Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25821, Benjamin Varnum, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
mass
Warren, Benjamin Molly
W. 25821
CONTENTS

10022 R Vermont
Benj m Varnum
in the state of who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel J. Marshall of the Masa so, for the term of 1 yr. 1770.
scribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 2. of May, 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of April, 1818 and sent to Judge H. and Darby
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819  81.77 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819  48.00
mo. \frac{3}{30}  $138.77
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. } Continued Notification sent Oct 3 d 1820 to Ira H. Allen Strasburg

State of Vermont Derby May 2. 1810 Calvin G. P. Personally appeared before me William Hovey of Derby in the county of Orleans State of Vermont my Judge of Orleans county court of common pleas. Being first sworn, deposes that he is the true and correct copy of Vermont aged sixty four years and made solemn Oath to the foregoing Declaration in order to obtain pension under the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war that he enlisted in May AD 1778 into Capt Beecher's company and Col. Mott's Shore Regiment and he thinks Genl Gates designed in the winter months him for Mt. Morris and White Plains where the same was in quarters until to 18 miles the above described account for the reason in the fall was detached to Poughkeepsie where in July after 1779 he was taken prisoner carried into New York where he was kept until some time in June or July following when he was exchanged and went to next point and in August he thinks 1779 after having served in the winter months was fifteen months the time for which he enlisted he

Honorably discharged but has lost his education and he further says that he is in reduced circumstances & his need is in need of assistance from his country for such he is in testimony whereof he has affixed his name at Derby the 2 d day of May 1818.
George Varnum
State of Vermont
Colburn J. P.
Be it Remembered that on this second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred a eighteen came before me William Hawn of Derby in the County of Orleans State of Vermont chief judge of Orleans County Court of Common Pleas duly qualified within said County of Orleans as of State of Vermont said Court of Com- mon Pleas being a court of Record Burgess Varnum of Morgan in the County of Orleans State of Vermont and made solemn oath that the declaration by him sub- scribed is true.

And it appearing to my satisfaction as well as from the Declaration as well as from the accompanying testimony the Declaration that Being then in service in the Revolutionary war as a continental establishment against the common enemy for the liberty of the people at least to wit as he in his Declaration hath more fully set forth and as Reason of his Redoubled circumstances he is in need of assistance from his country for support All which I do certify in my opinion and do hereby transmit the testimony in the case & the proceeding thereon had to the Honorable the Department of War
In testimony whereof I have here to set my signature and caused the seal of the Court of Common Pleas to be affixed at Derby the second day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & eighteen
William Howe Judge
Seal of Vermont
W.H.
I certify that the Hon. William Howe is first Judge of the County Court of this County and that the above is his signature
Ab. D. Allen Clerk & Notary public

Beng a Varnum Declaration Morgan, Orleans County, Vermont.
10022
Apr 19
Feb 19

State of Vermont ss. Asa P. Hovey on this 28. day of June 1820 personally appeared Benjamin Varnum for me in open court being a court of Record within and for the said County and so made by the Statute laws of the State of Vermont after Benjamin Varnum aged sixty six resident in Morgan in said County who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary Revolutionary war as follows, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Marshall Capt. Woodcock company Massachusetts line as per original declaration dated the 2 d of May 1818 sent to the department of war for which he has received a pension certificate numbered Ten thousand twenty two, And I solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18. day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with an intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war", passed on the 18. day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person for me in trust any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed viz, one chest of drawers, 1 table, 4 chairs and some few articles of crockery of iron, tin and wood and a small pigs value of the whole not worth twenty dollars, my occupation a farmer infirm by a wound received in the war, my family a wife aged fifty seven years also weakly one daughter aged twenty in tolerable health I owe about forty dollars in this County and a debt in Massachusetts that is not lawed but not paid. Benjamin Varnum
Sworn and declared this 28. day of June 1820
Before me William Howe Judge of Orleans County Court.

I, Ira H. Allen Clerk of Orleans County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty dollars. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 10. day of July 1820.
Ira H. Allen Clerk of the Court of the County of Orleans -

Bermuda - 3033
Molly Barnum, widow of Benjamin Barnum, who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 th Mar. 18 and who died on the 5 th January 1828 at Bermuda in the State of Vermont who was a P.M. in the Army commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg t commanded by Marshall in the [blank] time for 12 months. Inst.
Inscribed on the Roll of Benjamin at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of May '39, and said John T. Johnson, Clerk, M.P.
Arrears to the 14th of March - $120.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 20.00 $140.00
{ Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by R. [blank] Clerk Book A Vol. 2 - Page 60
Heard
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 8 th April 1838 & 20 th Aug 1842 from 4 th Sep 1839 to 29 th Nov 1839 Apt Halifax 25 Dec 1842.

Declaration of Molly Varnum in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7th of July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows" -
State of Vermont } On this first day of September A.D. Orleans County } 1838 personally appeared before the Probate Court within and for the County of Orleans and State of Vermont Molly Varnum a resident of Morgan in sd. County of Orleans aged seventy- seven years, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision 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 Benjamin Var- num late of sd. Morgan, deceased, who was a Private in the Massachusetts Line - that he served at the battle of Bunker Hill - that he entered the service she thinks in 1775 and served at different times till the summer of 1780 - the names of the officers under whom he served she does not recollect - She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Varnum on the sixteenth day of October A.D. 1780 at Inacut in the State of Massachusetts by the Rev. Mr. Davis, then a minister of the Gospel in said Town, the christian name of Mr. Davis she does not now recollect - That her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Varnum died on the fifth day of January A.D. 1828 at said Morgan - that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place pre- -vious to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety- -four, viz. at the time above stated - She further declares that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Varnum, was a pensioner on the pension list under the act of March 18, 1818 and drew a pension under that act until he died - She further declares that she is the widow of the aforesaid Benjamin Varnum - That she has not been married since he died -
Molly Varnum
The above interlineation "aged 77 years" was made before Joseph Bliggins Judge of Probate signing
The foregoing declaration of Molly Varnum was subscribed and sworn to before me this first day of September A.D. 1838. - Joseph Bliggins Judge of Probate

I, Samuel Elliott of Morgan in the County of Orleans of lawful age, do here and say, that I have been well ac- quainted with Molly Varnum who signed the fore- going declaration, for many years - That I was well ac- quainted with her husband Benjamin Varnum for many years prior to his death - That he died on the fifth day of January A.D. 1828 - That he drew a pension for some years prior to his death - That the said Molly Varnum has not been married since the death of her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Varnum, but is a widow -
Sworn! I Witt
The foregoing affidavit of Samuel Elliott was subscribed and sworn to before me this first day of September A.D. 1838. -
Joseph Wiggins Judge of Probate

State of Vermont, Orleans District } } And the said Court do hereby
declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented that the afore named Molly Varnum - is the Widow of Benjamin Varnum - & that the said Benjamin Varnum was a Soldier of the Revolution & served as she states in her declaration. And that Daniel Ditt whose affidavit is hereto attached - is a credible Witness & his statement entitled to full credit -
Joseph Huggins Judge of Probate
I Geo Nye Register of the Probate Court for the district of Orleans aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in matter of the application of Molly Varnum for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this first day of September. AD 1838
Geo Nye Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, September 27 1838.
I hereby Certify, That Joel Adams Esq r is now, and was at the date of his attes- tation a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John O. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Mr Benjamin Varnum entered with me his intention of Marriage with Miss Polly Elliot both of Dracutt. Dated at Dracutt June 2 nd 1780. William Hildreth, Town Clerk Entered by me A true Copy of Record Attest Henry Richardson, Town Clerk of Dracutt
I hereby certify that I have searched the Records of the town of Dracutt and cannot find the Record of any Mar- riage between the dates of February 2 nd 1773. and July 3 rd 1788. Attest. Henry Richardson, Town Clerk of Dracutt.
I Henry Richardson above named, do on and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the Town of Dracutt in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. and that the above extract from the record of the Publications of the Intensions of Marriage is a true Copy of the Records of said Town of Dracutt; and I do furthermore depone and say that I have in my possession all the Records of Marriage in said Town and have carefully examined the same, and that there is no Record of any marriage in said Town from Feb. 2 nd Seventeen hundred seventy three to July 3 rd Seventeen hundred eighty eight. Henry Richardson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. September 19 th . 1835. Personally appeared Henry Richardson above named, and made oath that the above extract by him subscribed was true. Before me Joel Adams, Just. Peace

3984
Varnum
re
act 7 July 58
m 88 d 38
on Roll Marshall
9 mo in 78 - Spina or say 12 mo -
no other service at all by him - all other days also 6 mo in 76 - will not count
abnd 12 mo pri
40
no deduction
7 years
Timothy Newman
Derby
W

Orleans county Is { Timman a Justice of the Peace in and for said county. Personally appeared Samuel Elliot of Morgan in the county aforesaid, a person known to me to be a credible Witness and after being Duly Sworn according to law before me, doth on his oath Depose and say that he lived with his father in the Town of Bristol, in the years 1780, & 1781. and that his Sister Molly Elliot Married Benjamin Varnum in Bristol in the State of Massachusetts, in one of the above mentioned years by a Congregational by the name of Davis then settled Minister of Gospel, well recollects that his Sister Molly and Benjamin Varnum starting from his father's house with two other couple, and returned said to be married, thinks this Marriage was in the Month of October and that the said Benjamin Varnum & Molly cohabited and lived together from that time to the time of Benjamin Varnum's Death which was the first week of June 1822 and that his Sister has not Married since his Death
Sworn to and subscribed this 13 th day { Samuel Elliot of November 1838 Before me Timman Justice Peace
State of Vermont. } Orleans County } ss
I, Samuel C. Crafts, Clerk of Orleans County Court, do certify that Timothy Timman is a Justice of Peace, within and for the County of Orleans, aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn; his commission is dated Nov. 1 st 1837, and will expire on the last day of November, A.D. 1838, and that his name to the above certificate is his hand writing. In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this Fourteenth day of November, A.D. 1838
Sam l C. Crafts, Clerk

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Dec. 2 d , 1842.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The adm rs of Molly Varnum, dec d a Pensioner on the Roll of the Montpelier Vt. Agency, at the rate of — Forty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th July 1838, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of Sept. 1839, to the 28 th Nov. 1839.  Respectfully, yours,
Simon Cameron
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

May 3, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/TEL Benjamin Varnum-W.25821
Mr. C.A. Varnum 409 W. Connecticut Hawthorne, California
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Benjamin Varnum, and in which you cite various pension references.
The Revolutionary War records have been searched under various spellings of the surname Varnum and the record of only one Benjamin found. He was the pensioner to whom your citations pertain. His record is given below as found in the papers on file in pension claim, W.25821, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Benjamin Varnum are not given in the papers on file in the pension claim.
While residing in Dracut, Massachusetts, he enlisted and was in the battle of Bunker Hill; no details of this service are given: he enlisted in the spring of 1776 and served eight months as a private in Captain Eliphalet Dowsell's Massachusetts Company and was discharged the latter part of November, 1776; he again enlisted in May, 1778, served in Captain Walcutt's Company, Colonel Marshall's Massachusetts Regiment; on February 7, 1779, was taken prisoner at Tarrytown, New York, was carried to New York City and held until June or July following, when he was exchanged and returned to his regiment and was discharged in August, 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 2, 1818, at which time he was aged sixty-four years and resided in Morgan, Orleans County, Vermont.
He died January 3 or January 5, (both dates appear) 1828, at said Morgan. At that time it was stated that he was aged seventy-nine years.
see Heitman 4th Mass D & H VOL page 230
Capt Reunion spelled also Walcutt Walcutt in Heitman Walcutt Walcutt
see Mass D & H VOL 16 page 292

Benjamin Varnum married October 16, 1780, at Dracut, Massachusetts, Molly Elliott. Their intention of marriage, dated June 2, 1780, was recorded on the records of the town clerk of said Dracut. Her name is borne on that record as Polley Elliot. Her brother Samuel, signed Elliott.
Soldier's widow, Molly, was allowed pension on her application executed September 1, 1838, at which time she was aged seventy-seven years and resided in Morgan, Vermont.
She died November 28, 1839.
In 1820, the soldier referred to a daughter aged twenty years but did not give her name and there is no further reference to children.
In 1832, the widow's brother, Samuel Elliott, was living in Orleans County, Vermont. There are no further family data.
One of the provisions of the Act of March 18, 1818, was that an applicant for pension must be a resident of the United States in order to receive a pension.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

Rej. WIDOW, &c.
1916 June 18 - History to John M. Varnum letter in L.F. 25.686 Samuel Varnum.
1933 May 4 - Hist. to Mr C. A. Varnum. ECH
File No. 25.621
Molly Varnum Widow of Benjamin Varnum Brimfield
Act: July 24 1828
Index: - Vol. 105 Page 297
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Benjn Varnum H Burlington Oct 1818. when last fed? 27 May '39 G.H.C.
Dec 3 Jan. 1828 p'to that period OH.

86.
Ms file 25,821
Rev War.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Varnum , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     March 1776 to June 1776 6 mos. Eliphalet Durdell — Mass.   May 1778 15 mos. Walcott Marshall 10th Mass.   July 7 1779 dis. Aug. 1779 captured & carried to N.Y. exchanged June or July 1779  
Battles engaged in, ✓ Bunker Hill
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, May 2 1818: allowed.
Residence at date of application, Morgan, Orleans Co. Vt.
Age at date of application, 64
Remarks: Sol. mar. Oct. 16, 1780 at Dracutt, Mass. Molly Elliot. (or Polly)
Sol. died Jan'y 5, 1828 at Morgan
Wid. appln Sept 1, 1838 res. Morgan, Vt. at 77 yrs.
Very respectfully,

Harrothorne, Calif. March 15, 1933.
To the Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
one only file
Dear Sir:-
I am endeavoring to secure information concerning my great-grandfather, Benjamin Varnum who was born at Oracut, Mass. in 1748.
I have reason to believe that he is the Benjamin Varnum whose name appears in the Census of 1790 at Cabot town, Orange County, Vermont, with a family identical as to age and sex with the family which about ten years later came to Sutton, Lower Canada.
In Revolutionary Pension Rolls - page 338 of Pensions of 1820 - I find this notation "Vermont - Benjamin Varnum, private Massachusetts Line"
And in another list of those inscribed on Pension list, Act of Congress passed Mar. 18, 1818. I find this notation -
"Orleans County, Vermont Benjamin Varnum, private, Annual Allowance $96, sums received $928.51, Served Massachusetts Continental line, Placed on pension roll Apr. 30, 1819, Pension commenced May 2, 1818, Age 74, Died January 3, 1828"

2 I also find in the same volume of Pension Rolls "A Statement showing names etc., of persons residing in the Province of Lower Canada who have made their declaration in the State of Vermont and been placed on the pension list under act of Congress June 7, 1832," Although Benjamin Varnum was then deceased I wish to ask
1. Was it possible before 1832 for "persons residing in the Province of Lower Canada" to receive pen- sions. 2. How were these pensions paid and do your records show anything as to the place and date when these payments were made to Benjamin Varnum. 3. What do the files show as to the declaration made by Benjamin Varnum in applying for this pension? 4. Do the records show anything as to the place of his death? The above rolls gives the date. 5. For what specific "Service, Massachusetts Continental line" was Benjamin Varnum granted this pension?
In Massachusetts "Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution" is this record
"Varnum, Benjamin, Wenham

3/ Private, Capt. Thomas Kimball's Co. of militia, Col. John Baker's regiment which marched on the alarm of Apr. 19, 1775; service, 2 days." My great grandfather, Benjamin Varnum was married to Elizabeth Porter at Wenham , Mass. on Feb. 14, 1775 and is without doubt the same as listed above as Varnum . There is another Benjamin Varnum in the above list whom I believe to be the same as Benjamin Varnum , Dracut also recorded for various services - and whom I identify from his age as being the Benjamin Varnum born June 4, 1752; and but the records are not clear and perhaps there were two two Benjamin Varnums - one of whom might be my great grandfather who returned with his newly wed wife from Wenham to his birthplace, Dracut - and after "serving two days" as above - might also have been in the army in one of the various enlistments recorded under Varnum, Benjamin, Dracut , in above work. It might also be possible to identify him with the " Vernum Benjamin, Methuen".
Thanking you for any information you can give me I am Yours Sincerely, E. H. Varnum ,
409 W. Connecticut, Hawthorne, Calif.
P.S. - My eldest son, Lieut Richard Blynn Varnum, A.S. (A. B. Harvard) sleeps "Forever Overseas" at Surennes, Paris.

John Murray Box 4 Peterson
Smithsonian Inst.
City
Maine
Postmarks again can't be used by Washington .
Jan 11 '39

me at J.W. Br...
Commission
like the date When cub Aug 8th
of Planters
Marking the
etc.
3371A

Post Office Portland (Me.) June 5 189.
They return the enclosure for better direction.
(There is no such place in Maine. yours etc. John Haskell for P. Master

Derby December 22 nd 1838
Hon ble James H. Edwards
Sir, here enclosed is the application of Mrs Polly Vernon, the Widow of Benjamin Vernon, late a revolutionary Pensioner Dec d . under the act of Congress passed the 7 th of July 1838, which you are requested to examine as soon as soon as convenient and report to your Obedient
serv t  Piss o H. H. H.
In the case of John Bishop we recd you in your letter of the 22 nd of Aug t last state that a pension certificate for John Bishop was issued on the 23 rd of June last allowing him $5.33 5 per Month from the 19 th of February 1838 and was sent to the Hon ble S. T. Parris of the Senate of the United States since which I have corresponded with Mr Parris and he states that he has no recollection of ever receiving the certificate of John Bishop. Mr Parris now being a Washington it is assumed that the thing may be accommodated so that the Widow may obtain his full share very respectfully Yours
Piss o H. H. H.
As the application of Elizabeth Lapham the the Widow of Levi Lapham which was for- warded on the 29 th ultimo, is requested to be reported on as soon as possible
P. H.

Free
Dec 18 July 38 Bishop
Hon. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Revenue City of Washington —
3954 Early to bed 13. Dec

Deficit of Bank Balance May 2. 1818
78 to 79 Marshall's Map Post
Massachusetts Line
Admitted
No 23

I David Harvey of Newton of Lardil of the County of Say that in the year 1778 or 1779 I was a soldier in the Revolution war (so called), and was known to Brig. General being like with a soldier in the Continental Establishment and was taken prisoner at Trenton and carried into New York the time he was out of soldier's prison I think was about fifteen months and I was knowing to his being wounded in the head and limbs the several parts of it Dated May 2. 1818 — David Harvey
State of Vermont I hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit and second affidavit are true and that the above is true and I do certify that the said David Harvey is a able witness before me William Howe Judge

I Samuel Elliot of Bannet of lawful age Do hereby and say that I was known to Benjamin Varnum being in the Continental Service in the Revolution war for same length of time and further your Deparment sayeth not
Samuel Elliot
State of Vermont Caledonia ss }
No 1
Bannet April 14 th 1818 Sworn to before me Wm Shearer Jr. J. peace

Genl. Hays Dept 1st Bty. Battery

No 1
Jonathan Hays of Danville in the County of Calhoun State of Vermont, aged Seventy three years of age that Benjamin Harnum now living in Morgan in the County of Orleans & State of Vermont, entered into a company com- manded by Lieut. Eliphalet Bagwell for the term of eight months in the army of the United States in which company I served as a Lieutenant & the said Harnum marched with me in company the 1 st June 1776 from Manchester or Methuen Massachusetts to Reindeer Gap, there forth fully served as a soldier in said company for the term for which he was enlisted, & was also charged I think in the latter part of Nov 1776. & we came together as far as Albany & separated further saith not -
Jonathan Hays
Danville April 11 th 1818.
State of Vermont Calhoun County ss I Danville April 11 th 1818 Personally appeared the above named Jonathan Hays who being the above Deponent in my presence & made a solemn oath to the truth of the same Before Me W. Algisworth Jus. peace
And I do further certify that the above named Jonathan Hays is a person of unyielding honorable integrity & credible testimony
W. Algisworth Jus. peace

State of Vermont Caledonia County ss
I Abel Morrill of Danville in the County of Caledonia & State of Vermont
agree I hereby certify that being duly sworn do depose & say that at the commencement of the American Revolution, I lived at Methuen adjoining the town of Dracut in the State of Massa- chusetts, & remained there during the Revolutionary war. That I was then well acquainted with Benjamin Varnum now of Morgan in the County of Caledonia & State of Vermont who then lived in said town of Dracut, & was well knowing that some time in the year 1778, or 1779, the said Benjamin Varnum, enlisted into the Army of the United States, & went immediately to the State of New York - as I was not in the Army I do not know in what company Regiment or Brigade he enlisted or did duty - but know that he was absent from home between one & two years, & always understood I do believe that he served as a soldier during his said absence in the Army of the United States against the common enemy - & was also knowing by information at the time & which I now believe to be true, that he was during his said absence taken a prisoner by the British & confined some time in New York, previous to his return home -
Danville April 15 th 1818
Abel Morrill
State of Vermont Caledonia County ss
Danville Apr. 15. 1818 Personally appeared Abel Morrill & subscribed the above Deposition in my presence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same, And I do further certify that the above named Abel Morrill is a man of undoubted veracity & a credible witness A. H. Griswold Justice Peace

STATE OF VERMONT,
COUNTY OF Washington ss. }
I Charles Stanley Clerk of the County of Washington
aforesaid, do hereby certify that Wm. Phear before whom the annexed
acknowledgement and affidavit
No. One have been made
at the respective dates thereof was & now is a Justice of the peace within & for the County of Washington aforesaid
duly qualified for that purpose, acting under the authority of this state, and that his name subscribed thereto is his own proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County at Conville in said County, this 14th day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and Eighty
Charles Stanley CLERK.

STATE OF VERMONT,
COUNTY OF Caledonia
ss. }
I Curtis Stanley
Clerk
of the County of Caledonia
aforesaid, do hereby certify that W. H. Griswold Esqr. before whom the annexed
acknowledgement and affidavit
No. 14
have been made
at the respective dates
thereof to wit  was a Justice of the peace within and for the County of Caledonia aforesaid duly qualified for that purpose, acting under
the authority of this state, and that
his name subscribed thereto
is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County at Derriville in said County, this 14 th day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen
Curtis Stanley CLERK.