Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16085, Joshua Wells, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass
Wells, Joshua Hannah
K-16085
CONTENTS

New Hampshire 5431
Cannah Wells widow of Eliza Wells, decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 24 February 1829 at Grafton in the State of New Hamp- who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Wood of the Regt by Col Sargent in the Mass Milia- line for 8 mo. 5 ds.
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord at the rate of 27 Dollars 25 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of March 1840 to Lieut. and M rs Goodall Wood Battle New Hamp.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840 $118.33 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 40 13.00
$131.33
{ Act July 7, 1838. }
Recorded by D. M. Curdy, Clerk A. Vol. 1. Page 60.

Family Register
Hannah Mills
W.H.

I certify that the within leaf, containing the family Register of Joshua Wells, etc. was presented by Hannah Wells, his widow at a Bible belonging to the family, and was the day taken from the same by me
Henry H. Sylvester Clerk. Prob. Off.
May 20. 1840
H

Joshua Wells Was the 1 st the 5 th Day 1783 27 year old
Hannah Wells Was 23 year old September 28 th 1783
Thomas Wells Was born October 14 th Day 1781 Died July 6 th Day 1782
Jonas Wells Was born ay the 19 th 1783
Maria Wells Was Born April the 9 th 1785
Elizabeth Wells Was Born January the 1 st 1786
Aaron Wells Was Born February the 22 nd 1790
Margaret Wells Was Born June the 11 th 1792

6887 Hannah Wells widow of Joshua Act 7. July 1838. MS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th July 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".
State of New-Hampshire } ss. County of Grafton }
On this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty personally appeared before the subscriber, Judge of the Court of Probate for said county of Grafton, being a court of record Hannah Wells a resident of Hopkirk in the County of Grafton aforesaid aged seventy nine years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows?" That she is the widow of Joshua Wells late of Putney, County of Windham, State of Vermont deceased, who was a soldier in the army of the war of the Revolution and served as such as follows viz. That he enlisted into a Company commanded by Captain John Wood , in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Paul Dudley Sergeant, of the Massachusetts line stationed at Cambridge Ms. That the said Wells her late husband enlisted as aforesaid as she believes the last days in April or the first day of May or about said time, the precise time she cannot recollect, in the year 1775 for eight months - he then lived in Westminster in the County of Windham & State of Vermont and marched from thence to said Cambridge Ms. where as she believes he served out the full period of eight months and was discharged & returned to said Westminster the first of January 1776 - He has often told me of his services & suffering and he had his discharge many years after our marriage but I have not seen it since his decease & cannot tell what became of it. She refers for evidence of her said husbands services to the deposition of James Ide her unto annexed and to the deposition of her said

husband which is as she believes on file at the War Department at Washington D.C. and which he gave for the purpose of assisting said Ida to get on to the Pension List a number of years since. She well remembers of the said Ida coming to see her late husband & to obtain his said Deposition and they talked together of my said husband applying for a pension but as he could only prove said eight months service he did not apply although he then and at other times stated that he did serve one or two other short terms in said War amounting to between one and two months service for which she is not able to procure the proof and relies only on his said eight months service for her pension. She further states that she does not know of any other person now living that was with her said husband in the service from testimony she can obtain except the Deposition of the said Ida and her said husband's affidavit referred to aforesaid; and that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim.
She further declares that she was married to the said Joshua Wells at said Westminster west parish by the Rev. Mr. Bullin who was then the settled Minister of said Parish in said Westminster on the first day of January seventeen hundred & eighty one that her husband the the aforesaid Joshua Wells died at Putney in the County of Windham in said State of Vermont on the twenty fourth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and twenty nine; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.
Hannah X Wells mark
Witnesses to her signature Edward Webber J. Nelson Gay Hannah Gay
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year first above written - Before Edward Webber Judge of Probate
I hereby certify that the above named applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend court and that she is a credible witness
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year first before written
Edward Webber Judge of Probate

I, Riley Wells of Hanoverhill in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged thirty six years depose and say that I lived in Putney in the county of Windham and State of Vermont during the year eighteen hundred & twenty nine and for a number of years previous. I lived in the Ham with Joshua Wells now deceased said Joshua Wells died at said Putney on the twenty fourth day of February in the year eighteen hundred & twenty nine. I was present when he the said Wells died & saw him die and attended his Funeral. I further say that Hannah Wells the applicant who has signed the foregoing declaration was the wife of the said Joshua Wells and is now his widow and that she has never married since the death of the said Joshua Wells
Riley Wells
State of New-Hampshire } ss. February 5 th 1840 County of Grafton }
Personally appeared before me the subscriber Judge of the Court of Probate for said county of Grafton Riley Wells who made & subscribed in my presence the above affidavit and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true and I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the said affiant and that he is a credible witness. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of February A.D. 1840
Richard Webber Judge of Probate

State of New Hampshire.
Grafton for J. David H. Collins, Clerk and Register of the Court of Probate of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Edward Webber is acting Judge of Probate for said County of Grafton duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the twenty second day of June 1832, and that the tenure of his commission is during good behavior or until he shall arrive at seventy years of age, which will be on the eighth day of September, 1862, and that his signature within written is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Probate for said County of Grafton, this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
David H. Collins, Clerk & Register.
See Pension for Hannah Wells - 1887

Bible Record to be filed with claim #16.085. Widows

Submit Wells born March 6 th 1795 Hannah Wells " Jany. 24-1798 Ann Wells " Sept 5. 1800 Margaret Wells Died Nov 25 th . 1800 Rile Wells was born Apr 26. 1813. Ann Wells died Jany 27 th 1874
The above is all of Record found in Bible sent to this Office in 1840 to be filed with Claim 16,085 — Hannah Wells Widow of Joshua Wells Rev War — W. B. Francis ak

Thos Mills affidavit in Kenneth Mills case
\begin{array}{r} 1783 \\ 27 \\ \hline 1756 \end{array}

Thomas Mells of Princeton in the State of Vermont aged fifty six years depart I say that I am the oldest living child of Joshua Mells his wife Hannah Mells the said Hannah is now living is the widow of the said Joshua who died February 24th 1829 she has remained his widow ever since he died - My said Father had an old family Bible ever since I can remember any thing about Books in it his age & my Mother this children was put down over thirty nine years ago I saw his sons & Elizabeth & Aaron & Margaret to age put down they have been there ever since any other Brothers Sisters have been put down along as they were born or died - My Father in his life time gave said Bible to my son Joshua now twenty four years old then kept it at my house for the last two or three years the births & deaths of the children are now on its own two leaves one between the testament some at the close so all has been for more than thirty years to my knowledge My Father before he gave this bible to my son got an large bible transferred to that the record of his marriage which is stated there to be January 1781 also some children born since the records in the old bible from deaths - I always understood that my Father served in the revolutionary war at two or three periods I have heard him talk of it often
Thomas Mells

Grafton 18 January 22 d 1840 I have the said Thomas Wells the sign of the within affidavit made solemnly saith that the same is just to the best of my knowledge I do certify that he is a credible witness In Goodall Justice of Peace
Stat. of New Hampshire
Grafton County set.
I Nathan B. Felton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Ira Goodall is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned & qualified; that his commission was dated on the eleventh day of June A.D. 1836, and will expire on the eleventh day of June A.D. 1841, and that his signature above written is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said County this fifteenth day of March A.D. 1840 N B Felton Clerk

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Oct 8, 1894
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Joshua Mills, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1775 8 mos John Wood Sargent Mass  
Battles engaged in, none.  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Westminster Vt  Date of application for pension, by wid Feb 5 1840.  Residence at date of application, after Haverhill Vt  Age at date of application, Sept 28 1760
Remarks: He was b. August 5 1756 married Hannah Whitney January 1, 1781 and died at Putney Vt Feb 24, 1829.
Very respectfully, M c Chas. H. Howard #237 Pleasant St Malden Mass.
Commissioner.

688 n .
Hannah Wells widow of Joshua.
let to Messrs: Goodall & Woods May 9. 1840.
Ach y . July 1838.

Oct. 19 th 1864. Hist. to Chas. W. Howard, 237 Pleasant St., Malden, Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16085-
Hannah Wells Widow of Joshua  H. Wells Priv. Rev. War
Act July 7 th 1858
Index: Vol. M , Page 322
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Westminster 65 Joshua Wells Oct 1829 Hannah. M. 81
'75 8 mo 5 Wed. P. D. Sargants
On roll Vol 16 p 61
Apl. 25 1775
Sal Ide - Mt.
21. 11. 11 51- 21

15697 J. in other J. 16085 W. in other W.
September 14, 1894.
Mr. Charles W. Howard, #237 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts.
Sir:
Referring to your request of the 11th instant, received yesterday, for the record of service in the Revolutionary War of Joshua Wells, of Captain John Pettý's company, Colonel William Williams' regiment, Vermont Militia, I have the honor to advise you that the transfer of the records of the Revolutionary War to this office has not yet been completed and that it will be several months before these records can be indexed so that accurate reports can be made from them. If you will renew your request at a later date, such information as the records on file in this office afford will be cheerfully furnished you.
In view of the fact that the soldier received a pension, as stated in your letter, it is probable that you can obtain a full statement of his military history from the Commissioner of Pensions who is in charge of the pension records of all wars.
Very respectfully,
F. C. Ainsworth.
Colonel, U. S. Army,
Chief, Record and Pension Office.
(Copy)
15697

PS
OFFICE JAN 8 1831 U.S. PENSION

B. L. W.W.W. J.E.R.
Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Dec. 15 th , 1880.
Sir: -
In 1840, Hannah Wells, widow of Joshua Wells, a Revolutionary soldier, in making application for pension, filed a Bible in evidence. This Bible it is desired to return to some of the descendants of said soldier. It is said that a Joshua Wells has resided in your town. Will you oblige this Office by ascertaining whether this man is such descendant, & if not whether any such descendant resides in your vicinity, & forward names & address? Please return this letter.
Very respectfully
O. R. G. Clarke
Acting Commissioner.
B-
Postmaster
Canaan,
Grafton Co.,
N.H.

U.S. PENSION JAN 6 1881. OFFICE
PS

W.W. B. L. N.R.
Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Dec. 29 th , 1880.
Sir:—
Will you oblige this Office by furnishing the address of Joshua Wells, son of Thomas, son of Joshua, a Revolutionary soldier, whose widow, Hannah, in applying for pension, filed an old family bible belonging to her grandson the first-named Joshua, in evidence in the case, or in case of his death, with that of some descendant, if you can do so without inconvenience? Said Joshua resided in your town with his father in 1840.
Please return this letter.
Very respectfully, O. R. Clarke Acting Commissioner.
Postmaster, Braintree, Orange Co., Vt.

Dear W.H. Dany 5 th 1881
To the Comm te of Pensions Sir
Sickness in my family has caused me to be somewhat dilatory in investigating the case referred to in yours of Dec 15 th .
I now the best information I find - there was a Joshua Wells of this town a Revolutionary soldier but his widow (Jerusha) died previous to 1840.
I cannot find as there was any other Joshua Wells of that time or that there ever was a widow Hannah Wells.
Respectfully Yours
Leroy S Davis P.M.

Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. March 10. 1880
Dear Sir.
Please furnish this Office with the names and present P.O. address of some of the descendants of Hannah Wells, Widow of Joshua Wells, late a private in the Revolutionary War.
The Widow made application for pension in 1840 and sent to this Office a Bible - containing a family record to be filed in evidence. It is now desired to return this Bible to some member of the family, all of whom resided within the delivery of your Office and in your County, at and subsequent to 1840.
Goodall and Wood of Bath Maine acted as agents for the Widow. The names found on record in the Bible are Submit, Hannah, Ann, Margaret and Rile Wells.
Please return this letter with your reply under cover of enclosed envelope.
Very respectfully
J. H. Bentley Commissioned
Post Master Haverhill Mass
A letter similar to this was sent to your Office some months since. It remains unanswered.

Port-Office Haverhill Mass.
March 25 th 1880
Sir:
I have endeavored to obtain the information called for within, but have failed, I can find no trace of the family referred to.
You state that a letter similar to this was sent - this Office some months since but remains unanswered. If it was sent, I have to inform you, that it never reached this office.
Regretting that I am unable to give you the desired information, I am Very respectfully
William B. Blunt.
Postmaster
Hon.
P. A. Bently.
Commissioner.
Washington,
D. C.

M. E. Kimball, P.M. DEALER IN General Merchandise, NORTH HAVERHILL, N. H.
Dec 9 th /80
Sir —
Am in receipt of the letter from P.M. at Haverhill N.H.
There are living in this vicinity families by the name of Wells. They say there once lived in Canaan N.H. a Joshua Wells, that he had a son Joshua, but can get no clue to any Harmon Wells —
Yours Truly
(M. E. Kimball P.M.)

ON
OFFICE 131880 VISION

N., O. W. & B. L. Div. A. E. R. W.W.
O. M. Wis. File #16085 Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Nov. 26 th , 1880.
Sir: -
Will you have the kindness to furnish the names & addresses of some descendents of Hannah Wells, widow of Joshua Wells a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The widow applied for pension from your place and filed a Bible in evidence in 1840. It is desired to return this Bible. Some of the children of the above are believed to have borne the names of Thomas, Elizabeth, Aaron and Margaret.
Please return this letter.
Very respectfully, J. P. Clarke Acting Commissioner W
Postmaster, Haverhill, Grafton Co., N.H.

PS
U.S.P.O. DEC 27 1880 OFFICE

B. L. W.W. J.R.
Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Dec. 17 th , 1880.
Sir: -
In 1840, Hannah Wells, widow of Joshua Wells, a Revolutionary soldier, in making application for pension, filed a Bible in evidence. This Bible it is desired to return to some of the descendants of said soldier. It is said that a Joshua Wells has resided in your town. Will you oblige the Office by ascertaining whether this man is such descendant, or if any descendant resides in your town or vicinity, & send the best information attainable with names & address? Please return this letter.
Very respectfully A. P. Clark
Act Commissioner B.
Postmaster Canaan Street Grafton Co. A. H.

O.W. Widow 16085
Hannah Wells widow of Joshua Wells a Revolutionary Soldier
Receipt for bible file in case

6887 Hannah P Wells ent Wid of Joshua JH
Act July 7 1828
Married 1782
died 1829
Aged 8 mo 5 day
Br. leaf Wood Rd
Sargant, Mass.
Militia $ 27.22 per
ann. Pn etc. etc.
16 p. 61.
Messrs Wood & Goodall Wood, Bath JH

Canaan Street, Grafton Co., N.H.
Dec 21, 1880.
Exalted Sir, Commissioner of Patents.
Dear Sir, - The enclosed communication from your office, has been handed me by the Post Master in this place, with the request that I would furnish you the information desired. - From my own knowledge of the old people of this town, in connection with proper inquiries made of old residents, I have to inform you, - that the person you seek for never was a resident of Canaan.
Joshua Wells, settled in Canaan, in 1777. - He was a soldier in the Revolution, and walked from this town with his company, to fight with Stark at Bennington. He married Mrs. Jerusha Seeds, - She died in 1797, and he died, in 1804, - without - pension.
His son Joshua Wells, born in 1792, married Hester Colby, - He died in 1873, and she in 1876. - He was never a soldier in any war. The above are the only two persons who ever bore the name of Joshua Wells , in this town.
But this man Joshua, had a brother, Capt. Ezekiel Wells , who was a Revolutionary soldier. His wife's name was Phoebe Meacham . And the most remarkable events of

her life, were the frequency and facility with which she bore children. She was married in the sixteenth year, and before she was thirty had borne ten children, - times over , - and before she closed out she had given birth to eighteen boys and girls. Capt. Erskine Wells died in 1818, aged 72 years, - His widow Phoebe, lived to be 92 years old, - dying in 1856.
I have Theory so - That it is hardly possible that you may have got these two names mixed up in your office, and today I have been to visit an old lady, of good mind & memory, who has lived in this town eighty five years. She says that Mrs. Phoebe Wells, about 1840, applied for a pension, and that a difficulty arose in regard to identifying her as the widow of Capt. Erskine, and that the record from the family Bible was offered as evidence, - and that she did actually receive a large sum of money, - some thousands of dollars, - as back pension , - and that her children quarrelled about the division of it, and she continued to receive this pension as long as she lived.
According to the last information I have, no such person as Widow Hannah Wells , has lived in Canaan, during the past fifty years. These two brothers, Joshua and Erskine Wells, and their wives Deborah and Phoebe, are the only soldiers of that name who ever lived in Town.
I do not think of any other fact pertinent to this case being respectfully, William A Wallace

Boston Office, 194 Washington St. Houses and Land For Sale and To Let. Mortgages Negotiated. Coal and Wood at Lowest Wharf Prices.
OFFICE OF
CHAS. W. HOWARD, "A VERMONTER."
Telephone Connection. Care of Properties a Specialty. Justice of the Peace. Notary Public. Auctioneer.
Real Estate and Insurance,
237 Pleasant St., Malden, Mass., Sept. 11, 1894. 189
Officer in Charge of Record & Pension Div., War Department, Washington, D. C.
My dear Sir:-
I wish to get the record of my grandfather, Joshua Wells, in the Revolutionary war. I find on the records at Montpelier, "Revolutionary Service," page 300, that "A Pay Roll of the Company commanded by Capt. John Petty in Colonel William (Billie) Williams' Regiment of Militia in State of Vermont: Joshua Wells, Entered August 29, 1777, 30 days, received 2 lbs. and 10 shillings; company of 58 men.
I am told that grandfather's widow, Rebecca Wells, I think, received a pension which was applied for by her son, Riley Wells, and to perfect his connection with the army, she sent a bible with the family records therein to Washington where it lay for forty years. It was returned to my uncle, Joshua Wells, who is seventy-eight years old, at Braintree, near Randolph, Vermont, about fifteen years ago; he cannot give his connection with the army of his grandfather any more than I have told you, neither does he know his service, but thinks, without doubt, he was there and that he went from Putney or Westminster, Vermont.
If you will kindly give me such information as you may have in your pension office that I may know the Revolutionary record of my ancestor for the purpose of family history, you will greatly oblige,
Yours very respectfully,
Chas. W. Howard.
(LMT)
(Copy)

1872
Blard

B. L. N.E.R.
Commis. #16,085 Department of the Interior. PENSION OFFICE.
Washington, D.C. Jany 6 th , 1881.
Sir: -
Herewith I have the pleasure of transmitting an old family Bible, filed in evidence offered in support of the pension claim of Hannah, widow of Joshua Wells, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The papers indicate that you were the owner at the time it was sent to this Office. Please acknowledge the receipt of the Book and return this letter.
Very respectfully,
O. H. Clarke
Acting Commissioner. m
Joshua Wells, West Randolph, Orange Co., Vt.
West Randolph Vt. Sept. 9/81 The Book and letter reached my hand in due season. Hence I am very much obliged for the same.
Joshua Wells

Boston Office, 194 Washington St. Houses and Land For Sale and To Let. Mortgages Negotiated. Coal and Wood at Lowest Wharf Prices.
OFFICE OF
CHAS. W. HOWARD, "A VERMONTER."
Telephone Connection Care of Properties a Specialty. Justice of the Peace. Notary Public. Auctioneer.
Real Estate and Insurance,
237 Pleasant St., Malden, Mass., Sept. 18, 1894. 189
Commissioner of Pensions, War Department, Washington, D. C.
My dear Sir:-
Enclosed please find a copy of a letter I wrote to Officer in Charge of Record & Pension Division and his reply. Will you have the kindness to give me such information as you can in the premises for the within named reason which is of interest to me at this time. I shall be very thankful to you for the favor extended, as it is very hard for me to receive such information as I desire from my aged relatives, the only ones who can tell me anything about the matter.
Respectfully yours,
Chas. W. Howard
(LMT)
3 enclosures.

Hannah Wells Bulw. Samuel

State of New York Saratoga County ss.
Be it known that before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the town of Saratoga Springs in the County of Saratoga and State of New York personally appeared James Ide who being by me duly sworn doth depose and say that he resides at Saratoga Springs aforesaid, and is eighty two years of age and upwards. That he was well acquainted with Joshua Wells formerly of Putney in the County of Windham in the State of Vermont now deceased. That deponent was acquainted with the said Joshua Wells previous to the Revolutionary War. That said Joshua resided before the Revolution at Westminster in the State of Vermont. That the said Joshua entered the service of the United States as a private at the said town of Westminster in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five. That he enlisted in a company commanded by Captain John Wood in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Paul Dudley Sergeant of the Massachusetts line stationed at Cambridge in Massachusetts. That the period of enlistment was for eight months. Deponent was in the service in the same company with said Joshua Wells for the same period and at the same time, and was a messmate of the

Joshua Wells, and - during the whole period of eight months for which the said Joshua enlisted. He was stationed with deponent at Cambridge near Boston, while the British Army lay at the latter place.
Deponent further states that he went with the said Joshua Wells as a private from Westminster to Cambridge in the summer of the year 1775, and they were both discharged from service on the first day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six. That they both returned to Westminster where they settled and resided for nearly thirty years. Deponent is a pensioner of the United States, drawing and receiving ninety six dollars per annum.
Deponent also states that he left the state of Vermont more than twenty years ago, and knows of no person living at this time who was in the service with the said Joshua, or who is acquainted with the fact that he was a soldier of the Revolution, except deponent himself. Deponent procured the deposition of the said Joshua Wells to enable him to procure a pension, as will appear by the papers on file in the Pension Department, which together with a deposition of Rufus Moore, now deceased, was all the

whose name appears, was the proof deponent had as to his service.
James his Ide mark.
I certify that James Ide, person- ally appeared before me on the 30 th day of January 1840, & duly made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, having subscribed the same by mark- ing his mark, being unable to write: - and I further certify that I am acquainted with the said James Ide, and know him to be a credible man, of truth and integrity.
Sworn before me this 30 th of Jan y 1840 Geo. W. Milroy Justice of the peace
State of New York Saratoga County } ss.
I Archibald Smith, Clerk of the County of Saratoga, do certify that George W. Milroy before whom the above deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, & is now, a Justice of the peace of the said County of Saratoga. And also that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Milroy, and readily believe the above to be his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of the said County this 30 th day of January 1840
Archibald Smith, Clerk of the Saratoga County Court

Braintree Vt Jan 4 th 91 Acting Commissioner
Sir
In answer to your inquiry would say that Joshua Wells live now where his Father lived in 1840 his Died and his West Randolph Vt
Your Truly J. A. French P.M.

Bath N o 16 May 14 1840
Hon ble J d Edmonds
Dr Sir
Yours of 9 th inst is received relative to Mrs Hannah Wells - the new said England with this the bible but the blank leaf between old & new testament is the beginning and at close of the new the last of the second referred to - Please return the bible when done with it
The certificate of Lydia Howard was received due credit to Isaac Waldron to know if he would pay it if not sent on as attorney as she was very feeble for the Towns for support - He wrote he would sure sent for it as spiritual marriage she then said he had order not to pay any dated after March 4 until Sept. but he thought as her health remained unmoved as she had sent at much expense to get it the ally might have the Power & receipt for the money for waiting years of her condition & that she may die before Sep never have any good of it that you would order him to pay it as it was so done - Will you have the goodness under the pressing facts to order it paid Oblige her bys very respectfully Gloria all Hallelujah

Westminster Meet at Feb 26
Misses Greville & Woods Bath State of Hampshire
Misses Greville & Woods
Rev. Timothy Field Hampshire
Westminster Meet
22. 23. 24. 25. Feb 26
10 11

Westminster February 11 th 1840
Sir, at your request, I send you the following certificate. I Timothy Field of Westminster aged 64 years do hereby certify that I am Town Clerk of Westminster in the County of Windham and State of Vermont; that I was legally chosen to said office on Tuesday the fifth day of March 1839 at the annual Town meeting for one year; that I have thoroughly searched the books of records for births and marriages for said Town and cannot find any record of the marriage of Joshua Wells and Hannah Whitney, in any of the books nor of the births of any of their children; but I have found on the 61 page of the oldest book of births and marriages the following preamble, viz: "Here begins the records of Marriages, March twenty ninth, in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety" except the figures and the abbreviation which are legible or plain. The preamble stands thus on the page aforesaid. "Here begins the record of marriages March 29. A.D. 1790. On the first page of the oldest book, aforesaid is the following preamble, viz: "Here begins the records of births, March twenty ninth, Seventeen hundred and ninety, except the figures which are plain. The preamble stands thus on the first page. Here begins the record of births March 29 th 1790. — — — — — over —

I further say, that I was acquainted with the said Joshua Wells and wife, and have no doubt, but that they were married in Westminster (1781) by the Rev M c Bullen. I cannot find, that any marriage solemnized by Him was ever recorded, or any written memorandum left by Him of any marriage. I have known some of the children of the aforesaid Joshua Wells and wife. I have lived in Westminster since 1807 and was elected Town Clerk in 1811. and the office has annually passed from me to the Rev M c Sage and from Him to me ever since. —
Deposition
I Timothy Field above named depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in Westminster, in the County of Windham and State of Vermont, and that the foregoing extracts from the aforesaid oldest book of records for marriage and births are true records except the abbreviations and figures which are heretofore mentioned. — Feb y 11. 1840
State of Vermont — Timothy Field Town Clerk. Windham County. Westminster, Feb y 11 th 1840
The above was sworn to before. — Joseph Kenney justice of the peace
State of Vermont Windham County Court Clerk's office
New Fane February 19 th A.D. 1840.
I Marshall Miller, Clerk of said Court, do certify, that Joseph Kenney is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of said Court the day and year above written.
Attest — Marshall Miller, Clerk

Dear Sir, please to certify as County Clerk that Joseph Bunny Esq. is now a commissioned Justice of the Peace for the County of Windham Vt., under my Disposition in this letter, and seal up the letter and direct it to me, by mail, erasing your name and writing mine —
Marshall Miller Esq. Clerk of the County Court.
Timothy Field. —
N.B. Write to me your fees and I will send you the money the first opportunity —
Feb. 3, 34
If Mr. Wiley Wells will send me two dollars in a letter by Mail Post Paid I will consider the same as a full compensation for my money paid out for him and for all my labour which I have done for you at him.
Timothy Field. —
Mr. Esq. Goodale & Black Heath New Hampshire —