Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15986, for Asa Smith, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Smith, Asa
S. 15986
carded
CONTENTS
May 7, 1752, at Belchertown, Hampshire Co. Mass. Here at end, In 1826, res. of Halifax Windham Co. Vt. died Feb. 13, 1835.

Vermont 17259
Asa Smith
of Marlinton St. in the State of Vermont who was a for Sgt - in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt: commanded by Col Woodbridge in the Chap: com: time for 9 mos 12 ds for 8. 5. 8 3/4
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 58 Dollars 52 Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Augt. 1833 and sent to Shipman Swan Halifax
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $117.06 Sem-ant. allowance ending Sept - 29.26 $146.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book C Vol. 3 Page 41

State of Vermont Windham County } District of Marlinton }
On this first day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District Now sitting as a Court of Record of Halifax in said District of Marlinton in said County of Windham & State of Vermont being eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law told on his oath that the following declaration is true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - viz That in April 1775 he resided in Belchertown in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts when he went for nearly a year belonging to a company of "Minutemen" or they were then called That about the 20 th of said April he received intelligence of the battle of Lexington & started the same day for the seat of the war commenced war under the command of Capt John Cols (then a lieutenant) and arrived at Cambridge in about two days - Col Clark was the commander of the troops among whom the applicant marched to Cambridge & he thinks said Col Clark was then a Colonel - at any rate said Col Clark stayed but a short time & was succeeded by Col Ben m R. Woodbridge then of South Hackney - Major Stacy, and Richard Montague an adjutant not also officers of the regiment - Soon after his arrival at Cambridge the applicant enlisted or engaged to serve until the first of the following January - On June he was present at the battle of Bunker's Hill - On the first of January 1776 he was told his time had expired but does not recollect that any written discharge was given him - He had served from the 21 st of April 1775 to the 1 st Jan y 1776 and arrived at his home in Belcher- -town about the 3 rd of said January - On the 29 th of said January he enlisted as a volunteer under Joseph Lyman

a captain in the Regiment of Col Elisha Porter and on the 19 th of March commenced a march for Quebec & preceded by the Navy of Ticonderoga which place they and the Regiment left in batteaux on 17 th of April - On the 27 th of April he arrived on the Plains of Abraham & joined the army then under the command (No thanks) of Gen Thomas Cochrane in chief who afterwards died at Chambly - After some unfruitful operations before Quebec the army retreated on the 7 th of May May 25 th arrived at Chambly at which place the applicant was left with many others sick of the miasmatic fever which he had been suffering some days - After some time how long precisely the applicant cannot say he with the garrison & sick left Chambly and he in a very feeble state of health and was stationed at Ticonderoga till some time in the fall of 1776 when he was ordered to Albany at which place the Regiment took boats on their way to New Jersey but the appli- cants health did not enable him to accompany them and on the 1 st of January 1777 he was discharged at a place called Morris town in New Jersey to which place he had gone with other sick soldiers left at Albany -
The applicant has herewith applied for a pension & forwarded affidavits by the Hon Mr Bates of Massachusetts which he presumes are on file in the Department & to which reference is had -
The Warrant noted annexed was given him while at Cambridge and he served as a sergeant during the first campaign above mentioned -
The applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and future

That the name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state. The applicant being at an inquest returned from the Ceymans of Halifax & having understood that his former claim was rejected on account of his owning a small piece of land (no longer an objection) refers to his former application & his former proof.
The applicant was born in Belchertown above named Mass on the 7 th of May A.D. 1852 -
The record of his age is presently on the Town Books of said Town but of this he is not certain -
He has lived in said Belchertown when he entered the service - since the Revolution he has resided part of the time in Shelburne in Massachusetts but the last thirty six years in Halifax in the county of Middlesex in Massachusetts where he now lives - He served as a volunteer but for a stated term & thinks he signed some paper like an enlistment - The names of several officers are already mentioned above - He received no discharge - having been given him in Wittigat the end of either of the two terms - and if he had such he does not know what has become of it - John Harris Joshua Harris tell me as Woodard an acquaintance with his character
Asa Smith
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Before me
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate

We John Harris & Joshua Harris being aware that we are well acquainted with Asa Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty years old that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion - John Harris Joshua Harris
I now I submit to you my opinion Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion upon the investigation of the matter & after perusing the interrogatories propoun- ded by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states - and the court further certifies that the nearest living relative in the applicant is at considerable distance but that the above subscribing John & Joshua Harris are credible persons resident in said Halifax & that their statement is worthy of credit
I James Elliot, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Marlborough aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Asa Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of August. A. D. 1832.
James Elliot Prob. Register.
No. 69. Wiltshire Coll. 1832 Asa Smith - Pet n for Pension. Aug. 1. 1832. No 2. 886

Benj n Ruggles Woodbridge Esq r —
Colonel & Commander in Chief of the XV Reg t of Foot in the Continental Army Raised for the Defence of our Just Rights & Privileges against Minis- terial Tyranny & Oppression
To Asa Smith Greeting
Reposing an Especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, Skill & Faithfulness, I do hereby ap- point you the S t Asa Smith to be the First Serjeant in the Company Commanded by Cap t M c Cowles in the Regiment whereof I am Colonel.
You are the S t With the Greatest Vigilance and Fidelity to Execute the office of Serj t in the Company afore S t Carefully obeying and Obeys all Orders & Commands you shall from Time to Time receive from your Superior Officers Exercising & Ordering the Inferior Officers and Soldiers According to Duties of Your Station as by Law Established for the Regulation of the Army of the United American Colonys for which this shall be your Sufficient Warrant.
Given under my Hand at Cambridge July 21 st 1775.
Approved By me John Cowles Cap t .
B Woodbridge Col.

P
15986
INVALID.
File No. 15986
Asa Smith
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 342
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Solomon Smith of lawfull age depose and say that I am acquainted with Asa Smith of Halifax in State of Vermont and that I have known him from my childhood and that the said Asa enlisted into the Army of the Revolution as a first Sergeant in the month of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five and served in company with me eight months at Cambridge Massachusetts in Captain Boles Company and Colonel Ruggles Woodbridge Regiment. And I further say that the said Asa enlisted in company with me about the first of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy six into Capt. Asahel Lyman Company and Colonel Elisha Porter Regiment in the Canada expedition so called & that we served the full term of one year, during which time we were commanded in part by Generals - Worcester, Thomas and Sullivan - and I further say that the said Asa Smith is now eighty one or two years old as near as I can recollect for the above is the truth -
Solomon Smith
State of New Hampshire
Dropton Is. - May 17. 1833. Then personally appeared Solomon Smith and made oath the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true -
Before me
Hatham Jr. Justice Peace
And it is the opinion of me the said Justice that the said Solomon Smith is a man of truth & veracity & served in the war of the Revolution as stated above -
Hatham Jr Justice Peace

State of New Hampshire
Grafton ss
I George Woodeward Assistant Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do certify that Arthur Latham Jr. Esquire is a justice of the peace within & for said county duly qualified to take oaths & that I believe the within to be his genuine signature
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court this day of May 1833
Geo. Woodeward A. Clerk

Claim of Alta Smith
(Beyth's Millville May 6)
12.
Mr. Chipman Swain,
  9 mi 12 1/2 priv.  31.32  Halifax,    8 " 5 " left.  26.11    Two Sheets.  58.53  
for
Handwritten scribbles
Handwritten scribbles
Handwritten scribbles

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
19 April
1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjunctive notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr Asa Smith

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

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deponneth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

State of Vermont
County of Windham ss
on thirteenth Day of June AD 1833
Personally appeared before me Dennis
Bullough a Justice of the peace within and for said County of Windham also Smith a resident of Halifax in the said County of Windham and State of Vermont aged eighty one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 that he lived in Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts his native Town. that in the year 1774 he enlisted (in said Belchertown) into a Company of Minute men so called that on the news of the Lexington fight April 19. 1775 our Company marched from Belchertown the 20 th of April to Cambridge
under command of Lieut John Cows and began comb duty the 24. or 25. and there began service in the army in a few days said Cows was appointed Captain with orders to raise men to serve till the first of January 1776 that he then enlisted in Capt. Cows Company as order sergeant and did that duty his time out. The Company officers were Capt. Cows Lieut. Foster & Ensign Lane belonged to Colonel M aj . Br. Woodbridge Regiment his officers were Major Stacy & adjutant Montague does not recollect any L t . Col. the 17 th of June Col. Woodbridge Regiment was ordered to reinforce our men at Bunker Hill where we marched and crossed the neck where we were fired upon from a ship lying in the stream and from some guns here in Boston but the battle was over before we got to the intrenchment not long after whether in June or early in July do not recollect Genl. Washington

arrived at Cambridge and took the command of the Army and with him or soon after there came a Regiment of Riflemen I believe their Col o name was Thompson they were called General Washington's Regt - from Virginia do not recollect any battle of much consequence after the Bunker hill when our times expired Jan y . 1: 1776 we were told our times were out and we recd. our disch ge do not remember of any written discharge. Then returned home again on the 29 th of Jan y 1776 the applicant enlisted at Belchertown under Capt t Josiah Lyman of said Belchertown in the year's services called; time to be out the 1 st of Jan y 1777 belonged to Colonel Porter's Regiment we marched from Belchertown the 19 th of March 1776 and passed through Northampton Barnington Castleton Shesam on Lake Champlain. Stopped at Grand Isle till the lake was cleared of ice on or about the 17 th of April then Capt t Lyman Capt t Alexander Capt t Shepard and Capt t Bacon's Companies (being part of Col o Porter's Regiment) were put on board of boats and went down the lake passed Chambliss Falls and proceeded down the river to Quebec we landed at Wolf's Cove the 27 th of April and ascended the plains of Abraham we there found ourselves near the enemy and our Army feeble and sickly with the small pox and but few of us that ever had it soon after our arrival, in the time of a thick fog one after noon were ordered to take a parcel of ladders and carry them within pistol shot of the walls of Quebec we carried them till ordered to lay them down the following night was very stormy the next day the ladders were broken to pieces by the Cannonballs from the enemy while there under fire Gen l Thomas was our Commanding Officer The 4 above mentioned Companies had orders to proceed up the River St. Lawrence about 20 miles to have small pox our quarters was about 2 miles from the river while we were there our Army was pressed up the river and more followed by the enemy so Ships being informed of our situation we were ordered to leave our clothing

and to make our best retreat after the army our course must be near the river we soon came up with three of the enemy ships at anchor near the shore we passed them exposed to a heavy fire from them that night we came up with our army and more than put on board of boats and sent up to Chamblee and had the small pox General Thomas died with it early in June soon after his death General Sullivan came on from the South and with about 15 hundred men passed by us into Canada some time before June was out our army retreated out of Canada the whole army then moved southward and went to Ticonderoga Col. Porter's Regiment to fort independence there was a battle on the lake that summer I heard it called Arnold's defeat some time in November Col. Porter's Regt. was ordered to Albany and afterwards that all the able bodied men to go down the river to New- Jersey my health was so feeble with many others after having the small pox together without suffering that I was not able to do duty and was left in the barracks at Albany. I continued to be very feeble and some time in Dec r had a furlough to the first of Jan y . 1777 then sent to my friends in Belchertown and by their assistance got home but remained in very poor health for many months after I got home I understood while we remained at Albany sick that Gen l Gates was there and that by the recommendation of his Aidesbumph where none was called Trumble our furlough was given that our wages might continue till and time were out to assist us in going to our friends - when the men belonging to Col. Porter's Regt. returned home was informed the Regt. was discharged when their time was out at Morristown in New Jersey since my first dislocation which was made which was the first of August last have found and obtained the deposition of Levi Shumway and Solomon Smith which are forward ed here with

4 he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
The following answer to the interrogatories
1 - where and in what year were you born in Belchertown in Massachusetts in the year 1752 2nd have you any record of your age and if so where is it. I have no official record think probably it is in the book of Records in Belchertown 3. where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary war. and where to you now live when called into service I lived in Belchertown after the war of the revolution was over I moved to Shelburne Massachusetts, lived there nearly twenty years have lived in Halifax about 37 years 4. How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom. I went by voluntary enlistment 5. State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such as Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and General circumstances of your service while at Cambridge General Washington came at the command of the Army Generals. Putnam & Warren and Genl. Pomeroy of Northampton was there a part of the line Genl. Heath Ward & Lee. At Bunker Hill Warren was killed on the day Warren was killed I saw Col. Gerrish Genl. Arnold left there in the fall and went to Quebec by way of Ticonderoga Col. of Rifles were from Virginia - when I went to Canada in 1776 was in Col. Dyer's Regt. there were only 4 Companies together on the

5  march and passage to Quebec where Genl. Thomas commanded understood Genl. Arnold was there I was soon after our arrival taken Down with the small pox was conveyed back to Chamblee with the sick where Genl. Thomas died of small pox (so far in this long I hope some Journal) I had but little opportunity of knowing Officers or Regts Genl. Sullivan passed us at Chamblee with about 1500 men went to the relief of our Army the Army soon left Canada and went to the head of Lake Champlain
6 did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so what has become of it
I never had a written discharge to my recollection in my last campaign when sick at Albany had a furlough but whether in writing or not do not recollect
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief as to your services as a soldier of the Revolution refers to Reverend Thomas H. Wood and Capt. Abel Scott
Subscribed and sworn to Friday and year aforesaid We Thomas H. Wood Esq. Darius Bullock Justice of the peace in the County of Windham and State of Vermont and Capt. Scott of the same State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Smith who has sub- scribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty one years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Alex Smith
Thos. H. Wood
Abel Scott
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before Darius Bullock Justice of the peace
and the said Justice do hereby declare his opinion

after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the next department (and from a personal acquaintance) that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states
and the said Justice further certifies that the said Thomas H. Wood who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said Town of Halifax and that Abel Scott who has also signed the same is a resident in said Halifax and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Darius Bullock Justice of the peace
I the said Asa Smith further testify and say, that, by reason of decay of memory, or the misapprehen- sion of my agent who wrote my original declaration, it was there stated that I was discharged at Mor- ristown, which was a mistake, and is now corrected the preceding new declaration - Asa Smith
Subscribed & sworn to this 13th day of June 1833.
James Elliot, Justice of the Peace, Windham County, Vermont.
State of Vermont. Windham County Court Clerk's Office New Haven, June 13. A.D. 1833.
I certify that Darius Bullock, James Elliot and Henry C. Goss, Esquires, are Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the annexed are their signatures, respective- ly. Witness my hand and the seal of said Court
James Elliot, Clerk.

I Levi Shumway son of Reuben in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, aged eighty years, upon my say that I have been intimately acquainted with Mr. Asa Smith of Halifax in the County of Windham & State of Vermont, ever since I was sixteen years of age, when my father family moved into Belchertown Hampshire County, Massachusetts, where the said Smith then resided - the said Smith being about my own age. The said Smith & myself in the fall & winter previous to April 1775 belonged to an organized Company of Minute Men in Belchertown & vicinity. Immediately after the news of the Lexington fight in April 1775, the said Smith myself & many others repaired to Cambridge where we arrived about the 25 th of the same month - A few days after we arrived at Cambridge orders came to raise a company for eight months service - a company was accordingly formed of which the said Smith & myself were members, commanded by Capt. John Bowles, Lieut. Worcester, Ensign Lane, & attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. B. B. Woodbridge, Maj. Stacy, adjutant Montague, - The said Asa Smith was orderly sergeant of our Company & served as such during the whole term - At the expiration of the eight months service which was the first of January 1776 the said Smith with the rest of his company were discharged & returned home to Belchertown. So that to the whole of the eight months service & more above named I am personally knowing being performed by said Smith as orderly sergeant as aforesaid - I further upon my say that soon after we returned from Cambridge in January 1776, the said Smith enlisted for the term of one year into a company raised & commanded by Capt. Josiah Symon of Belchertown, which company I believe was attached to Col. Elisha Porter's Regiment. & that soon after

his enlistment, I should think in the month of March 1876 he marched with his company to the northern frontier & did not return till some time in the fall of the same year when as I learned he was discharged with the rest of his company. And further I say not. Whitingham } May 17-1833 } Levi Stearns
State of Vermont
Windham } County ss. }
Whitingham May -17-1833
Then personally appearing Levi Stearns of Readsboro in the County of Bennington, & after being duly cautioned, made solemn oath, that the foregoing deposition by him, subscribed, contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth. Before me Henry Clapp Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Levi Stearns is personally known to me, that he has long been a resident, (till very recently), of this town, that his character for truth & veracity has ever been & still is good. Henry Clapp Justice Peace Whitingham } May 17-1833 }

A Statement showing the Service of Asa Smith
   Period when service was rendered years months days rank of the element Name and rank of the field officers under whom he served age at present proof by which his service is supported   and place of birth out of town     1st term from April 25. 1775 to Jan. 1 - 1776 2. enlistment --- from March 19. 1776 to Jan. 1. 1777 8 5 sergeant Col. Benjamin D. Woodbridge Regiment 81 Belchertown affidavit of Solomon Smith and Levi Shinnacy   9 12 private Col. Enish Porter's Reg't reference to Solomon Smith's affidavit for traditionary and credibility therein - Thomas H. Wood and Capt. Abel Scott