Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6,274, for George Leighton, New Hampshire

SERVICE
Leighton George Deborah
NUMBER
R 6274
CONTENTS

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss. )
Greenland May 17 th 1879. —
This may Certify that Ensign George Laighton of Newington, and Miss Deborah Perkins of Greenland, have been Lawfully Publish'd in said Greenland.
John Weeks Town Clerk. —

May 1779 Then the within named George Leighton and Deborah Perkins were joined in Wedlock by me Sam e Shephard Pastor of a church of Christ in Stratham.
George Leighton Certificate.
N.S.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the Act of Congress, of the 4th July, 1836.
State of Maine.
Kennebec County, ss.
On this fourteenth day of August A. D., 1837, personally appeared Deborah Leighton (before the Hon Nathan Weston Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine ) in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged Seventy eight years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4th, 1836; That she is the widow of George Leighton late an Officer in the Revolutionary War in the New Hampshire line, that she believes he first served as an Ensign & then as Lieutenant in Col d  Perr regiment. She refers to the New Hampshire roll of the Revolutionary Army for the period of her late husband's service.
She further declares, that she was married to the said George Leighton on the in the summer day of 1778 in the year seventeen hundred and Seventy eight ; that her husband, the aforesaid George Leighton died on the twenty first day of March 1817 at Gardner, Maine ; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She further states her maiden name was Deborah Perkins that she was married to said Geo Leighton in the town of Stratham New Hampshire .
DEBORAH LEIGHTON
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written.
Before me, Nathan Weston , C. J. S. J. C.

State of Maine
On the fourteenth day of August, 1837, Deborah Leighton, the applicant within named being from age and infirmity unable to attend in open court, was examined and cautioned and sworn as within stated. I am satisfied that she was lawfully married to George Leighton late an Officer in the war of the revolution in May 1779. She states the year to have been 1770, which error is to be imputed to age and forgetfulness. The true year is verified by an accompanying original paper. I am further satisfied that the said George Leighton deceased May 21. 1817 and that the said Deborah, the applicant, has ever since remained his widow.
Nathan Weston Chf. S. J. C.
STATE OF MAINE.
ss.
I the subscriber _____ hereby CERTIFY, That _____ before whom the proceedings were had, is _____ I also CERTIFY, That the _____ contains the original proceedings of the said _____ in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this _____ day of _____ A. D., 183

State of Maine County of Kennebec } ss.
On this Twenty ninth day of April in the Year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & fifty three, personally appeared before the Hon. Richard D. Rice one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State aforesaid, in open Court holden at Augusta in & for the County of Kennebec, Elizabeth Plaisted, aged sixty seven Years, & Sarah M c Gauland aged fifty three Years, both of Gardiner in the County of Kennebec aforesaid, & Polly Wakefield of Washington in the County of Lincoln & State of Maine, who being first duly sworn according to law, do, on their oaths, 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 & pensions to certain widows" — viz —
— That they are the children of Deborah Leighton late of Gardiner aforesaid deceased, who was the widow of George Leighton, an Ensign in the War of the Revolution, in the New Hampshire line, but in what Company or Regiment they are not now able to state — That the said George Leighton served in said capacity in the revolutionary war a period of about three Years as they have always understood & believed — That the said George & said Deborah were married

to each other about the Year 1779, according to the best information they have received in relation thereto — That the said George Leighton died at Gardiner aforesaid about the Year 1816 — — that the said Deborah never afterwards married but remained his widow until her death — that the said Deborah in the Year 1836 or thereabouts made an application for a Pension under the Act of 1836, & filed proof of her marriage & of the services of said George — but it appearing that the marriage took place after the expiration of the last term of service of her said husband, her application was not granted — that the said Deborah Leighton died in the Year 1844 — — not having renewed her application under the Act of July 7. 1838, for the reason that she was not informed of the passage of said Act — that the said declarants are her sole surviving children & heirs at law — & they therefore ask that the pension to which the said Deborah Leighton was entitled under the act last aforesaid may be paid to them —
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & Year above written,
Elizabeth Piled
Sarah McCusker
Mary Wakefield
In presence of Geo Evans
Subscribed and sworn to in open court, on the day & year first above written, before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Sup. Jud. Court of Maine.
Richard S. Pease

State of Maine - Kennebec County ss I hereby certify that the Hon. Richard D. Rice before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn to, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine, duly commissioned & qualified and acting as such, and that the signature an- nected thereto purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court for the County of Kennebec, this 29th day of April Anno Domini eighteen hundred and fifty-three.
J. P. M. Stratton, { Clerk of said Court for Kennebec County.

State of Maine.
Kennebec County, p.
Probate Office.
Be it known. That on this fifth day of December, A. D. 1853, it has been satisfactorily proved in open Court of Probate for said County of Kennebec, being a Court of Records, that Deborah Leighton, (late) of Gardiner, deceased, was the widow of one George Leighton - that she died in said Gardiner on the twenty ninth day of September, A. D. 1844 - and that Mary Wakefield, Elizabeth Plested, and Sarah McLaughland, are the only surviving children of said Deborah Leighton, deceased.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the official seal of said Court, and subscribed my name, this fifth day of December, A. D. 1853.
W. R. Smith
Register of Probate
Kennebec Co.
Maine

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
6274
P. O. Deborah Leighton Service: widow of George
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

2875
Deborah Leighton wid. of Geo. du Maine
Lib. Geo. Morton Jan 12 1838. d. Hon. Geo.
Evans March 7. 1838 to G. H. Morton, Aug. 28. 1839, let 22 ares to S. S. Harding " 6 Oct '42 to same, Hon. Geo. Evans Aug 18 1853
Same Dec 12 1853
Same January 16/54
Hon. B. Benson March 1 1855
Hon. Freeman H. Morse March 12/60
Ack July 4. 1836

J. L. Edward Esq
Comm.

No. Rep. Jan 5. 1878
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr. &
Sir, I return herewith the paper of Mrs. Deborah Leighton - I am so well convinced that her husband was actually in the service as represented, that I am anxious a thorough examination of the W. H. Rolls should be made - If Mr. Sylvester, who is well acquainted with these Rolls, could be spared awhile to make the search, he would greatly oblige me -
Yours ob't Serv't
Geo. Evans

House of Reps July 24. 1835.
Dear Sir,
I send the accompanying papers, according to promise, and will thank you to return my receipt for the same.
Mr Plaisted is anxious to have you review this case thinking that you will deem the evidence suffi- cient — Please examine & notify me as soon as may be.
Yours very truly
Sam d P. Benson

Gardiner, Maine, Jan 12. 1854
Hon L. P. Waldo Commr of Pension, Sir,
I forward herewith a certificate from the Sec. of State of N. H. relating to the service of Geo. Leighton in the War of the Revolution.
It appears to contradict the testimony already on file, in the case of the widow of George - Deborah Leighton - as to a portion of the time claimed for.
I hope the case may be re-examined with the additional proof -
Very respectfully Yours ob't Serv't
Geo Evans

State of New Hampshire, Secretary of State's office.
I do 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 office, it appears that the name of George Laighton, is borne upon a document of which the following is a true copy.
"State of New Hampshire To the Honourable "Rockingham St. } Counsel & House of Representatives at Exeter.
"We the subscribers do enlist or engage to go to Rhode Island as volunteers with horses to join General Sullivan for a short space if wanted for which we the subscribers have received of the Selectmen of Newington ten pounds lawful money each according to orders received from Col. Joshua Wentworth to Capt. Samuel Shackford to be repaid by the State of New Hampshire. We say recd. the above sum of ten Pounds of Capt. Samuel Shackford & Timothy Darn Selectmen of Newington as witness our hands this 4th day of August 1778.

" Timothy Daine " Saml. Shackford " William Furber " George Leighton " Nathaniel Kutter Jr. " Benjamin Daine  Volunteers.
Novr. 24th. 1778 Recd. an order on the Treasurer for sixty pounds for so much advanced by the selectmen of Newington to the above volunteers.
" Saml. Shackford."
And upon a "Pay Roll of a company of Light Horse Volunteers commanded by Col. Dehon Langdon in the Expedition to Rhode Island August 1778 Note 2 days are added to the time in service for travel home", is borne the name of George Leighton as a private — Entry, Aug. 6; Discharge, 27; Time in service, 24 days; Rate per month, £5; Amo. Wages £4; Travel out & home at 8 d pr. mile, 125; Amo. £8. 6. 8; Whole amount, £12. 6. 8.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the State this 29th day of December 1833.
John L. Wadley Secretary of State.

I John Nutter of Barnstead in the county of Stafford and State of New Hampshire aged eighty two years and a resolutionary Pensioner under the act of 1832 do hereby depose and say I was acquainted with George Leighton of Newington in the county of Rockingham and state aforesaid that said Leighton served in the Revolutionary army as a Lieutenant in the New Hampshire Troops he first served at the fort in Belmonsville and Hillary Point and Pepperell Island from thence to road Island he was in the service from one to three years I was well acquainted with said Leighton in the service and after his return
J n o Nutter
State of New Hampshire
Stafford
Barnstead May 11th 1839
Then John Nutter (enquire) Personally appeared subscribed and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit before me
I also hereby I have been acquainted with this deponent for upwards of forty years and think he in my opinion is credible and respectable a citizen as any person in this commu- nity
Benjamin Hodgdon Justice Peace

State of New Hampshire Shafford County ss.
I Francis Cagnewell, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for said County hereby certify that Benjamin Rodgdon, Esquire, is a Magistrate as within and that the within signature purporting to be his is in my belief genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of said Court this thir- teenth day of May 1859.
F Cagnewell, Clerk

I, George Colebath of Portsmouth, in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged eighty years and a revolutionary pensioner under the Act of 1832 do testify, upon oath: That I was well acquainted with George Leighton of Newington in this County and State; - That said Leighton served in the Revolutionary Army as an Officer, but I do not know in what Regiment, but I have no doubt it was in the New Hampshire Troops, he went with the Army somewhere, and was absent at least a year: - I was always acquainted with him and after the War I worked for him on his farm at Newington aforesaid: - George Colebath
State of New Hampshire } Rockingham County } Jst
Portsmouth May 9 th 1839
Then George Colebath, personally appearing subscribed and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit, before me: -
I also Certify that I have been well acquainted with this affiant for upwards of thirty years and that he is, in my opinion, as credible and respectable a witness as any person in this community.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial seal the day, month and year last aforesaid.
W m B. Parker, Notary-public

State of Maine.
County of Kennebec Co.
I the subscriber clerk of all the Judicial courts held for and within the County of Kennebec aforesaid hereby certify that the Hon d Nathan Weston is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine and that Samuel Davis & Geo W Norton are Justices of the peace for the said County of Kennebec and that the signatures hereunto affixed purporting to be theirs are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine this twenty eighth day of October A.D 1837-
J. A. Chandler

I John Plaisted of Gardiner in the county of Kennebec aged thirty nine years, do testify and declare upon oath that I have for many years last past been well acquainted with Deborah Leighton, the reputed widow of George Leighton who died at said Gardiner in the year 1847, and that the said Deborah Leighton who is now and has been of late several years a resident of the town of Gardiner aforesaid has remained unmarried ever since the death of the said George Leighton. I am acquainted with a number of their children the oldest one a daughter now reputed to be in her fifty eighth year of age. The said Deborah Leighton is a person of good character and of good standing in society. John Plaisted
State of Maine County of Kennebec ss
Gardiner October 27 th 1837
Personally appeared the above named John Plaisted and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. I certify the deponent well known to me to be a credible person Geo W Morton Justice of the Peace
Geo. W. Morton Esq is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Kennebec Nathan Weston

Sumner Is. June August the eleventh in year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred one thirty Seven, John Smithson Leighton of Town Room in said County of Sumner, and State of N.H. Lawful age, do hereby say - That my Brother George Leighton of Framingham, in the State of New Hampshire, was married to Deborah Perkins, about the time of the commu- nity of the Revolutionary War, and said George Leighton, was a Lieutenant in the army of the United States, as as I always understood by him. She offered that my Brother told me that he did duty under Genl Sullivan Col Poor, in the Valley, all belong to the State of New Hampshire, Brother George Wife Deborah Leighton, now resides Gardner in this State, my Brother died at Gardner about twenty years ago
John S Leighton
Sumner Is Town of Room this eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred one thirty Seven personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Cheshire

and of the quorum, the aforesaid deponents and after being lawfully examined, and duly cautioned, to testify to the whole truth and nothing but the truth, made oath, that the foregoing deposition, by him Subscribed is true
Samuel Davis, Justice Peace.
I. Sworn August 11th 1837. I the Subscriber do hereby certify to the best of my knowledge Mr Samuel Davis the person that has subscribed to the foregoing deposition is a man of good moral character. I have been acquaint- ed with the said Laughton for ten or fifteen years Samuel Davis
Samuel Davis Esq is a justice of the Peace for the county of Hereford. Nathan Winton

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Edward Everett
Know Ye, That William Weart Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to his Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestation is in due form, and by the proper Officer.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this Sixteenth day of October A. D. 1837, and in the sixty second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

2875 Deborah Leighton Mama mother of George
Act July 4, 1836
Rev. Geo. Evans H. R. Geo. Morton Augusta Maine

I Nathaniel Smith, of Newbury, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Trader, on oath do testify and say that I married a daughter of the late Reverend Samuel Shepard D.D. who was formerly pastor of a Church of Christ in Stratham, in the State of New Hampshire. That the paper which is now annexed to this Affidavit purporting to be a Certificate, under the hands of John Weeks, then Deacon Clerk of Greenland, in the county of Rockingham and said State of New Hampshire, and dated at said Greenland May the seventeenth, one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, with endorsement thereon in the hand writing of the said Samuel Shepard, under date May One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, now marked by me with the letters N.S. in red ink, is an original paper, which was found among the papers of the said Samuel Shepard, since in my possession, and which have been in my possession many years, taken from the dwelling-house of said deceased, immediately after his decease, and has not been in any respect changed, or altered. I do further, on oath declare that I am well acquainted with the hand writing, as well of the said John Weeks, as the said Shepard, and that the signatures to the said Certificate annexed, are in their hand writing, and that the signatures to the same are genuine; that having been brought up in the immediate neighbourhood, and intimately acquainted with the hand writing, I have no hesitation in declaring the same to be genuine.
Nathaniel Smith
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Epsom ss. Town of Newburyport October 16th 1837. Then Nathaniel Smith above named personally came, and made oath, in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition, by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify, that the said Nathaniel Smith, is personally well known to me, and that he is a credible witness.
W. Worth Justice of the Peace

Hon Geo. Evans Gardner Maine

STATE OF MAINE.
COUNTY OF KENNEBEC, SS.—
I, WILLIAM M. STRATTON, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts holden within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that
Launce A. Day
Esquire before whom the annexed proceedings were had, and who has thereto affixed genuine signature, was, at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County of Kennebec, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts done as aforesaid.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our Supreme Judicial Court this 31 st
day of May Anno Domini, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty- three .
Wm Stratton

I Michael Woodward of Gardiner in the County of Kennebec & State of Maine of the age of seventy one years on oath depose & say that I was for a good many years well acquainted with George Leighton & his wife Deborah Leighton, formerly of Gardiner deceased - that I lived for about forty years a near neighbor to them -
That said George died in said Gardiner about 30 or 35 years ago - That said Deborah lived in said Gardiner the widow of said George & remained till the 14 th day of September A.D. 1844 - when she died his widow -
That the children of the said George & Deborah now living are Mary the widow of James Wakefield deceased, now living in Washington in this State - & Elizabeth Plaster widow of Ichobor Plaster deceased - & Sarah Mc Caustland wife of Henry Mc Caustland now living in said Gardiner
That the above named Mary Wakefield & Elizabeth Plaster & Sarah Mc Caustland are the only children of the said George & Deborah now living
Attest
Michael Woodward
J T Wright -
State of Maine
County of Kennebec May 25 - 1853 - Then personally appeared the above named Michael Woodward to me well known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing statement by him subscribed - and I further certify that he is a credible & reliable witness -
Lawrence C. Day } Justice of the Peace within & for Ken. County -

I William Wakefield of Gardiner in the County - of Kennebec & State of Maine of the age of sixty years upon oath, depose & say that I was for a number of years personally acquainted with Deborah Leighton late of said Gardiner deceased. That she was the widow of George Leighton of said Gardiner who died some thirty years ago. That said Deborah Leighton died in said Gardiner on the — day of September A. D. 1844. That the children now living of the said Deborah & George are as follows viz Mary Wakefield now the widow of James Wakefield - now living in Washington - Elizabeth Plaster now the widow of Ichabod Plaster now living in said Gardiner - Sarah Mc-Causland wife of Henry Mc-Causland now living in said Gardiner -
That the above named Mary Wakefield - Elizabeth Plaster & Mary Mc-Causland are the only surviving children of the said George & Deborah Leighton - That the said Deborah was never married after the death of the said George Leighton & died a widow - That I was & have been from my infancy well acquainted with the said George & Deborah Leighton & their family & knew of their death & the number of their children of my own personal knowledge as above stated H. S. Clay - ————— Wm Wakefield State of Maine
Kennebec County - May 25-1853 - Then personally appeared the above named William Wakefield - well known to me, & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him

Subscriber - & I further certify that he is a credible & reliable Witness -
Lorenzo C. Ladd } Justice of the Peace within the Kennebec County
Hon. Geo. Brown Gardner - Maine