attest. Lyman Lee Register

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[Declaration for Bounty Land.]
STATE OF MAINE.
County of [Blank]  ss. 
I Sally Morrel heir at law of Benjamin Berry do upon oath testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that said Benjamin Berry did enter the service of the United States in Epsom, N. H., for the term of During the war in 1777 and served as a private soldier in the Company of Captain [Blank] in the infantry  Regiment of New Hampshire under the command of Colonel Reed and that he continued in the service aforesaid until the end of the war and was honourably [honorably] discharged. 
I further declare, that I have never received a warrant for the bounty land promised to the soldiers of the Revolution on the part of United States, nor do I believe that the said Benjamin Berry ever received the same in his life time, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever: Therefore
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Sally Morril, aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine to be my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my name, to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, the bounty land, scrip, or a warrant for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid, by virtue of the Acts of Congress, passed on and since the 16th September 1776.
And my said Attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered, for me, and in my name, to transfer, assign and set over all my right, title and interest in said warrant or bounty land scrip: also, for me and in my name, to sell grant and convey to such person or persons, and for such sum or sums of money as my said Attorney shall deem most for my advantage and profit such land as may be granted to me under my application as aforesaid and upon such sale or sales convenient and proper conveyances to make, seal, deliver and acknowledge; and for me to receive all and every sum of money or other consideration, which shall be coming to me on account of said sale or sales; and generally giving to my said Attorney or his substitutes, full power and authority, touching the premises, to do, execute,

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proceed, and finish all things, in as ample a manner as I might do if personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all lawful acts done by my said Attorney by virtue hereof. 
In Testimony Whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, this eighth day of June A.D. 1847.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in Presence of 
E. Packard
Sally Morell

County of Piscataquis  ss.
June 8 1847
Then personally appeared the abovenamed Sally Morrell subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and made oath to the same, and in my presence acknowledged the Power of Attorney thereto subjoined, to be her free act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. Before me,
James Burrel
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Piscataquis ss.
IN TESTIMONY that the abovenamed James Burrel was a Magistrate duly qualified and authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments at the above date, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office, this sixth day of July A.D. 1847.
E. Packard  Judge of Probate

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I Asa Smith of Wellington in the County of Piscataquis and State of Maine now commorant  in Portland in the County of Cumberland and State aforesaid on oath depose testify and say that I was thirty nine years of age on the seventh of April last.  I was born in the town of Union Lincoln County and resided there till I was about thirteen years of age. Since that time about twenty six years I have resided in Wellington. I am the son of Sally Morrell by her first husband Nicholas Smith my father. Sobriety Berry is my grandmother and lived in the town of Union when I was a boy and resided there with my father. Soon after my father & his family moved to Wellington or Bridgetown as it was then called. My Grandmother removed there also and has continued there to the present time. She has lived in Solon a few years out of that time. She now lives with me.  I have often heard  Sobriety Berry, my Grandmother, speak of the Revolutionary services of her husband, Benjamin Berry, and also about his death.  She has told me that her husband served during the war and that at one time he overstayed his furlough and for fear of punishment tried to keep out of the way and secreted himself in a house but was finally taken up by her brother Lemuel Duda and carried back into the Army.  She says that after the close of the war he went to South Carolina and died there of the Yellow fever. My Mother Sally Morrell is the only child living

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of Benjamin Berry.  She has always told me that she was born in Old Durham as she calls the name of the town, in N. H.  She had one brother by the name of Joseph Berry who died before he was married and left no children. From the information that I have received from my mother and grandmother, I have no doubt but Benjamin Berry, my Grandfather, served during the war of the Revolution and was entitled to Bounty land as a wars man and that he died soon after the war.  My Grandmother has always told me that she was married before her husband left the service and even before he was taken up and carried back into the army.
[signature] Asa Smith

State of Maine
Cumberland ss. 
Portland July 10th 1847 
Then appeared the above named Asa Smith a credible witness who dictated subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit and that the same is true so far as it relates to facts within his own knowledge and the evidence he believes to be true according to his best knowledge information and belief.
Before me [signature] Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace

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I Eleazer Bennett of Durham in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire on oath depose and say that I am ninety seven years of age and upwards. I was born in Old Durham New Hampshire, so called, and have resided in the same Town the whole of my life excepting the time I was in the war of the Revolution, and some short periods when I worked out in my younger days. I served under Capt. Winborn Adams and Capt. Alphons Chesley in 1775 and 1776 at Cambridge having entered Capt. Winborn Adams Company as a substitute for Trueworthy Durgin, the first of September 1775 and remained in said company three months. After I had served three months under Capt. Adams I was discharged and came home, and immediately after enlisted under Capt. Chesley and served under him four months, being the term of two several enlistments, and was discharged a few days after the British Troops left Boston, which was on or about the 17th of March 1776.  My next enlistment and service was under Capt. Smith Emerson in 1776, which service was performed in the State of New York and was in the battle of  Long Island at which time Genl Sullivan was taken prisoner, this last service was three months.
I was well acquainted with Benmore Duda who was a near neighbor to me in the time of the revolutionary War and who lived a Tenant twenty two years under Col Joseph Smith. During the whole of the twenty two years, I was intimately acquainted with said Benmore Duda and his family, he had two wives while he lived here, the maiden name of the first was Crummet, and of the second

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Bickford, the sons by the first wife were as follows, viz: Obadiah, Asa, Lemuel, and Joseph, who died young.  He also had the following daughters by the first wife viz: Pheby, who married David Durgin, and died soon after she was married, Patience, who married Joseph Durgin, cousin to David Durgin, and Sobriety who married Benjamin Berry, who was a soldier of the Revolution at the time she was married to him.  Benjamin Berry was not a native of Durham, but came to this Town a Soldier on furlough, in the time of the War, and put up or stopped at Benmore Duda's, became acquainted with Sobriety his daughter and was married to her a short time after he came to this Town. They went together to Parson Adams and were married at his house.  I did not see them married, but recollect the circumstance well because the family of Benmore Duda were opposed to the match, and we used to laugh about it. They went to the Ministers on foot, the distance of more than two miles to be married. While Benjamin Berry was in Durham at this time he was sick or pretended to be and overstaid [over stayed] his furlough and then tried to conceal himself. He was taken up however and carried back into the Army.  I think I saw him once afterwards and that was after the War. He died soon after the war and left Sobriety a widow who lived in Durham and vicinity a number of years. The oldest child of Sobriety Berry was named Sally who was born in Durham soon after her mothers marriage. Sally Berry married a man by the name of Smith in Loudon, she having gone to Loudon a short time before her marriage to keep house for a brother in law of mine by the name of Ephraim Clough.  She also had a son by the name

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of Joseph Berry who learned a shoe makers trade and died without children in some town in Massachusetts and left some property for his mother. Sobriety Berry and her daughter Sally (after the marriage of the latter) went into the State of Maine and I have not heard from her since until I was informed about her by Mr Coe,  Town Clerk of Durham two or three weeks ago.  There never was any question but Sobriety Duda was lawfully married to Benjamin Berry in the time of the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Berry, when in Durham at the time of his marriage, wore a soldiers dress and was reputed to have been a soldier on furlough of the Continental Army. I do not know of any of the family of Benmore Duda now living, some members of the family have changed their names from Duda to Durrell or Durell, and some of the name of Durrell or Durell are living in this vicinity but I believe they are descendants of Nicholas Duda, otherwise Durell who was a brother of Benmore.  Lemuel Duda, the brother of Sobriety Berry, was in the service as I understand the whole of the revolutionary War.
Eleazer (his X mark) Bennett
Witness, Seth Walker

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. August 13th 1847. 
Then personally appeared the above named Eleazer Bennett known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed; I further certify that the said Bennett is in full possession of his intellectual faculties and exhibits no imbecility of mind, and that the above affidavit was dictated by him.
[signature] Seth L. Walker Justice of the Peace

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The written declaration by Sally Morrill, and the Certificate of E. Packard, Judge of Probate, were detached from the Pension papers of Mrs. Sobriety Berry, the widow of Benjamin Berry, decd decd who was a soldier in the New Hampshire line. These papers, with others to which they were attached, were all legally authenticated.
A certificate of Pension No 4522, issued the 1st April 1848 for Sobriety Berry of Portland, Maine, and the same was delivered to Freeman Bradford, Esq. of said Portland.

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Benjamin Berry
No. 2437
Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine

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Portland March 3 1849
Sir
I would call your attention to the claim of the heir at law of Benjamin Berry for Bounty Land, contained in the declaration of Sobriety Berry for a pension under the act of 1836 and which claim was suspended for the reasons set forth in your letter to me of the 3d Sept 1847.
This claim is renewed by virtue of the Act of June 26 1848 and I presume that the testimony submitted in August 1847 Will be found to be ample and satisfactory.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
[signature] Freeman Bradford

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Dist: Col-a

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State of Maine
County of Piscataquis ss.  July Term 1847
I, Ephraim Packard, Judge of Probate Court for and within said County, hereby certify that it has been satisfactorily proved to me in open Court, being a Court of Record, that Benjamin Berry, formally a resident of Epsom N. H. died about sixty years ago in the State of South Carolina, and that Sobriety Berry, now of Wellington, is his widow, and has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband. I further certify that it has been satisfactorily proved that Sally Morrill is the heir and only heir at law of said Benjamin Berry deceased.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven.
[signature] E. Packard Judge of Probate

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Declaration for Bounty
Land due Benja Berry
by
Sally Morrell
Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine
Recd Augt 19th 47

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State of Maine
County of Piscataquis ss.
July Term 1847
I Ephraim Packard Judge of Probate Court for and within said County hereby that it has been satisfactorily proved to me in open Court, being a Court of Record, that Benjamin Berry formerly a resident of Epsom New Hampshire died about sixty years ago in the State of South Carolina, and that Sobriety Berry now of Wellington is his widow and has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband. I further certify that it has been satisfactorily proved that Sally Morrell is
the heir and only heir at law of Benjamin Berry
deceased.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven.
Signed E. Packard Judge of Probate

The above is a true copy of an original paper filed in the case of Sobriety Berry widow of Benja Berry for a pension under the Act of 1836 with the exception of the word New Hampshire instead of the letters "N. H."
[signature] Freeman Bradford J. P.
Portland July 10th 1847

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N 6980
Sobriety Berry
wd of Benjamin
Me.
Act 4 July 1836
Ilegible] 
$80.00 per ann
frm 4 March 1831
Freeman Bradford
of Portland  Me
Now Present

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Pension Office
March  1848
Sir
I have the honor to return herewith
Mrs Shew's letter

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Portland August 17 1847
Sir
I herewith forward the declaration and other papers in the case of Sobriety Berry, widow of Benjamin Berry, for a pension under the act of 1836. The Books of the town of Durham, as will be seen by the affidavit of the town Clerk, do not contain any record of marriages previous to 1780, and the records of the Rev John Adams, formerly of that town, cannot be found from 1763 to 1781, which time said marriage is alleged to have been solemnized. Positive and documentary proof, however, that she was the wife of Benjamin Berry in 1782, is contained on the receipt of Sobriety Berry now in the office of the Secretary of State N. H., a copy of which is here in transmitted. And it also identifies the claimant as the wife of Benjamin Berry who was a soldier for the war in the New Hampshire Regt in 1782. We claim a pension for the widow by virtue of her husband's service from the time he was taken up in 1781 to the end of the war. I also forward the declaration of Sally Morrell, the only heir at law of Benjamin Berry, for the Bounty Land due to her father. The certificate of heir ship is contained in the papers annexed to the declaration of Mrs Berry.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt.
Freeman Bradford

J. L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

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Sobriety Berry
Sep 11 1847

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Pension Office
September 11th, 1847
Sir
The papers in the case of Sobriety Berry, widow of Benjamin Berry, have been examined and filed under the Act of 4th July 1836.
Mrs Berrys declaration furnishes us other specification of her husbands service than that derived from the certificate of the Secretary of New Hampshire (which certificate was in doubt the base of her claim, as it bears date prior to her declaration she will be required, therefore, before she can receive the benefits of the service of Benjamin Berry, identity her husband with that soldier by the testimony of respectable witnesses, who were in service with him; or if such proof cannot be obtained, she must sustain her declaration as regards her age and her husbands death and his character as a Revolutionary soldier by aged persons of Known high character, such Judges, members of Congress, or other respectable citizens who have been honored with the conference of the Public. Benjamin Berry served more than two years in the New Hampshire line, and it appears from the Certificate of the Secretary of New Hampshire , that his wife was named

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Sobriety; but the evidence now filed does not identify to the satisfaction of this Department claimants husband with that soldier.
I am, Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
J. L. Edwards

Freeman Bradford, Esq.
Portland, Maine

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Portland Jany 3d 1848
Sir
I transmit to you certain additional testimony in the case of Sobriety Berry widow of Benjamin Berry decd who was a soldier in Reeds N. H. Regiment in the revolutionary War. We claim to have adduced in this case more certain and reliable proof of identity and service to the end of the war, than ordinarily can be found in claims of this kind. This proof is to be found in the certificates of the Secretary of N. H. wherein is given a receipt of Sobriety Berry in the year 1782 and to which is appended the note of the Auditor. That the signer of said receipt was the wife of Benja Berry. This certificate not only shown that Sobriety Berry was the wife of Benja Berry but that she was the wife of a soldier of that name then in the service. The declaration of the claimant is further corroborated by a large number of witnesses, all of whom are certified to be persons highly credible by Judge Smith of Durham and others. The additional testimony further shows how the same was first brought to my knowledge and I confidently believe that no case can be presented less objectionable or more worthy your favorable consideration.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
[signature] F Bradford

J. L. Edwards, Esq
Commr of Pensions
Washington D. C.

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I Valentine Smith of Durham New Hampshire, aged seventy three years depose and say that for many years I have been acquainted with Eleazer Bennett, Abigail Watson, Adoniram Griffin and his wife Ruth Griffin and Elijah Willey all of said Durham, aged people, also with Andrew Doe of the neighboring town of Newmarket, a man of property and respectability, and that they are all persons whose statements are entitled to full credit and belief. As to Mary Tucker and David Watson, I am not so well acquainted with them, but from my acquaintance with those persons who have certified to their credibility, I should not hesitate to give full credit to their testimony. I further state that I have held the offices of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and of the Court of  Sessions within this State for several years; and also have represented this town in the State Legislature a number of years, besides holding town offices for thirty years.
[signature] Valentine Smith

State of New Hampshire
Strafford Co. ss  December 11th. 1847.
Personally appearing, the said Valentine Smith made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed. 
before me [signature] Seth Walker Justice Peace

I certify
that the testimony of the said Valentine Smith is entitled to full faith and credit.
[signature] Seth S. Walker Jus Peace

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David Watson

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Pension under the act of March 1818
[illegible]
David Watson of Newmarket in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, on oath depose and say, that I am a pensioner of the United States, and a soldier of the Revolution. I was eighty eight years of age on the third day of February last past. I served in Colonel Reed's Regiment in the Company commanded, during the latter part of my service by Captain Fogg. While in the said service I knew Lemuel Duda, of Dunham in the County of Strafford and State aforesaid, who, while in the army, married a Dutch Woman. I knew also a soldier by the name of Benjamin Berry who served in said Reed's Regiment, and my impression is that he served during the War. I do not remember of ever having seen said Berry since the close of the War, nor do I know where he went. I was born in said Newmarket in which town I lived when I went into the Army. I was in said service seven years.
[signature] David Watson

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss. 
December 8th A. D. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named David Watson, known by me to be a person of truth and veracity and a creditable witness, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
Before me [signature] James M. Chapman, Justice of the Peace

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I William Collins of Harmony in the County of Somerset on oath depose and say that I am Fifty nine years of age and have resided in Harmony for the last twelve years. I have known Mrs Sobriety Berry ever since I resided in this place. When I first knew Society Berry she made it her home at Nicholas Smiths whose wife was her daughter. It has always been said that she was the widow of a revolutionary soldier and for several years past that she was entitled to a pension. Sometime last winter I had a conversation with a Mr Thurston who was in this town, in relation to the widows of revolutionary men. I mentioned to him that Mrs  Berry was undoubtedly entitled to a pension and that the report had always been that her husband was a soldier and served all the war, and that he had been dead a great many years. Mr Thurston then informed me that he would make further inquires and write to some one who was acquainted with her claim. I have since heard that Mrs Berry has made application for a pension. It has been the common report for several years in this place that Mrs Berry was the widow of a revolutionary soldier & I never heard the fact doubted. The age of Mrs Berry I should judge to be about 90 years. She had a daughter who died this fall aged about 70 years. She has grand children

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about 50 years of age. I have no doubt that I was
the first person who gave the information to any
one who was able to procure the necessary evidence in support of Mrs Berrys claim for a pension, and I have wondered why she did not make her application before. My father Daniel Collins was a revolutionary pensioner and I have heard it said that the widows of soldiers were entitled to pensions.
[signature] William Collins

Somerset ss. October 15, 1847
Then appeared William Collins of Harmony and a man of strict truth and integrity and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed.
Before me [signature] Seth Soule Justice of the Peace

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Addition testimony in the case of Sobriety Berry widow of Benja Berry
F. Bradford
Portland, Maine

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STATE OF MAINE
CUMBERLAND, ss.
I Charles C. Harmon, Clerk Pro tem of all the Judicial Courts in said County, certify that A. B. Carswell was an acting Justice of the Peace on the 6th day of October 1847 in and for the County of Franklin that Seth Soule is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Somerset that Freeman Bradford is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Cumberland as appears by the papers hereto annexed; that they are duly qualified to act as such: that the commission of said Carswell was dated November 21. 1840. and expired November 21. 1847, that the commission of said Soule is dated March 23, 1843 and will expire March 23, 1850 that the commission of said Bradford is dated May 28. 1846 and will expire May 28. 1853 and that the following signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, this twenty fourth day of December Anno Domini 1847.
[signature] Chas. C. Harmon, CLERK. Pro tem.

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I James Thurston of Danville in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine aged sixty one years on oath depose and say that in the month of February 1846 I was in the town of Harmony in
this State and in conversation then with a man by the name of Collins, who informed me that there was an old lady residing in the town of Wellington by the name of Berry who he said was entitled to a pension. He inform me that her husband was in the service the whole of the war and that she was then a widow and a very old person. Being acquainted with Freeman Bradford of Portland who had assisted me in procuring a pension for my mother in law Mrs Lucy Waterhouse, I wrote to him what information I had received and requested him to write to some of the family of Mrs Berry and ascertain more particularly in relation to the nature of the claim. Since that time he has informed me that he had written and that he had procured certain testimony in relation to the matter. Mr Collins spoke of the matter as though it was a well known fact that widow Berry was entitled to a pension, but said that none of her connections had enterprise enough to undertake the matter

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and did not know what it was necessary to do to obtain a pension. I have no doubt that the information I gave as derived from Mr Collins was the first information that Mr Bradford received in relation to this case.
[signature] James Thurston

State of Maine
Cumberland ss.  Oct 14th 1847 Then appeared the above named James Thurston known to me to be a man of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed.
Before me [signature] Freeman Bradford Jus Peace

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Testimony in the case of
Sobriety Berry widow of
Benja Berry
Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine

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Testimony in the case of
Sobriety Berry widow of
Benja Berry
Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine

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I Joseph Coe of Durham in the County of Strafford on oath depose and say that I am Clerk of said Town and have in my possession all the Books of record belonging thereto. I have  carefully examined all said Books of record for the marriage of Benjamin Berry and Sobriety Duda but do not find it upon the records in my possession. The first record of marriages commences in 1780 and I do not find that any intentions of marriages were ever recorded on the Town Books. I find no record of births except a few scattering ones previous 1780. I find upon the Tax lists in my possession the name of Benmore Duda as early as 1779 and his name thus spelt. I find on most of the lists from that time to 1784. I find also the name on the lists of taxes of Benmore Dunell and the tradition has always been that family changed their name from Duda to Dunell about the close of the  Revolutionary war. I further state that from the Records of the Town it appears that Honorable Ebenezer Thompson was Clerk of the Town of Durham in 1780 and several years after that period. He was also Secretary of the State of New Hampshire about the same time and much in Public Business. I have resided in Durham sixty five years and from my boyhood have known Eleazer Bennett. He the said Bennett is a man of credibility and remarkable for one of his age in recollecting events that have taken place in his younger years. I am also acquainted with Abigail Watson an aged person in this Town and believe her to be a credible witness, and also with Adoniram Griffin, and Ruth his wife, whose  affidavits have been taken in the case of Sobriety Berry andsState that they, as well as Eleazer Bennett and Abigail Watson are in my

Page 41

my belief unimpeachable characters.
[signature] Joseph Coe. Town Clerk of Durham

State of New Hampshire
Stafford ss   August 13th 1847. Then personally appeared Joseph Coe, above named, known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed 
before me [signature] Seth S. Walker Justice of the peace

Page 42

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford ss.
Superior Court of Judicature Clerk's office
I John H. Smith Clerk of said Court, hereby certify that Seth S. Walker of Dunham in said County is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Strafford, duly commissioned and qualified. That his commission is dated June 14th 1847 and will expire June 13th 1852, and that the signatures to the papers hereto attached, purporting to be his, are true and genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this Seventeenth day of August A. D. 1847.
[signature] John H. Smith, Clerk

Page 43

I Ruth Griffin of Durham in the County of Strafford on oath depose and say, that I am seventy years of age and upwards. About fifty years ago I resided in Dover with my father, Jacob Currier, and continued to reside in Dover three or four years. While residing in Dover my mother, being out of health and in want of help, Sobriety  Berry a widow woman, was recommended to her as a suitable person, and my father went to Durham where she resided and engaged her to work in our family. She worked with my mother three months or more. This Sobriety Berry was at that time the widow of Benjamin Berry, as she told me, and had two or three children, the oldest of whom was a girl and her name was Sally, I believe. After the widow Berry left my fathers she returned to Durham, and I heard that she afterwards moved to the State of Maine. There never was any question that she was the widow of Benjamin Berry at the time I knew her and such is the belief among all whom I have heard speak of her. Sobriety Berry was a daughter of Benmore Duda, said to have been a native of Durham. I have lived in Durham about thirty five years first and last. When my father went for widow Berry she was residing at Judge Thompsons in Durham.
[signature] Ruth Griffin 

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. August 13th 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Ruth Griffin known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the affidavit by her signed. 
before me [signature] Seth S. Walker Justice of the Peace

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I Adoniram Griffin of Durham in the County of Strafford on oath depose and say that I am seventy nine years of age and upwards, and was born and brought up in Durham and have resided in this Town from my birth to the present time with the exception of 12 years from 1817 to 1829. During the 12 years above mentioned, I resided in Dover about 5 miles from this Town. In my younger days I knew the widow Sobriety Berry, who at that time resided in the neighborhood of my Father and who worked out in various places. This Sobriety Berry was said to have been the widow of Benjamin Berry, and the tradition was that her husband was a soldier in the revolutionary War. Berry was not a native of Durham, but come from some town northward of Durham as it was said. Sobriety Berry had children by Berry her husband from the age of whom I should judge she was married Sixty eight or sixty nine years ago. Another common report was that she was married by the Reverend John Adams. Sobriety Berry had a brother Lemuel whom I well knew. They were children of Benmore Duda of Durham. I do not know that any of the Duda family, except the widow aforesaid, is now living. Some of the family have changed their name to Durell and are now so called.
[signature] Adoniram Griffin

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. August 13th 1847 Then personally appeared the above named Adoniram Griffin, known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the affidavit by him signed.
before me [signature] Seth S. Walker Justice of the peace

Page 45

No 6980
Sobriety Berry
ME
Let. G Freeman Bradford
Sept 11th '47
Act 4 July 1836

Correct State Service to N H
Rev
Widow, &c.
File No. 23,570
Sobriety Berry wid of Benjamin Berry Priv Rev War
Act July 4th 1836
Index: Vol. A, Page 54
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 46

No 6980
Sobriety Berry
wid of Benjamin
N H
Act 4 July 1836
Married before 1782 [Illegible] of the war
Deserter  Sep 11 1781
Freeman Bradford
Portland, Maine
Company 2 Rgt May 1782
Arrived from desertion April 4, 1782 on roll 
Nov 1782  Returned [Illegible] 1778  8 Nov

Page 47

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
CLERK'S OFFICE, JUDICIAL COURTS,
Portland, August 18th A. D. 1847.
I, Charles C. Harmon Clerk Pro tem of all the JUDICIAL COURTS in and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that Seth Soule is an acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Cumberland as appears by the paper hereto annexed; he is Duly qualified to act as such; that the Commission of the said Soule id dated March 23d A. D. 1843, and will expire March 23d A. D. 1850 and that the following SIGNATURES purporting to be his are Genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, the day and year first above written.
[signature] Chas. C. Harmon CLERK, Pro tem

Page 48


State of New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State
I do hereby certify that from an examination of the Records in this office relating to Military service in the War of the American Revolution I find the name of Benjamin Berry borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Henry Dearborns Company in Coll Starks Regiment to August 1st 1775 - Time of Entry May 2 - Time in service 3 mo. 7 days.
I do further certify that the name of Benjamin
Berry is found among the names of the signers to the following receipt viz,
We the subscribers belonging to Capt Dearbornes Compy in Col. Starks Regt. do hereby acknowledge that we have received of Timo Walker Jr. four dollars each man in full satisfaction for the Regimental Coat which was promised us by the Colony of New Hampshire line" back of which is the following date "1775 Oct 16"

Page 49

I do further certify that Benjamin Berry is found as a soldier in Reids Regt - 5th Co - that he "engaged 1777 Jany 7th  - deserted Oct 1st 1779 - was taken up 1780"  - was paid by the town of
Epson for a bounty, and was also paid at the rate
of two pounds per month as follows:
"By 11 months & 24 days in 1777 L 23.12.-
By 12 do [months] 1778 [L] 24.-.-
by 9 do [months] 1779 [L] 18.-.-
by 9 mo in 1781 [L] 18.-.-"

I do further certify that it appears that the last named Benjamin Berry was a resident of the town of Epson-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said State at Concord this twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven.
[signature] George G. Fogg Secretary of State

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Exeter March 25th 1782 Received of the Board of War Forty Shillings being one Months pay for my Husband Benjamin Berry a soldier in the N Hamp. Regt.
137 lbs Salted Beef a 3 1/2d L 2.0.0
Sobriety Berry
Certificate that she is Berrys Wife Signed by E. Thom proxy Esqr of Durham

State of New Hampshire
Secretary of State's Office
I Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of the original now in this office. I further certify that said Benjamin Berry appears by Reeds Regimental Leger to have enlisted in the 5th Compy of Reids Regt for the War.
I further certify that the following is a true copy of an original order upon the Treasurer of this State now in this office.

State of New Hampshire
No. [995) Exeter Nov 17th 1783
To John Taylor Gilman, Esq; Treasurer
The Committee for settling
Dep.

Page 51

Depreciation having certified that the Balance due to Benjamin Berry for Depreciation in the year 1781, is Sixteen pounds.
You are hereby directed to pay him or his order, the said sum and Interest thereon, agreeably to an act of the [General Court] passed March 23
1782
L 16.0.0
M Weare President "
and on the back of said order is the following
"Recd a note for L 16-
Certificate 11-2
X his mark Benjn Berry

Test Nat Gilman "
Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, this 30th day of July A. D. 1847.
[signature] Thos P. Treadwell Secretary of State

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I Fanny Marble of Wellington in the County of Piscataquis now in Harmony in the County of Somerset on oath depose and say that I am forty five years of age and am the grandchild of Sobriety Berry. I have always been acquainted with her during my whole life and have lived near her. I have often heard her and my mother say that Benjamin Berry my grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution and the tradition has always been that he died in South Carolina of the yellow fever. Near the close or soon after he came out of the Revolutionary war. my mother Sally Morrell is the only heir at law of Benjamin Berry.  Benjamin Berry had two children as I have always been told to wit Sally Berry my mother and Joseph Berry. Joseph Berry died young, was never married, and left no children. My mother first married Nicholas Smith, who was born in Loudon New Hampshire & married my mother
in that town. He died in Wellington May 10 1834, since his death my mother has married David Morell and now resides in Wellington.
[signature] Fanny Marble

State of Maine
Somerset ss.  July 17 1847 Then personally appeared before me in the town of Harmony in the County of Somerset Fanny Marble known to me as a person of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by her. Signed Before me
of
Seth Soule Justice of the Peace

Page 53

I Nathaniel Smith of Harmony in the County of Somerset and State of Maine aged for forty Eight years on oath depose and say, that I am the grand child of Sobriety Berry now of Wellington and son of Sally Morrell by her first husband Nicholas Smith. I was born in Loudon New Hampshire as it has always been called and have been from my boyhood to the present since acquainted with Sobriety Berry my grand mother.
I have lived near her for the most of my life and  have frequently heard her speak of the revolutionary war of her husband and the manner and line of his death. She has always said that he was a soldier in the Revolution and served to the end of the war. And after he came and of the service that he went to South Carolina and died there of the yellow fever. My grand mother had two children by Benjamin Berry with Sally being my mother who was the oldest and Joseph Berry to who died young and left no heirs. Since my [illegible] I have lived in Union Maine and in Wellington and during the time that I lived in those two places, which is about forty five years, my grandmother, Sobriety Berry, lived in the same house and for most of the time near me with the exception of about six years in which time she lived in Salem. Sobriety Berry has been a widow ever since my Remembrance and is now living in Wellington.

Page 54

Aged about ninety years as near as I can Judge.
[signature] Nathl Smith

State of Maine
Somerset ss. July 17 1847  Then personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Smith known to me as a man of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the affidavit by him subscribed. Before me
[signature] Seth Soule Justice of Peace

Page 55

Newfield, July 3, 1847
Sir,
Your letter of the 18 ult. addressed to Chas. Adams, was intended, no doubt, for Thomas Adams, my father, who is a son of Rev. John Adams, mentioned in your letter. As my father is infirm, I take the liberty to answerr yours of June 18th. There are two books of records remaining with us of marriages solemnized by by my grandfather in Durham & in this town. These are the only records remembered by my father or myself. I have seen them in my father's house for the last 30 years. The book containing his marriage records in Durham contain a list of marriages, interspersed in different parts of the book, with other records, from 1749, about the
time of his settlement in Durham to 1763. Here the record ends. I am sorry to inform you that I have carefully examined this record, reading each marriage and other matter as therein recorded; but I can find no mention made of the parties named in your letter. The other book contains
a record of marriages solemnized by him after his removal to Newfield, commencing in Feb. 1781 & ending in 1792, the year in which he died. There is only one son more of my grandfather's children living viz John Adams of Dracut Mass. whether he has any remembrance of any other record I do not know. Probably you are better acquainted with the laws of N. H. in relation to marriage records, than I am. At the bottom of some of the records of the parties, it is noted that they obtained licence from the Governor, at the bottom of others, it is mentioned, that they produced a certificate

Page 56

from the town clerk. It has been suggested that there are some county record pertaining to marriages, of a ancient date, though somewhat mutilated. I know of nothing more.
Yours to serve
[signature] John Adams
My Fee will be $1.00

Page 57

I Moses Chandler of Farmington in the County of Franklin & State of Maine of lawful age on oath depose and say that I am the son of Sarah Chandler whose maiden name was Sarah Berry born in Epsom New Hampshire. I have heard my mother in years past say she had brothers by the names of John Berry, Thomas Berry, Joshua Berry & Benjamin Berry, and that Benja Berry enlisted as a soldier in the revolutionary war. That he married a woman in Durham New Hampshire by the name of Sobriety Duda & I believe that the same woman is now living in the town of Wellington in this State. I have heard my mother say that she never heard any thing of Benjamin Berry after the revolution. 
[signature] Moses Chandler

Franklin ss. October 6. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Moses Chandler and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed. I further state that he is known to me as a person of truth and sobriety: Before me 
[signature] A. B. Caswell Justice of the Peace

Page 58

Additional testimony in the case of Sobriety Berry widow of Benjamin Berry
F. Bradford
Portland
Maine

Page 59

I Andrew Doe of Newmarket in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire on oath depose and say, that I am eighty two years
of age and upwards. That when I was a boy I  worked at several different times, with Benmore
Duda of Durham in the County of Strafford and
State aforesaid. I lived in said Newmarket, about
one mile from said Duda, when I worked with him. I worked there through the day and my practice was, generally, to return to my mothers in said Newmarket at night. I was acquainted with said Duda's Family. When I first worked with said Duda he had a daughter by the name of Sobriety Duda who lived in his family. After I had worked at said Duda's awhile, I understood said Sobriety had been, subsequent to my first working at said Duda's, married to a Soldier of the Revolution by the name of Benj Berry I never heard said marriage doubted or questioned by any one. I have no doubt that said Sobriety was married to said Berry. She was always called Mrs. Berry by the family and others after. I understood that she was married said Sobriety had two children a son and a daughter. The daughter was called Sally Berry. The Son's name I do not remember. I understood that said Berry, while in the service came home on a furlough and was married. Said Sobriety, after the reported death of said Berry was always called Widow Berry. I have no doubt of the correctness of the report, that said Berry after the war was over, returned home then

Page 60

went to sea and died away from home. When I 
worked at said Dudas, I was about fourteen or sixteen years of age.
[signature] Andrew Doe

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss.
December 14th A.D. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Andrew Doe, known by me to be a person of truth and veracity and a creditable witness, and made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
Before me, [signature] James M. Chapman,
Justice of the Peace

Page 61

I Mary Tucker of Durham in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire on oath depose and say that I am Eighty eight years of age and upwards and was born in New Castle in said State and resided in Newmarket in the time of the Revolutionary War. I lived about one mile from Benmore Duda's in Durham and was well acquainted with the Duda family. I knew Sobriety Berry intimately from about the time she was married, and used to visit her often after she was married, and Mrs Berry used to visit me. She lived at her father's Benmore Duda's in Durham when I visited her, and at that time had two children, and she told me that her husband was a soldier in the Army. I have no doubt but Sobriety Duda was married to a soldier of the Revolutionary Army by the name of Benjamin Berry, by the Minister settled in Durham by the name of Adams, and I never heard her marriage questioned or doubted by any one. After the war was over Benjamin Berry came home to Durham
and lived with his family some time and then went away, and the report was he had gone to sea. It was afterwards reported he was dead, that he had died abroad, and Sobriety Berry forever after the report of his death was called the 
widow Sobriety Berry. Sobriety Berry had two children, a Son and a daughter, the son was put out to live with Benjamin Doe of Durham, and the daughter worked out in various places, and the last I heard of her she had married and moved down East, and her mother Sobriety Berry went with her.
[signature] X her mark Mary Tucker
Witness [signature] Joseph Coe

State of New Hampshire Stafford ss. December 14th A.D. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Mary Tucker and made solemn oath the above

Page 62

affidavit by her signed is true.
Before me,[signature] James M. Chapman
Justice of the Peace throughout the State

I Andrew Doe of Newmarket in the County of 
Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, depose and say, that I have known the within 
named Mary Tucker fifty years and upwards, 
that she is a person of truth and veracity and 
a creditable witness.
[signature] Andrew Doe

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss. December 14th A.D. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Andrew Doe and made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true. Before me. 
[signature] James M. Chapman, Justice of the Peace

Page 63

I Sarah Chandler of Farmington in the County of Franklin and State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am Eighty four years of age and was born in Epsom New Hampshire and am the daughter of Ephraim Berry deceased. I left Epsom New Hampshire about Seventy years ago and removed from that place to Gilmantown N. H.  staid there about one year and a half and then went to Winthrop, State of Maine, do not remember how long I resided there; I then moved to Farmington where I have resided ever since, some fifty five years; I had the following brothers viz, John Berry, Thomas Berry Joshua Berry and Benjamin Berry; I have always understood that my brother Benjamin Berry was a  soldier of the Revolution.
I have not seen him since he went into the army as a soldier the second time, he went one year first; It was said by others that he was a deserter but at the time he was absent from the army he did not come to Epsom to my knowledge.
The report has always been that my brother Benjamin Berry married Sobriety Duda of Durham New Hampshire.
I  have no doubt that my brother Benjamin married Sobriety Duda and that she is the widow of my brother and I believe her to be now living in

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Wellington in this State; I have seen her daughter
Sally; she has been to my house in Farmington.
I have no doubt that my brother Benjamin Berry
is dead, but I do not know where he died.
I have no brother or sisters living
The report was that my brother was taken up as a deserter and carried back into the army.
He was married before the close of the revolutionary war as I have always understood it.
[signature] Sarah Chandler

Franklin ss October 6. 1847. Then personally appeared the above named Sarah Chandler and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her signed, I further state that she is known to me to be a person of truth & sobriety.
Before me [signature] A. B. Caswell Justice of the
Peace

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I Elijah Willey of Durham in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire on Oath depose and say that I am seventy eight years of age. I was born in Durham and have resided in this Town ever since. I had a cousin by the name of Joseph Willey, who was a few years older than myself, who lived at Benmore Duda's when he was young. I often saw my Cousin when he lived there as Benmore Duda lived in the same neighborhood of my father. I was well acquainted with Benmore Duda and his family. He had a daughter by the name of Sobriety who married a soldier by the name of Benjamin Berry.  I have frequently heard my cousin Joseph say while he lived there that sobriety married a man who was a soldier and by the name of Benjamin Berry, and such was the general talk in the neighborhood when I was young. My cousin Joseph lived at Benmore Dudas, in the time of the Revolutionary War. Sobriety had a brother by the name of Lemuel Duda, and also a brother Asa whom I recollect. There was no other family by the name of Duda to my knowledge that lived in Durham at that time. I recollect of hearing of the death of Benjamin Berry soon after the close of the war, but do not recollect the time distinctly. I know the fact that she was called the Widow Berry after I heard the report of his death.
[signature] X his mark Elijah Willey

State of New Hampshire, Strafford ss. December 10th 1847
Then personally appeared the above named Elijah Willey known by me to be a person of truth and veracity and a creditable witness, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true.
before me [signature] Seth S Walker
Justice of the Peace

Page 66

The State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford ss.
Superior Court of Judicature
Clerk's office-
I John H. Smith, Clerk of said Court, within and for said County hereby certify that Seth S Walker is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and that his commission is dated June 14th 1847, and will expire June 13th 1852 and that the signatures to this and the papers hereto attached purporting to be his, are true and genuine. And I further certify that James M. Chapman is a Justice of the Peace throughout the said State, duly commissioned and qualified and that his commission is dated July 3d 1847, and will expire
July 2d 1852 and that the signatures to the papers hereto annexed, purporting to be his are true and genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twentieth day of December A.D. 1847.
[signature] John H. Smith, Clerk

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I Sally Morrell of Wellington in the County of Piscataquis in State of Maine but now communicant in Harmony in the County of Somerset on oath depose and say that I was sixty Eight years of age on the 28th AD April 1847 and am the Daughter of Sobriety Berry the widow of Benjamin Berry deceased. I was born in the town of old York as it was called New Hampshire as I have always been told and I lived in that town with my mother at the time of my fathers death. I have always been told that my father Benjamin Berry died in South Carolina of the [illegible] given at [illegible] the close of the Revolutionary war at which time it was said that I was four years of age or there abouts & was the oldest child and I have no reason to doubt and do believe that Benjamin Berry, my father, died in South Carolina in the year 1784 and within a year or two from the time [illegible] once of the army. The time of his death I have learned from what I have heard my mother and other relatives say and I have no doubt of the truth of the statements I here make. It was said that he sailed from Portsmouth to South Carolina after he came out of the army and died as before stated. Since my fathers death I have lived in various places to wit in Newmarket six years in London I lived about eleven years as near as I can recollect in which place I was married to Nicolas Smith when I was about Nineteen years of age.

Page 68

I was married and I there removed to Union on St Georges River. In that town I lived about twenty one years at the expiration of which time I removed to Wellington then called Bridges town where I have resided for the last twenty five years. My mother Sobriety Berry has never been married since the death of my father and now lives in Wellington at the age of about ninety one
years. It was always said that my father Benjamin Berry was a native of Epsom where he [illegible] and entered the service in the war of the revolution from that town and served in the army til the close of the war of the revolution. My mother's maiden name was Sobriety Duda and she was a native of Durham N. H. She has a brother Lemuel whom I well recollect when I was  young and who was said to have been an officer in the Revolution. My father has one sister now living at an advanced age in the town of  Farmington Maine and I know of no others now living
Witness [signature] Sally Morrell

State of Maine
Somerset ss. Harmony July 17. 1847 Then personally appeared the above named Sally Morrell known to me as a person of truth and veracity and a credible witness and made oath the act of the foregoing affidavit by her signed.
Before me [signature] Seth Soule Justice of the Peace