Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 6902, for William Marchant, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Marchant, William Hannah
R 6902
CONTENTS

This is to certify that William Marchant & Hannah Wheeler were united in Marriage Dec 3 1777 By Obediah Porter Ordained Minister of Anisquam Parish It is recorded on said Parish Books
May 2. 1837
Stephen Porter Parish Clerk
I Stephen Porter Parish Clerk of the Parish of Anisquam in Gloucester on oath certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Church records Rev Obediah Porter then the ordained Chaplain of said Parish and that there is no Ordained Pastor in said Society at Present
Stephen Porter

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex Js. February 10. 1837
I certify that Stephen Chard who has signed the within certificate is Clerk of Annisquam Parish of Gloucester having charge of the records of said Church; that his acts are entitled to full credit; and that the signature hereto is genuine
Witness my hand
William Ferson, Not y Public
Essex Js. May 20th, 1837.
Personally came Stephen Chard with in named and made oath to the truth of the within certificate by him subscribed, who is known to me as a credible witness
Witness my hand & Notarial Seal
William Ferson, Not y Public

State of Massachusetts
On this twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, James Marchant a resident of Gloucester in said County aged sixty four years who upon oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed July 4 1836.
And this declarant States that he is one of the children of William Marchant and Hannah Marchant both deceased. He has reason to believe and doth believe that his father the said William Marchant was a Soldier of the Revolution that he served in Capt Dodge's Company in 1775 & 1776 in Capt Pool's Company in Col Wigglesworth's Regiment as Quere in 1778 3 mos or more and was at R.I. and he believes that there is proof of said service in the declaration of his mother Hannah Marchant in the Pension Office in Washington.
He further states that Hannah Marchant his mother married William Marchant in 1777 as set forth and proved in her declaration aforesaid that William Marchant died at Gloucester on the 15 October 1802 that his mother Hannah Marchant survived him and remained a widow to the time of her death which occurred February 12 1838 and that Esias Marchant

and James Marchant are the children and the only surviving children of William and Hannah Marchant deceased. He therefore claims a pension and refers the Commr to the proof her exhibited and to the proof now filed in said original declaration of his mother.
James Marchant
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss. Dec. 12 A.D. 1857.
Then personally appeared the above named James Marchant on the day and year first above written and made oath that the same is true
Before me . Joshua P. Trask.
Just: Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, March 26 th 1882
W hereby C ertify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Joshua B. Brooks was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex.
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; 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.
Francis Walker
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Know all men by these presents That we James Marchant and Epes Marchant only surviving children of Hannah Marchant late of Gloucester County of Essex and State of Massachusetts do hereby constitute and appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland State of Maine and George C Amos of Washington D.C. our true and lawful Attorneys irrevocable for us and in our names to prosecute our claim for a pension due to our late mother Hannah Marchant deceased. And our Attorneys or either of them are hereby authorized and empowered to call for and examine any papers that have been filed in the Pension Office in Washington relative to said claim, and to make application for any proof relative thereto in any of the Public Offices of the several States or of the United States & generally to do and perform whatever is necessary to be done and performed in and about the premises. Hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever our Attorneys or either of them may lawfully do in the premises.
Witness our hands and seals this twelfth day of December A D 1851
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence of us
Joshua P. Frase.
John L. E. Rogers.
James Marchant
Epes Marchant
County of Essex ss. Then personally appeared on the

twelfth day of Decemr A D 1851 the above named James Marchant and Epes Marchant and acknow- ledged the foregoing power of Attorney by them signed to be their free act and deed
Before me Joshua P. Trask — Just Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, March 26 th 1852
W hereby C ertify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Joshua P. Stark was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; 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.
Francis Walker
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

V 1797 Hannah Muehant and of William Moe

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss.
On this sixth day of February 1837, personally appeared before the Hon. David Cummings, one of the Justices of the Court of common pleas for said County, Hannah Marchant, a resident of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy eight years (being unable to attend in Court by reason of bodily infirmity) who being first 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 4, 1836.
That she is the widow of William Marchant who was a Sarg-eant in Capt. Barnabas Dodges Company in Col o . Baldwin's Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry; that he entered the service about the first of May, 1775; was stationed at Chelsea; was at Chelsea on the day of the battle of Bunkerhill; and that he returned home after the British evacuated Boston in 1776, after having served ten months in said Company.
That he came home out of the army in April, 1777 but the deponent cannot recollect where or how long he served.
That he served as First Lieutenant in Captain Mark Pools Co. in Colonel Wigglesworths, alias Wadsworths Regiment of Massachusetts militia, three months or longer, in the year 1778 in an expedition to Rhode Island; that this deponent had his commission for many years after he left the service, which is now lost.
That said Marchant resided in Gloucester aforesaid when he entered the service and continued to reside there till his death.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Marchant by the Rev. Obadiah Parsons on the third day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven; that her husband the aforesaid William Marchant died at said Gloucester in the month of October in the year 1802; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed
Hannah her X Marchant Mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me; the said Hannah Marchant by reason of her advanced age and bodily infirmity being unable to attend Court.
David Cummings Jus. C.C.R.

I Isaac Rowe of Gloucester in the State of Massachusetts, aged 76 years on oath testify, that in war of the Revolution, I served as a private in a Company of Massachusetts militia commanded by Captain Mark Pool in Col d Wigglesworths Regiment as was Wardsworths , in an expedition to Rhode Island in the year 1778 three months. That William Marchant named in the foregoing declaration of Hannah his widow was our First Lieutenant, who was our townsman; that I was well acquainted with him in said service; and to my knowledge he served in said capacity during the aforesaid expedition. Also that Hannah before named is the widow of said William Marchant and has remained his widow since her husbands decease.
Isaac Rowe
I Isaac Dennison of Gloucester in the State of Massachusetts aged 76 years on oath testify, that in the Revolutionary war, Barnabas Dodge raised a company in this town just after the battle of Lexington and marched to Chelsea before the battle of Bunkerhill some time and I went with said Company to Chelsea to take care of the baggage. That I went frequently as a messenger from Gloucester to Chelsea for my townsmen. That according to my best recollection William Marchant before named marched with the Company of said Dodge; and that I saw him whenever I went to Chelsea. That he messes with the non commissioned officers when I saw him; and to my knowledge he served in Capt. Barnabas Dodges Company of Massachusetts troops in the year 1775.
Isaac Dennison
We Aaron Wheeler, aged 76 years and Mary Wheeler, aged 76 years both of Gloucester in the State of Massachusetts on oath testify that we have been intimately acquainted with William Marchant and Hannah his wife before named; that said William Marchant died at said Gloucester in the month of October, 1802; and to our knowledge Hannah before named has remained a widow since the decease of said William her husband and has not intermarried since that period.
Aaron Wheeler
Mary Wheeler
I Aaron Wheeler further testify, that to my knowledge said Marchant left home in the spring of the year 1775 and joined the army near Boston and was stationed at Chelsea or Cambridge while the army lay there. According to the best of my recollection, he served in capacity of orderly Sargeant and did not return home till after the British left Boston in March, 1776
Aaron Wheeler
I Moses Lufkin of Gloucester in the State of Massachusetts aged 79 years on oath testify that I served as Drummer in Capt. Richard Dodges Company in the Regiment of which Lt Col. Badwin had the command in the Massachusetts

troops stationed at Chelsea in the year 1775. While in that service a Company in the same Regiment was stationed in the same house together, commanded by Capt. Barnabas Dodge, in Chelsea aforesaid. That I knew and was well acquainted with William Marchant of this town, whom I daily saw, that to my knowledge he served as Sargeant in said Barnabas Dodges Company, in 1775, at least eight months. As he did not enter the service in 1776, I verily believe he served with others by request of Genl Washington till the British left Boston in March. 1776
Moses Lufkin
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex
On this eighth day of February, Eighteen hundred & thirty seven, personally came before the subscriber, a Notary Public for said County, Isaac Rowe, Aaron Wheeler, Mary Wheeler and Moses Lufkin before named, who subscribed and made oath to the truth of their several declarations. And I certify that I am well acquainted with said Isaac Rowe, Aaron Wheeler, Mary Wheeler and Moses Lufkin, known to me as credible witnesses
Witness my hand the day and year last above written
William Ferson, Not Public
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss.
I John Prince Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Hon. David Cummins is one of the Judges of said Court & that his signature hereon is genuine
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court May 19. 1837.
John Prince Clk

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
Aug
August 4, 1935
Florence C. Adams 1779 Massachusetts Ave. N. W. Washington, D. C.
Madam:
I have to advise you that photostat copies of the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 6902 of Hannah Marchant, widow of William Marchant, will be furnished you under the Act of August 24, 1912, at the rate of fifteen cents a page and twenty-five cents for certification.
The number of pages to be copied is four with certification twenty-five cents, the proper amount would be eighty-five cents and should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
15 4 60 25 1.00

V Hannah Macchack widow of William Mass See also Mr Ferris June 27. 1837 same Sept 2 nd 1837
Ad 4 July 1836

Rev. Hist.
1893
734 - 8 th St. N.W. Washington, D.C. March 15, 1893.
William Merchant or Marchant Lieut. War of the Revolution. may have served in one of the organizations named herein.
Miss Frances R. Merchant
Asks for three copies of the record of service of above named Officer for "Daughters of the Revolution" purposes.
OWTH

Washington. March. 15/93.
To the Hon. Secretary of War; Sir, -
I have the honor to ask for the military record of my ancestor, William Merchant or Marchant, believed to have been a Lieutenant in the war of the Revolution, company and regiment unknown to the writer.
The soldier was a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and may have served under either of these officers from Gloucester and vicinity, viz:-
Capt. Nath l Warner, 12 th Mass. Infantry. " John Rowe 6 th Military foot. " — Parker — — — " N. Warner 17 th Regt. " Joseph Robie (or Roby) 17 th Regt " John Rowe 27 th Regt

Capt Barnabus (or Barnard) Dodge 38 th Regt.
" Mark Pool.
" Sam l Rogers
" Ebenezer Cleveland
Col. Paul Dudley Sargent 16 th Regt. continental foot, and Capt. Lieut. Winthrop Sargent of the continental artillery, were both Gloucester men, the soldier may have served under them.
Major Burnham enlisted 30 men in 1776 for one years service in Gloucester, probably for the 14 th Regt. Col. John Glover.
This information being desired as data for admission to the "Daughters of the Revolution" I would further ask for three copies of the record, one for myself, and the others for other descendants of the same soldier.
Very respectfully
(Miss) Frances R. Merchant, 734 - 8 th St. n.w. City

William Marchant Married Dec 1777
May 75 10 mo. before Dodge +
Apr 78 Sent from Mark Red Car R.I.
Feb 14 1773 Abner Dodge had on Apr 75
~ 52 Pa. Doll.
Abner Marchant Gloucester
July May 30. Copy 7 mo. 3 Marchant

The statement of the soldiers service as furnished you by this Bureau is the same as it is given in the widows declaration for pension Affidavit of witnesses. The alleged service was never shown by any official communication, to be correct. Sent to Miss Merchant - City over In answer to her letter of May 8. 94

REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE.
O. W. & N. Div.
MEMORANDA.
Please supply as much as possible of the data called for below.
Unit name of soldier:
Place of residence before service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Place of residence after service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Date of death (as near as possible):
Christian name of widow:
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Remarks:
Your rank and address:
No mention is made of him having rendered any service in Capt. Lawrence's Co. of Col. Grafton's Regt.
870

Pension Office Washington, D. C.
July 20 1925
To whom it may concern:
I am making application for D. Q. R. membership and the records of my ancestor Mrs. Wm Merchant, or Spelled Merchant made application for a pension in February 1837 and in declaration stated that Wm Merchant had enlisted May 1775 for 10 mos and again in 1778 for 3 mos under Capt. Barnabus Dodge and Mark

2
Poole. Mention is also made of the fact that he was in "Chelsea" on the day of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The application was refused as it was claimed the name could not be found on the rolls the same being in a dilapidated condition.
Now if you would please be so kind as to send me a copy of this application and the reply. I would indeed be very grateful

to you for your trouble.
The copies of the two letter would be a great help in putting my application for membership, in the Daughters of American Revolution , more quickly through the necessary channels.
Very truly yours
Francis Louisa Adams 1779 Mass Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C.
(over)

W m Merchants' widow name was Hannah Wheeler Merchant.

Aug. 6. 1925
U. S. Dept. of Interior. Bureau of Pensions Washington D. C.
RE: Rev. 1 1812 war section
PENSION AUG 7 1925 U. S.
Sir:
Enclose fixed money order for eighty-five cents ($ .85) for which to pay for copy and certification of claim, R 6902, Hannah Marchant, widow of William Marchant Your promptness is greatly appreciated

Very respectfully
Florence Carolina Adams 1779 Mass. Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C.

3-2233
113
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
Aug. 8, 1925
Chief Rev. Sect. Division.
I have this day received from Florence Caroline Adams M.O. No. 68835 for $85/100, requesting
photostat copy post office address as per
letter herewith.
Copies mailed Finance Division notified Aug. 24-25 Chief Finance Div. au L.
3-2006 OFFICE OF CHIEF CLERK
Job No. 122985 Date Aug. 11, 25 Subject Rev. M.O. 1902 1 copies of 2 pieces consisting of 14 pages to be forwarded when completed to the Rev. Sect. Division.
Remarks:
Approved:
W. Wilson Chief Clerk.

1893, May 10 Hist. to Miss Frances R. Merchant Wash. D.C. 94 May 2 x Letter to above see copy within S.S.
1925-Aug. 4. Florence C. Adams inf. cost of photostat copies etc. etc. 1925-Aug. 24. Copies mailed to Florence C. Adams. etc.
REJECTED
6902
P. O.
Frances Merchant
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: The printed list of 1852 gives cause of suspension Re-enlisted as "Not on the rolls no proof of service"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Gloucester, Ms. August 10th, 1837.
James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
By your letter of the 27th June last in relation to the claim of Hannah, widow of William Marchant, the testimony did not prove his services in 1778 as declared. All of said Pool's company in this & the adjacent towns are dead; and "to require positive proof from a cotemporary survivor, would, after the lapse of so many years, be to deprive many of them of the benefit of the law."
Enclosed are depositions stating, I think, conclusively that said Marchant's service at Rhode Island was in the year 1778; but was 3 months later, as appears, than declared by Mrs. Marchant.
Enclosed also is the Commission of Capt. Mark Pool, who commanded said company, dated Nov. 5. 1777; and it appears that the service was the year following its date. The loan of said Commission was obtained from a grand son of S r . Pool; and he requests it may be returned to me, if consistent with the rules of the War Department.
I am respectfully
Your obedt. servt.
William Terson

Dept of War
Pension Office
June 27 1837
Sir
Since the return of the papers of Mrs. Fears and Mrs. Marchant, the widow of William Fears and William Marchant decd., I have caused the rolls to be examined, and find that neither of the names are borne upon any rolls in this Office. Mrs. Fears' claim has been admitted upon the testimony of her witness; but the claim of Mrs. Marchant requires more satisfactory evidence to justify its admission. The declarant Mrs. Marchant states that her late husband served 10 m o in 1775-6 commencing in the 8 th Regt in May, under Capt. Barnabas Dodge: That they were married in Dec r 1777 & that after her marriage to wit, in Apr l 1778, her husband was called out in the capacity of a Lieut, in Capt Mark Pool's Col d Wigglesworth's Reg t and served three months in R.I.
To support the last allegation, upon which the claim wholly depends, the affidavit of Isaac Rowe is produced and accompanies the declaration. Mr. Rowe swears that he served in the above named Com y in Capt Mark Pool's Company, and that William Marchant was at that

time a Lieut. of the company and served out the 3 mo. — Mr Rowe is now a pensioner, and was allowed for the following services, being all that he claimed to have rendered, to wit; 3 mo. in March 1777 in Capt Mark Pook C o . Col Titcomb's Regt and 6 mo. in the year 1778. in Capt M c Dodge's C o .
The discrepancy between Mr Rowe's own declaration & his affidavit is apparent. No roll of Capt Mark Pook can be found; but the declaration of Mr Rowe above referred to, is supported by the testimony of Eber Pook and Zachariah Stevens. The papers of Mrs Marchant are placed on our file, awaiting further proof.
Yours
Mr. Henson
June 27 1837
William Ferson Esq.
Gloucester Mass.

William Alanchant

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
June 9 1851.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of William Merchant is not on any roll for service in any Capacity. —
His name is not on rolls of Capt. Dodge or of Capt. Pool. —
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
James Walker Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Quir
OMW
To the Secretary of State, Massachusetts.
James Marchant, one of the children of Hannah Marchant, late of Gloucester, Massachusetts, respectfully requests the Secretary of State aforesaid, to furnish from the rolls and Documents in his possession all the evidence of the service of his late father William Marchant.
And this Applicant States that his father the said William Marchant, was a resident of Gloucester in the time of the Revolution. He believes that his father served in Capt. Dodge's Company in Col. Soammi Baldwin's Regt. in 1775, or 1776 or both, and that he returned home in 1777, and that afterwards he served as St. in Capt. Pool's Company three months or more and served in R. I. —
He is unable to state more particularly as to his father's service, and requests the Secretary to grant a certificate of all the service credited to any one of the names that can be identified with the William Marchant afore described. And for the purpose of this application I hereby appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland, Maine, my Attorney in the premises.
James Marchant
Essex ss. May 21 1857, Signed by the said James Marchant, in my presence, who at the same time acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and

deed,
Joshua P. Trask.
Ins. Peace,
4556,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex. ss.
Probate Office.
I, Edwin Laurence, Register of Probate for said County of Essex, hereby certify that the facts herein after mentioned are of record in said office, viz: "That Hannah Marchant, late of Gloucester in said County, deceased, was the wife of William Marchant, late of said Gloucester, deceased; that she survived her said husband, and remained his widow until her death, which took place on the twelfth day of February A. D. 1888, and that her only surviving children are Eyles Marchant, and James Marchant, both residents of said Gloucester."
Witness my hand and seal of office this thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Edwin Laurence.

John J. C. Sullivan Barnes
2069
Mr. Barnes New Bedford
as far as possible to see your young & to see the papers you

Washington July 17. 1852
Sir
Enclosed you will find Power of Attorney in the Case of Hannah Merchant- widow of William Merchant. Map act 4 May 1836
I wish to see the papers now on file in support of her claim
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt Geo L. Ames
Capt F. L. Imbrie Actis Commr of Pensions

Sept. 24/83
ab.

Depart. of War Pension Office Sept. 2 nd 1887
Sir
I return herewith the commission of Mark Pool agreeable to your request;
The muster roll of Capt Barnaby Dodge for the year 1775, bears the name of Fabry Marchant as corporal for 7 months, but the name of William Marchant is not found upon it. The witness, sworn positively, as to the service of William Marchant in 1775, but it is apparent from the roll that they have fallen into the error by confounding the names of William and Fabry Marchant. The claim is disallowed & the papers remain on file. I am
William Ferson Esq. Gloucester Mass

Gloucester October 18 th 1718
For the Valley Reserved I Promises to pay to Moses Wheeler the sum of twenty pounds Current money of this State on Demand With Interest after Six months from this Date as Witness my hand
Samuel Butman

I Aaron Wheeler of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 77 years, on oath depose and say, that I and my brother Moses Wheeler and William Marchant were the owners of a Fishing Boat before the year 1775 in which we were employed for a living; and so continued several years. When the war broke out, said Marchant went into the service of his country at different times and this deponent & brother Moses followed the fishing business; said Marchant, when in the service, hiring some person to supply his place in said Boat. That some time in the year 1778 said Marchant went in the capacity of Lieut. as I believe under Capt. Mark Pool to Rhode Island, as he said, and was absent from home over three months. He employed one Daniel Tucker to take his place in said Boat with me & my brother Moses while absent at Rhode Island; and said Marchant returned home about the month of September, 1778. Soon after his said return, we sold said Fishing Boat to one Samuel Bateman, who paid said Marchant for his half thereof £20 and gave his note to my brother Moses for his and my half. Said Bateman, a native of this town, went in said Boat to Nova Scotia, where he died before the peace; and never paid his note dated October 13th 1778, which accompanies this deposition. That said note has been in my possession several years at a time; that I gave it to my brother Moses before his death where it has remained till this time; and that is the same note given as its date purports. That I am confident and well remember that said Marchant returned in September from the army and sold the Boat in October of the same year 1778. which is confirmed by said note.
Aaron Wheeler
I John H. Wheeler of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts of lawful age, testify and say, that I am the son of Moses Wheeler above named; and at the request of the widow of William Marchant before mentioned and by the direction of my uncle Aaron Wheeler who has signed the declaration above, I searched among my father's papers and found the note which accompanies this deposition dated October 13, 1778 for twenty pounds, signed Samuel Bateman. That I have seen said note ten years ago; and it is the same note found among my father's papers as aforesaid.
John H. Wheeler
copy of note

I Samuel Wheeler of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, aged 76 years on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with William Marchant and lived in the same house with his wife, Hannah Wheeler before their marriage; that I was at their wedding and intimately acquainted with them after their marriage and lived in their immediate neighborhood. That to my knowledge said William Marchant went as Lieutenant to Rhode Island and was, as I think, gone there over three months; and according to my belief, said service was in the year 1778.
Samuel Wheeler
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss.
On this ninth day of August, Eighteen hundred and thirty seven, before me William Ferson, Notary Public by legal authority admitted and sworn and dwelling in Gloucester in said county personally came Aaron Wheeler, John W. Wheeler and Samuel Wheeler, who severally made oath to the truth of the foregoing depositions by them subscribed. I certify that said Aaron, John W. and Samuel are well known to me as credible witnesses
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial seal the day & year above named William Ferson, Not y Public