Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24541, for David Libbey, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
or Libbey, David or Libby or Libey
W. 24 541
CONTENTS
Abigail

11.291 Maine
David Sibbey
Was enlisted in the State of Maine he was a Private - in the Company commanded Captain A. H. - of the Regt commanded Col. H. - in the Massachusetts Troops -
2 Gs. Pr. Artillery - $100.00
Enrolled on the Roll of - Maine the rate of 100 Dollars - Rev per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of April 1833 and sent to J. F. Sewell, Esq. Rockland, Me.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - 200.00 Pension, allowance ending 4 Sept " 30
250.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. S. Sprague - Clerk Book E Vol. 1 Page 131

4955
Hon J. D. Fuller June 2/54
Abigail Tilly widow of David Tilly
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 21 st December 1833 of Washington in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Albee of the Reg t . commanded by Col Allen in the War. time for 13 months 18 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of $4 Dollars 50 Cents per ann m to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Jan y . N. 30 1840 and Sub. Rules N. 30 1840. Machias Me.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $190 05 Semi-annual allowance ending March. 27.15 $217.20
{ Act July 7, } 1838 }

December the 18 day 1795
Phanias Libbe's age
Abigail Libbee Was
Born the 2 day of february in the year 1798
George Libbee
Was born the 8 day of march in the year 1902
Susan Libbey Was born the 14 day of May in the year 1809
Mariner Libbey

Elizabeth Libbey
Elizabeth Libbey
Was born the 10 day of August in
The year 1782
Mary Libbey Was
Born the 2 day of may
In the year 1785
Ebenezer Libbey
Was born in the 27 of
May in the year 1787
Marina Libbey
Was born the 10 day of August in the year 1782
Elizabeth
Diana Libbey Was
Born the 21 Day of
August in the year 1791
David Libbey
Born September
The 1 / in the year 1793
Marina Libbey

12.446
David Libbey
Admitted
L g's
Private of Artillery
$100. —
V. A. Lowell East. Machias Maine

12446
BRIEF in the case of David Libbey County of Washington in the State of Maine (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 77.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     Enlisted In 17 the first year of the war. Served till about the close of the war. Private. Lieut. Albee, Col. Allen, of the Artillery  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? St. John —  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Maduelas, Maine  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary & a credible Witness.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. March 13. 1833.

David Libbey's application for Pension -
12 446
see 37-p 150 - Mat. p. 5th Oct 1840 - 13 Dec 77. 5/18 see 37-p 150 - 1840 180 for the military service under Atkin at March 2nd

State of all time County of Washington ss
On this twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court at Proofs now sitting in Machias in said County David Sibbey a Resident of Machias Port in said County, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law with an oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States or of the State of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War at Machias under the following named Officers I served as is here stated, to wit: He entered by enlistment into the Artillery under command of Lieutenant Albee & Colonel Allen I served under said Albee & Allen at the Fort in Machias & in other places in the Eastern part of the District of Maine - That he entered said service during the first year of the War I served till about the close of the War - that he was in an engagement on Machias River with a British Gun Brig of about Sixteen Guns commanded by one Capt Dorson - that said Brig came up said River to capture the place she burned some of the houses on the River & was the next day attacked by the Americans a severe engagement ensued in which a great many of the Enemy were killed & wounded & the Brig escaped - there was one American killed & one wounded - that he was afterwards in the engagement when St John was attacked by the Americans & was defeated - that he was in all or nearly all the engagements in & near Machias - that he was born in Scarborough in the District of Maine in the year 1755 that there is no record of his age that he knows of - that he lived in Machias when called into service, lives there at this time, & has all the time since the Revolution - that he does not now remember whether he received a discharge or not, but if he did he has lost the same - and he further saith that he has no documentary evidence of his said services. Said Sibbey further saith on oath as aforesaid that in his present neighborhood he is known to Lieut Albee & that said Albee can testify to his said services - that he is also known to Jacob my fellow & to Dick Sibbey who

can testify to his character for veracity, & this belief that he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
He hereby claims interest in any 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 (G. 10. 1862)
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid John Dickinson Judge
I, William Albee, residing in East Machias in said County of Washington, do on oath testify & say that David Libby served under me in the Revolutionary War as he has stated in the foregoing Declaration by him subscribed & sworn to - I am confident he was with me as he states nearly all the War - he was a brave, active & faithful soldier.
Wm Albee Sworn to & subscribed the year & day last aforesaid John Dickinson Judge
We, Obed Libby, of said Machias Port, & Jacob Longfellow of said Machias, hereby certify that as we well acquainted with David Libby, who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Rev. War & that we concur in that opinion; he is also a man of veracity.
Obed Libby Jacob Longfellow Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Dickinson Judge. 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 applicants was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Albee of East Machias, Obed Libby of Machias Port and Jacob Longfellow of Machias Esq. are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Dickinson Judge of Court

State of Maine.
Washington.
I Aaron L. Raymond Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the annexed statement is the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Libbey for a pension.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this twenty ninth day of August in the Year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Aaron L. Raymond Register

State of Maine. Washington ss.
On this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas, now holden at Machias, within and for the County of Washington, Abigail Silby, a resident of Machias Port in said County, aged seventy five 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 4, 1836, entitled "An Act granting half pay to widows or orphans, where their husbands and fathers have died of wounds received in the military service of the United States in certain cases, and for other purposes:" that she is the widow of David Silby, who was a private in the corps of Artillery under the command of Lieutenant William Albee, in the Regiment of Colonel John Allan, raised during the Revolutionary War by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the defence of Machias, and neighborhood, and that the said David served in the said corps more than two years, she thinks as a volunteer, but that the particular period of the said David's entering the service, and in what engagements he took part, and when he left the service, she cannot say of her own knowledge, having no documentary evidence in support of her claim other than that hereinafter mentioned — And she further declares that the said David received a pension under the Act of June 7, 1832, and to the papers supporting his claim as a pensioner which she believes now to be in the Pension Office of the War Department of the United States, she refers for more particular information touching her late husband's services as a Revolutionary soldier.
She further declares that her maiden name was

Abigail Gil, and that she was married to the said David Gilby at Machias, by Judge Stephen Innes, near the close of the year Nineteen hundred eighty two, and sometime in the fall of that year; but that she can find no record of her marriage, and that she has made inquiry of the persons who have the care of the late Judge Innes's papers, and that she is informed by them that no record of any marriage, or marriages solemnized by him can be found by them; and she further states that, besides her own recollection, she knows her marriage to said David took place at the time she has stated, because the Town Records of Machias contain an entry to the effect that her daughter, Elizabeth Gilby, was born August 10 th , 1783, and that she knows that the birth of the said Elizabeth took place between nine and ten months subsequent to the marriage; that her husband, the aforesaid David Gilby, died on the twenty first day of December, Eighteen hundred and thirty three; that according to the best of her knowledge and belief her late husband, the aforesaid David, did not leave the service till the close of the war, and that consequently her marriage to him took place prior to his leaving the service; but that she is unable to state positively in regard to this point, because for a considerable period previous to the marriage, the services of her husband, the aforesaid David, in the said corps of artillery, were performed in Machias not far from her residence, and for some time after the marriage she did not go to housekeeping, but continued at board at the same place.
And she further states that if, through defect of memory, owing to her advanced age and infirmities, she is mistaken in regard to the fact of the marriage taking place before her late husband left the service, and it should appear that the marriage did in truth take place after he left the service, she then claims the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed

State of Maine
Washington County ss.
I Aaron L. Raymond Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within said County do hereby certify that Peter Thacher of Machias Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within said County of Washington duly Commissioned & qualified and that his signature to the paper thereto annexed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas the Nineteenth day of October in the Year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred thirty-eight
A. L. Raymond Clerk as aforesaid

July 7, 1838, entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
Abigail Libby
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before
Mr. Winthrop
Justice C. C. Plead.
Attest A. L. Raymond Clerk
I, Aaron L. Raymond, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Washington and State of Maine, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abigail Libby for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Seal of the said Court, the day and year first aforesaid.
A. L. Raymond Clerk
I, Obed Libby, of Noctis Port in the County of Washington and State of Maine, being duly sworn, do depose and say that I was present at the marriage of Abigail Libby, above named, to David Libby, above named and that her maiden name was Abigail Fitz, and that Judge Stephen Jones performed the marriage ceremony at Machias, but that the date of the marriage I cannot now certainly recollect as I never kept any record of it, nor saw any record of it; but according to the best of my re-

collection, it was sometime in the year Seventeen hundred, Eighty two. I also testify that the said David Libby was my brother, and that he was a Revolutionary soldier, and a private in the corps of Artillery under the command of Lieutenant William Albee in the Regiment of Colonel John Allen, raised during the Revolutionary War by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the defence of Machias and neighborhood.
Obed Libby
State of Maine:
Washington ss. Machias October 5, 1838. Then personally appears the above named Obed Libby, and made solemn oath that the above declarations by him subscribed, are true, before me
Peter Thacher, Justice of the Peace.
I hereby certify that Obed Libby above named, is a credible witness.
Peter Thacher, Just. Peace.
4452 Application of the said Libby for a Pension
288
Mariner Libby, of Machias Port in the County of Washington and State of Maine, being duly sworn, do testify and say, that I am the son of David and Abigail Libby, within named, — that my father, the aforesaid David, died on the twenty first day of December, Eighteen hundred and thirty three, and that the said Abigail is the widow of said David, having never been married since the said David's death — I further testify that my father, the aforesaid David, received a Pension from the government of the United States for his revolutionary services for some time before his death.
Mariner Libby
State of Maine
Washington ss. Machias October 5, 1838. Then personally appeared the above named Mariner Libby, whom I hereby certify to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath that the above declarations by him subscribed, are true before me
Peter Thacher, Justice of the Peace

State of Maine.
Washington ss:
I, John S. Kelly, Clerk of the Town of Machias in the County of Washington and State of Maine, do hereby certify that in the Record of Births within the Town of Machias, in my office, the birth of Elizabeth Sibby, daughter of David and Abigail Sibby, is recorded as follows:
"Elizabeth Sibbee August Tenth Seventeen Hundred and Eighty three - Parents names, David and Abigail Sibbee"
And I do further certify that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the Record in fair, legible figures, as follows, viz:
"Aug. 10th, 1783"
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand this tenth day of October, 1838.
John S. Kelly
I, John S. Kelly, above named, do depose and say that I held the office of Clerk of the Town of Machias, above mentioned, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me. John S. Kelly
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year last aforesaid, before me,
Peter Thacher, Justice of the Peace.
State of Maine.
Washington ss:
I Aaron S. Raymond, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Washington and State of Maine, do hereby certify that Peter Thacher of Machias, Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace, duly commissioned and qualified, within and for said County, and that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas, this tenth day of October, A. D. 1838.
A. S. Raymond Clerk

States
acc 37. 160. D. (Albee)
One 1884
" 60. President
4. 29-
" 63
1. 29-
" 113- John Scott
17
Not on ledger - Libby or Smith - 13- 51- 78-
Abigail Libby (4452)
#1027
Me
act 7. July 38-
m 83. d 33-
wills 13 mo 1 dy Matias
rem 13 mo 1 dy Matias
$54-30
no deduction
Rufus K. Porter elachias J. Anderson at me payment

January 12, 1940.
Mr. Howard A. Flynn The Sailors' Snug Harbor Staten Island, New York
BA-J/ndy David Libbey W. 24541
Dear Sir:
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War pension claims, W.24541, based upon the military service in that war of David Libbey.
David Dibbey, the name is shown also as Libby, Libey and Libbee, was born in Scarboro, Maine, in 1755, day, month, and the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Machias, Maine, (Massachusetts) David Libbey enlisted, served more than two years in all, and to almost the close of the war, a part of the time as matross under Lieutenant William Albee, Captains Jabez West and John Scott and Colonel John Allan in the Massachusetts Artillery and was in an engagement on Machias River and in the engagement at St. Johns.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Machias Port, Washington County, Maine.
He died December 21, 1833, in Machiasport, Maine.
Soldier married in the fall of 1782, in Machias, Maine, Miss Abigail Fitz.
Soldier's widow, Abigail Libbey, was allowed pension on her application executed September 20, 1838, at which time she was aged seventy-five years and a resident of Machias Port, Maine.
The following names of the children of David and Abigail Libbey are shown:

   Elisabeth  born August 10, 1783.    Mary  " May 2, 1785.    Ebenezer  " May 27, 1787.    Mariner  " August 3, 1789.    Anne  " August 21, 1791.    David  " September 1, 1793.    Phanias  " December 19, 1795.    Abigail  " February 2, 1798.    George  " March 8, 1802.    Susan P.  " May 14, 1805.   
In 1839, said Mariner Libbey, was living in Machias Port, Maine, and had a family, no names were given.
In 1839, soldier's brother, Obed Libbey, aged eighty-two years was residing in Machias Port, Maine. There are no further family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the death date of widow, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following data: "Abigail Libby, widow of David Libby, Certificate No. 4955, issued January 28, 1840, rate $54.30 per annum, commenced March 4, 1836, Act of July 7, 1838, Maine Agency".
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1940 Jan. 12. Hist. to Howard a. Flynn. A.D.Y.
Ref
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24-5-41
Abigail Libby Wid of David Libby Brn. Mass line
Act: July 7th 1838
Index:—Vol. A Page 437
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4452 10/27
Sett. H. I. Anderson July 25: '39. R. K. Porter, Aug: 10: 39 To same Oct: 28, 1839.
cut 7 July 38

Abigail Libby, widow of David } act '32 - Maine } W 49 55
The widow act of 1838. - look for the case of David Libby act 1832.
2 P.M.
Cambridge, June 2, 1859 June 2/52

I (bed) Libby, of Machias Port, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, do hereby testify and say that I am of the age of eighty two years - that I resided in the town of Machias, in said county, during the whole of the Revolutionary War and have continued ever since to reside there and in said Machias Port - that David Libby, deceased, late husband of Abigail Libby, of said Machias Port, Widow, and an applicant for a Pension under the laws of the United States, was my brother - that said David was engaged in the Revolutionary service for a considerable period in or near said Machias, and that wherever the name of David Libby is found in the rolls of said service under Captain West & Scott and Lieutenant Albee or under any other commanders in said service in or near said Machias, the person so credited for Revolutionary services can be no other than my brother, the aforesaid David, late husband of the said Abigail, inasmuch as I never heard of any other David Libby than my said brother, in said Machias or in this part of the country, and have there been any other person of that name besides

my said brother, engaged in said service in or near said Machias. I am positive I should have known it. And I further testify and say that I never did hear of any other David Libby, than my said brother, as engaged in said service.
Abel Libby.
State of Maine,
Washington ss Machias December 4, 1839. Then personally appeared Abel Libby, above named, and made solemn oath that the above declarations by him subscribed, are true, before me,
Peter Thacher, Just. of the Peace. I hereby certify the above named Abel Libby to be a credible Witness
Peter Thacher, Just. of the Peace.

_____ State of Maine _____ Washington County ss.
I Aaron L. Raymond Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Peter Phacher of Machias in said County Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and that his several signatures on the papers hereto annexed are genuine. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the District Court for the Eastern District and subscribed my name this fifth day of December in the Year of our LORD One thousand eight hundred thirty nine
A. L. Raymond Clerk as aforesaid

I, Mariner Libby, of Machias Port, in the County of Washington and State of Maine, do in oath depose and say that I am the son of David Libby, deceased, late of this town and of Abigail Libby, widow and an applicant for a Pension - that I always resided with my father till his death - that there never was any record of marriages or of deaths kept in our family - that the two accompanying leaves, on the bottom of each of which I have written my name, and which were the blank leaves at the end of a Book of Common Prayer from which I have removed them this day, contain a Record of Births in my father's family - that it is the same Record to which I referred in a Deposition which I gave some time since & used in substantiating my mother's claim to a Pension, and that it is the only Record of Births ever kept in my father's family - and that this, the accompanying Record, has always existed from  and state from my earliest recollection in the precise form in which it now is with the exception of the names of George Libby and Susan P. Libby which were added since my remembrance. I also testify that I have often seen my father write and am familiar with his handwriting, and that I have no doubt that all the entries on the the three pages of the accompanying leaves were written by himself, with the exception of the last two on the first leaf, to wit, the entries of the births of George Libby and Susan P. Libby. Mariner Libby

State of Maine, Washington:
Macias Port, November 18, 1839 Then perso- nally appeared Marine Libby, there  within named, whom I hereby certify to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the within Declaration by him subscribed, before me,
Peter Shucker, Just. of the Peace.

I, Abigail Libby, do, on oath depose and say, that I am the widow of David Libby, deceased, and an applicant for a Pension under the laws of the United States, and that I made a Declaration to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the laws of the United States granting pensions to the Widows of revolutionary soldiers, before the Court of Common Pleas, for the county of Washington, on the 20 th day of September A.D. 1838 - that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, I cannot swear positively as to the precise length of my late husband's revolutionary services, nor as to the names of all the commanders under whom he served - that I know that he served a certain period under the command of Lieut. W m Albee, and that from the best information I can obtain I have reason to believe and do believe he also served under several other commanders, especially Captain West and Captain Scott - that I never heard of any other David Libby as engaged in the Revolutionary service in Machias or neighborhood except my late husband - and that for all the terms of service credited to David Libby under the three commanders mentioned, or under any others, if such there be, I claim a Pension.
Abigail Libby

State of Maine,
Washington ss. Know all men by these presents November 18, 1839
Then personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, Brigitt Libby , within names, and made, subscribed, and sworn to the foregoing Declaration, which I hereby certify to be true. Peter P. Tucker, Justice of the Peace.

I, Jacob Longfellow, of Machias, in the County of Washington and State of Maine, do, on oath, testify and say that I came to Machias, to reside, in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy nine - that I was acquainted with David Libby, the late husband of Abigail Libby of Machias Port, in said County, Maine, and an applicant for a Pension on account of said David's revolutionary services - that I never heard of any other David Libby as residing in this town of or in this part of the country, than the aforesaid David - and that if the rolls of revolutionary services in or near Machias, under Captain West & Scott & Lieutenant Albee, or any other commanders, contain the name of David Libby, I have no doubt that the person so serving was no other than the aforesaid David, the late husband of the said Abigail. Jacob Longfellow
State of Maine, Washington ss. Machias Dec. 24, 1839 Then personally appeared Jacob Longfellow, above named, whom I hereby certify to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed, before me, Peter Thacher, Just. of the Peace

Machias, Me. Dec. 5. 1839.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir:
With this we forwarded a supplementary declaration and some additional evidence in support of the application of Mrs. Abigail Libby for a pension.
In her first declaration she set forth the services of her late husband David Libby under Lieut. Abbee; in this supplementary one, she claims for his services under Capt. West & Scott, by whose rolls, according to your favor of Oct. 28. 1839, it appears that he served, including the time under Abbee, thirteen months & one day.
You are already in possession of the deposition of Obed Libby, a witness present at the marriage ceremony, proving her marriage & identifying her husband as the person who served under Abbee; — of Marimer Libby proving the death of her husband, her continued widowhood, & that no family record of marriages was kept by his father, the said David; — of myself showing that no records of any of Judge Jones' doings as a magistrate can be found; — and of the clerk of the town of Machias , of which Machiasport was a part till 1826, that the record of the birth of her oldest child is Aug. 10. 1783, conforming with the applicant's declaration.

I have before explained to you in my letter of May 24. last, & more particularly in my letter respecting the claim of Mrs. S. Goldsell, why the town records cannot be expected to show such early marriages, viz. that the town of Mendon was not then incorporated, at the time of the marriage nor had any other town within sixty miles of it been then incorporated, & more especially that the statute requiring marriages to be recorded was not passed till 1786. Four years after her marriage.
The record of the ages of Mrs. Libby's children left by her husband is attached to the depo. of Maria Libby now sent.
The depo s of Obed Libby now sent & of Jacob Longfellow Esq. show that David Libby, who served under Scott & West, must have been the husband of the applicant.
Whether the evidence shows the marriage to have taken place before the end of D. Libby's last enlistment is not, I cannot judge, because I have no dates of his services under Scott & West; but if it do not show her to be entitled to a pension for life, she must & will be content with one for years. In this latter view of her case the date of her marriage is not material, if it only appear to have taken place before 1794 - a fact which Obed Libby proves & the records of births fully confirm.

I am unable to perceive any defect of evidence in this case. She proves all that seems to be required by evidence the best which the nature of the case admits & which would by the Courts of this State be held fully competent, and the testimony of witnesses not to be doubted. I am happy also to infer from your favor of Oct. 28, that the family record of births now sent, is all you want.
I regret to have occasioned you so much trouble in this case, & trusting that an early & favorable decision will relieve us both of further care in the matter.
I am Most respectfully,
Y. Obedt Servt.
Rufus H. Porter
P. S.
Perhaps I ought to explain how there happen to be two seals to the authentication of papers - When the Clerk of the Court had given his certificate I discovered that the ribbon did not pass through the leaves from the prayer-book, addressed to Mr. Libby; I therefore handed it back to the Clerk to correct, which he did by annexing another seal securing the ties of those papers.
R.H.P.

Oct. 24, 1839
Me. and prob Abigail Libby
Free
L. Edwards Esquire Commission of Pensions Washington -

Machin, Me. Oct. 16 1839.
J. L. Edwards Esq., Commr. of Pensions,
Sir,
Enclosed are the depo s of Maria Litty and myself in relation to the claim of Mrs. Litty for a pension, with a certificate in due form of the authority of the Magistrate. A similar certificate accompanying depo s first forwarded in support of her claim, and it was supposed that that would save the necessity of an other. I regret that the omission occasioned you trouble.
I beg leave to call your attention to my letter of May 24. upon the subject of her claim; and trusting to receive an early & favorable reply,
Ever very respectfully,
Yr obedt. Servt.
Rufus K. Porter.

I, Mariner Libby , of Washington , part in the county of Washington & State of Maine , do hereby testify and say, that I am the son of Abigail Libby , widow of David Libby deceased; that I am forty nine years of age & always lived in the family of the said David my father until the time Abigail until the decease of the former, & my mother has resided in the same house & in my family since his decease: that the only family records kept by said David or said Abigail was a record of their children's births - but no record was kept of their own ages or marriages or any other events, to my knowledge and I am confident I should have known it if there had been any such other record.
I further testify that I always understood my said mother, in his lifetime to say, that he was in the service of the United States as a soldier at Washington , nearly all the revolutionary war. All the persons of the name Libby who resided at Washington were relatives of my father, and I never knew or heard of any David Libby except my father.
Mariner Libby
State of Maine
Washington ss.  Macias May 16, 1839 Then personally appeared Mariner Libby , above named, whom I hereby certify to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the above declarations, by him subscribed, before me,
Peter Tracher , Justice of the Peace

I, Rufus R. Porter, testify and say, that I was well acquainted with the late Hon. Stephen Jones, formerly Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Judge of Probate of the County, Washington, and a Justice of the peace. That he removed from Machias to Boston, Mass., in June, 1822, and there died in the autumn of 1825, leaving as sole heir & representative one daughter, the wife of John Richards, Esquire, with whom he was residing in Boston at the time of his death. That after Judge Jones' removal to Boston, I had the care of his property situated in this County (Washington, Me.) and upon Mr. Richards' being appointed administrator of the estate of Judge Jones, I acted as his bailiff, and he, Mr. Richards, told me he was examining the papers of Judge Jones & should destroy all that did not appear to be of value & would send the rest to me at Machias. That I afterwards received from Mr. Richards a trunk filled with account books, journals, & papers of Judge Jones, which are still in my possession, among which I find his commission as Magistrate &c. from the before the Revolution to his removal to Massachusetts, but I can find no record of any of his doings as a Justice

of the peace, although to my own knowledge for six years be- fore his removal he was in the habit of doing Justice's busi- ness, & according to common report he had been so accus- tomed as long as he held a commission: That very soon after Mr. Richards sent me the trunk before mentioned, he removed to England & there died, his widow if living still residing, as I am informed, in London: That I know not where to look for the record of marriages solemnized by Judge Jones, not finding any in that trunk nor in the office of the Clerk of the Court where Justice's records are sometimes de- posited after their decease & where I have made inquiry for them, and I verily believe the record if kept at all by Judge Jones, was destroyed by Mr. Richards with useless papers.
Rufus K. Porter
State of Maine,
Washington ss. May 22, 1839 Then personally appeared Rufus K. Porter, a live named, whom I hereby cer- tify to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath that the above declarations by him subscribed, are true, before me,
Peter Thacher, Justice of the Peace.

State of Maine Washington ss
I, Aaron L. Raymond, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Peter Shaeffer of Machias in said County Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the 22 nd day of February 1833 and will expire on the 22 nd day of February 1843 and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand, and the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord 1839
A. L. Raymond Clerk as aforesaid

January 13, 1940.
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BA-J/ady
Mr. Howard A. Flynn The Sailors' Snug Harbor Staten Island, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Mitchell, Samuel Marston, and David Libbey, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of that war.
The records of John Mitchell and David Libbey are furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

The Sailors' Snug Harbor FOUNDED 1801 Staten Island, N.Y.
HOWARD A. FLYNN Governor
HERMAN KEOPKA Deputy Governor
December 27 1 9 3 9
GEORGE A. GREEN Chaplain
ROBERT S. COX Commissary
U. S. Pension Office Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please send me a copy of all papers relating to the following Revolutionary War pensioners?
✓ John Mitchell, of Harrington, Washington County, Maine. Born about 1754 and served as a private in the Massachusetts Line
David Libbey, of Machiasport, Washington County, Maine. Born about 1753 and served as a private of artillery Massachusetts State Militia
Samuel Marston, of Jonesboro, Washington County, Maine. Born about 1760 and served as a private in the New Hampshire Line.
Yours very truly,
Howard A. Flynn HOWARD A. FLYNN
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