Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,519, for Asa Smith, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Smith, Asa
S 22.519
CONTENTS
b. Nov 5, 1744 at Bedford, Mass. there at all. In 1832 rec. of Verdine, Orange Co. Vt.
1 1 7
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Vermont 9552
Asa Smith
Orange Co. in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Peary of the Regt commanded by Col. Fry in the Mass. Militia time for
11. months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 36. Dollars 66. Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28. day of May 1833. and sent to Daniel Cobb, Strafford, Vt
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833. 73. 32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 18 33
$ 91. 65.
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by H. Francis Clerk Book C, Vol. 3a Page 90.

32 Use Smith, Declaration 7647
Admitted Sergeant 11 months Miss' militia
Return from War Department to be made to Daniel Cobb Stafford Vt

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - State of Vermont County of Orange
On this 21 Day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before Titus Hutchinson Daniel Cobb & Thomas Jones Judges of the court of Orange County now sitting Ezra Smith a resident of Vershire in the County of Orange & State of Vermont aged eighty five 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 act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated
In the forefront of April 1775 at Roxbury Mass he enlisted in Capt. W m Pearly's company - Robertson & Bingham's Pearly's Lt. Col. Fry's Reg. for the term of eight months as a Sergeant & on the 19 th Day of April 1775 was ordered to Concord Mass, started to go there but on receiving news that the British had gone back to Boston we marched to Lexington from there to Medford then to Cambridge Mass, while here some of the American forces undertook to bring the cattle & some light horse off of Noddle's Island near Boston the British discovering the maneuver their boats, the forces at Cambridge were called upon to assist the Americans he & others mounted arrived to the ferry a little before dark, soon a British brig came in sight the tide being in, were ordered to fire on her needed so by starlight, the tide going out she lay upon her beams and on the ferryway - Gen. Putnam then called our attention to small black spots on the water, saw them, was ordered to fire at them, they were boats towing the vessel off, the boats made off - by daylight in the morning we saw boats coming towards us the brig filled with the enemy (we being secreted & watching the brig) when they were about landing Gen. Putnam said "There is three or four boats filled with red coats run right down boys all of you to the board June & make it as hot as hell for them" we went

went fired into the boat. They talked quick & sailed towards Boston, was ordered to fire the long, we rolled hay threw it on deck with fire the long blew up & we returned to Cambridge where he remained till the 16 th of June when Col. Fogg's Reg. were called through out at daylight I saw he knew not for what purpose & marched on to Bunker Hill on fatigue all night making intrenchments & throwing up breast works next day the battle commenced he was there fought the enemy till he heard the word "Retreat". took rain saw Charleston on fire, left the hill only one cartridge & that in his gun saving it for the enemy returned to Cambridge where he remained till his term of service expired & was dismissed
In the fall (Sept he thinks) 1776 the Town of Bedford was called upon to furnish six soldiers & one Sergeant for three months, the Capt. W m Pearly called out the militia company in Town made known the orders the Town had received & called for volunteers - Jacob Gould, Stephen Peabody & Robert Andrews Aaron Pearly, Rufus Burnham, the other he thinks was Andrew Peabody & himself, as Sergeant volunteered - from Bedford marched to Concord where was more soldiers & some officers, all marched to Concord Mills, he has forgotten the names of the officers they were all strangers to him from there to Great Barrington from there to Albany N.Y. here he tarried a few days from Albany to Greenbush where he & the soldiers were billeted out among the inhabitants - no fighting this campaign, here his time of enlistment expired was dismissed & went home
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of New York State
He was born in in Bedford Mass on the 5 th day of Nov 1744 has a record of his age in his bible which he copied from the record in his fathers bible, was living in Bedford when he entered the service has lived since the revolutionary war in said Bedford & Verplank where he now lives, he volunteered was not a substitute he recited of being besides the officers above named Gens. Washington & Col. Prescott in his first enlistment, has stated the general circumstances of his service - he never received a written discharge or commission
He is known in his present neighborhood to Samuel White Joseph Titus, W m Patterson, Asahel Madison Doct.

Doct. Ebenezer Spencer & others who can testify to his virtue & their belief of his services as a soldier sergeant of the revolution he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He has no documentary evidence
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state to his knowledge At So. I see it the
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
H. E. G. H. C. Laughlen Clerk
We Ambrone Stebbins
the residing in the Town of Vershire County of Orleans & State of Vermont & John Watson residing in Vershire afore
said hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Am Smith who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be eighty five years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier sergeant of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion and we know of no clergyman in the vicinity who has probably be able to testify about this subject Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Ambrone Stebbins John Watson
H. E. G. H. C. Laughlen Clerk
and the said Court do hereby announce their opinion after the inves- tigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named ap- plicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
and the Court further state certify that it appears to them that Ambrone Stebbins who has signed the preceding certificate is a Resident in Vershire in said County, and that John Watson who has signed the same is a Resident in the same place and is a credible person, and that statement is entitled to credit. H. E. G. H. C. Laughlen Clerk
I H. E. G. H. C. Laughlen Clerk of Orleans County Court also do hereby certify that the foregoing cert- ifies the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Asa Smith for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal of Office this 24th day of August A.D. 1832 H. E. G. H. C. Laughlen Clerk

No. 7647 Asa Smith
Admitted

   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen. under whom he served.     In 1775 April " 8 " Sergeant Capt. Peary Col. Fry. Mass troops   1776 Fall " 3 " " " 59 69   5611 2281  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Boxford, Mass.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & living
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Improperly attached
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. Brown
Examining Clerk.

I Steph Smith of here in the County of Orange and State of Vermont according to record was born in the Town of Roxbury in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts and by records I am now in my Sixty fifth year that in the year 1775 I was a soldier of Asa Smith my Father Receiving 60 shillings and ammunition to go into the army and understood he was one of the minutemen so called that volunteered in defense of the country and further recd that it was said he went to Cambridge Mass and understanding that there had been a battle at Bunkerhill and heard my Father was Asa Smith was killed in that battle and that Grand Father John Smith went he said to the army then at Cambridge and there found him and the remain- der of the company he said of the army
Stephen Smith
State of Vermont ) here in August 22 nd 1852 Orange County ) then Stephen Smith Personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth
I hereby certify that Stephen Smith is considered a man of truth and integrity and entitled to credit
Before me Thos Goodwin Justice Peace

State of Vermont Orange County ss. 32 D August 2 d 1832. - I H. E. G. H. Laug hler Clerk of Orange County Court hereby certify that William Boardman before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken is a justice of the peace in and for said County duly authorized to administer oaths, and that the s d William Boardman's signature is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office the day & year above written. -
H. E. G. H. Laug hler Clerk

I was a son of Benjamin in the County of Orange and State of Vermont according to records was born in the town of Roxbury in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts and by records I am now in my sixty third year that in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty five I recollect Asa Smith and Father preparing cartridges and ammunition to go into the army as I understood he was one of the minutemen so called that returned in defense of the country and I further recollect it was said he went to Cambridge Mass and recollect hearing there had been a battle at Brattlefield and heard my Father Asa Smith was killed in that battle and that my Grand Father John Smith went he said to the army there at Cambridge and there found my Father and I remember his coming home said from the army
Asa Smith gave my State of Vermont Benshrine August 21 st Orange County) In 1832 then Asa Smith personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth I hereby certify that Asa Smith's name is considered a mark of truth and veracity and entitled to credit  before me Wm Goodwin Justice Peace

State of Vermont Orange County ss Office August 22 d 1832 H. E. G. H. d Laughlen Clerk of Orange County Court hereby certify that William Doanman by whom the within affidavit was taken is a justice of the peace within & for the county of Orange, duly authorized to administer oaths, and that the sign- ature purporting to be his is Genuine In Testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and Seal this day & year above written. H. E. G. H. d Laughlen Clerk

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
Ms. A.
July 13, 1927
Mrs. W. W. Ray 303 West 7th St. Grand Island, Nebraska
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22319, it appears that ASA SMITH was born November 5, 1744, at Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts, and was the son of John.
He was a minute-man and was a resident of Boxford, Massachusetts, when he enlisted in April, 1775, and served eight months as a sergeant in Captain William Pearley's Company in Colonel Frye's Massachusetts Regiment; he was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He enlisted in September, 1776, and served three months as a sergeant in Captain William Pearley's Massachusetts Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 21, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Vershire, Orange County, Vermont.
He had a son, Stephen, who was born in Boxford, Massachusetts, and he stated in 1832 that he was in his sixty-fifth year and was then a resident of Vershire, Vermont. He had a son, Asa, who stated in 1832, that he was in his sixty-third year and was a resident of Vershire, Vermont. There are no further data on file relative to the family of Asa Smith, the Revolutionary War soldier.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner

Dear Mother Supt. ...
June 7 th 1891
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 385
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Grand Island, Nebraska, April 7, 1927.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
I am seeking information relative to the Revolutionary services of Asa Smith and Simeon Morey. Asa Smith, prior to the war lived near Bunker Hill in Mass. of the war Soon after the close of the war he settled in Vershire, Vermont. Simeon Morey lived at one time in Orford, New Hampshire, but moved to Vershire, Vermont at some time prior to the 1790 Census but after the close of the Revolutionary War .
I also wish to obtain the record of Morris Ellis of Virginia. He lived in both Frederick County and Hampshire County. In 1815 or about that time he was living in Hampshire County, Virginia. His wife was Mary, the widow of Jeremiah Smith of Frederick County, Virginia.
Thanking you, I am
Yours very truly
Mr. W. W. Ray,
303 West 7th Street
Grand Island, Nebraska.