Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16060, for Jesse Prescott, New Hampshire

SERVICE
n. 26.
Prescott, Jesse Judith
NUMBER _____
Nr 16060
CONTENTS

2612
New Hampshire
Jesse Prescott
of Strafford in the State of New Hampshire who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Rowe of the Regt commanded by Col Poor in the Continental line for 1 Year
Inscribed on the Roll of N.H. at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Dec r 1832 and sent to the Small Downfall
  Arrears to 4th of Sep 1832  $60 -    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  20 -         $80 -  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Sp. B. Clerk, Book D. Vol. 1 st Page 176.
W

11339

State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. At a Court of Probate holden at Dover in said County of Strafford
On this 17 th day of Septem r in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, appeared, in open Court, before the Hon. Danl C Atkinson Judge of the probate of Wills &c. in said County, Jesse Prescott, a resident of Durham in said County, aged seventy five years, who, being 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 Officers and served as herein stated, that is to say — That sometime in April 1775 — and soon after the attack upon the Americans at Lexington, he enlisted in Kensington, County of Rockingham and State aforesaid, where he then lived, into the Company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Winthrop Rowd of said Kens- ington, to serve in the American army for the term of eight months. That immediately after the Battle of Bunker's Hill, he marched with said Company from said Kensington to Winter Hill nigh Cambridge in Massa- chusetts, where he served as a soldier in said Company the full term of his enlistment; and was discharged from said service at said Winter Hill sometime in Decem r 1775. The Regt. to which Capt. Rowd's company belonged was commanded by Col. Enoch Poor of Exeter — Joseph Cilley of Notting- ham was a Major in the same Regt.
And the said Jesse Prescott doth on his oath further declare, that sometime in Decem r 1776, he again enlisted into a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Joseph Parsons of Rye in said County of Rock- ingham to serve for the term of four months. That said Company was ordered to Peakskill in the State of New York — that he with others belonging to said company, immediately after his said enlistment, marched from Exeter, New Hampshire to said Peakskill where he arrived sometime in the same month of Decem r — that he remained at said Peakskill doing duty in said Company until sometime in April 1777. when, his term of service having expired he was discharged.
He believes the Regt. to which Capt. Parsons' Company belonged was commanded by Col. David Gilman of Newmarket — Peter Coffin of Exeter was a Major in said Regt.
And the said Jesse Prescott further declares that he has no documentary evidence of either of said times of service — that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present — and that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State — and that he was born in Kensington in said County of Rockingham (State of New Hampshire), and has always resided in said said State, excepting about the term of six years, during which he resided in the State of Maine —
Jesse Prescott
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me in open court
Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate

And the said Judge of Probate does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate
Court of Probate
Stratford ss.
I James Bartlett Register of the said Court for the County of Stratford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jesse Prescott for a pension. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17 th day of September A.D. 1853.
James Bartlett Reg

I Jeremiah Tilton of Fremington in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire do testify and say. that I well knew Jesse Prescott from childhood. that he was born & brought up in the same neighborhood with myself. and I well knew that the said Jesse Prescott enlisted in the Company commanded by Capt. Winthrop Rowe of said Fremington in the spring of the year 1775. and went with said Company to Winter Hill. I also well remember that sometime in the month of August in the same year that I went to said Winter Hill on a visit to see my brothers, and saw the said Jesse Prescott then at said Winter Hill, then a continental Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and I further testify and say that I have no doubt but that the said Jesse Prescott faithfully served as a continental Soldier in the war of the Revolution during the term for which he enlisted enlisted and was honorably discharged.
Jeremiah Tilton.
State of New Hampshire Fremington July 18. 1832 -
Rockingham ss.
Then personally appeared
The above named Jeremiah Tilton, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is just & true - Before me Ira Blake Just. Peace
I do hereby certify that the above named Jeremiah Tilton is a credible witness & disinterested witness.
Ira Blake Just. Peace
Shoffords State of Nottingham
I James Bartlett Register of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Ira Blake whose name is above subscribed is a justice of the peace for said County of Shoffords. In Witness whereof I have hereunto caused the official seal to be hereunto annexed this 17 th day of September A.D. 1832
James Bartlett Reg.

I Samuel Longfellow, aged seventy four years & upwards, do upon oath declare that I well knew Jabez Prescott, Continental soldier in the War of the Revolution - to my knowledge the said Prescott, served in the first Eight months since in the War of the Revolution in the Company commanded by Capt. Winthrop Rowe and Regiment by Col. Pease, of the New Hampshire Troops - said Prescott, served the full period of Eight months, was discharged, we had no written discharges given us in the first 8 mo. service, but knowing the said Prescott, to have served faithfully I have no doubt he was honorably discharged at the expiration of the first Eight months service which was in the last day of Dec. 1775 - Sams t Longfellow
Kennebec ss On this tenth day of March A.D. 1830. personally appeared the above named Samuel Longfellow and he made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed - the said Deponent being to me well known as a credible & disinterested witness.
Before me Robert Vose Notary Public

781. New Hampshire
Judith Prescott widow of Jesse Prescott
who died on the 28 th Dec r 1833 of Rockingham Co. in the State of N. Hampshire who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Rowe of the reg t commanded by Col. Poor of the 1 st N. Hampshire line for one year from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 4.00 Dollars 28 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1837 and sent to Messrs. Hale & Woodman, Dover.
Arrears to the 4 th of Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. '37 $ 20. —
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by M c Alister Clerk, Vol. 1 Page 34
David May, April 22.

1063. 3 m.
Judith Prescott widow of Sepia. M. H.
alleged marriage Nov. '76
on roll Capt. Parsons on Corp. list 76. to March 79.
died 28 Dec 1893 married Nov 15 1776 admitted #40
Hn B. M. Bean AR

I Samuel Prescott of New Market in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire depose and say that I am the son of Jesse Prescott late of Durham in the County of Strafford, deceased, and Judith Prescott that I am forty six years old, that my father drew a pension for services performed in the Revolution and that I, as his attorney, received his pension at Portsmouth at the several times they were paid, that he died on the 28 th day of December A.D. 1823 and that said Judith his widow is still alive and has remained a widow ever since his death, that since his death she has removed to New Mar- ket and now resides there Samuel Prescott
State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss. January 2 d 1837 Sworn to before me John R. Sandborn Jus. Peace
I certify that I have been acquainted with said Samuel Prescott for several years and believe him to be a man of truth. John R. Sandborn Jus. Peace

State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss
I J. Bartlett Foitt Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that John R. Sanborn who has subscribed the within & the annexed certificates is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and I believe the same to be his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this third day of January A.D. 1837
J. B. Foitt Clerk C.C.P. Rockingham County

I Chase Prescott of of Dunfield of lawfull age depose and say that I was at present when Jesse Prescott my Mother was married to one Judith Johnson which marriage took place in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six in the month of November the day of the month I do not recollect but I further recollect that Rev. Jeremiah Logg married them, and they lived together untill his death and that she remains his Widow now and lives in the town of Durham in the State of New Hampshire Chase Prescott
State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss Dunfield November 19 th 1836 Then the above named Chase Prescott after due deliberation testified that the above deposition by him subscribed was true before me
John R. Sanborn Justice Peace
I hereby certify that Chase Prescott of Dunfield above named is a man of truth for aught I know thing I ever knew or heard
Daniel Haines Justice Peace

Chase Prescott aff.
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss -
J. B. Fossitt Clerk of the Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Daniel Haines is a jus- tice of the Peace within and for said County of Rockingham. That full faith and credit should be given to his official acts as such & that his signature to the within certificate is in my belief genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this third day of January A.D. 1837 -
J. B. Fossitt Clerk C. C. Pleas Rocking. County

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the Act of Congress of the 4 th July A.D. 1836
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County ss.
On this twenty Thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared before Bradbury Bartlett one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Rockingham Judith Prescott a resident of New-Market in said County of Strab  Rockingham and State of New Hampshire aged eighty 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.
That she is the widow of Jesse Prescott who was a private soldier in the army of Revolution as she has always understood and believes, as follows, that he enlisted in May and started from home for the army the next day after the battle of Bunker's Hill in the company of Capt. Winthrop Howe and was gone eight months, that in December of the next year he went out as a soldier in the company of Capt. Parsons of Nye in the New Hampshire line and then served four months that his then place of residence was Kensington in said County; that he applied for and received a pension of forty dollars a year in 1832 or 1833; that she has no documentary evidence of his services but presumes that they together with a more particular description of his services were filed in the Department for Pensions at Washington that he died on the twenty eighth day of December A.D. 1833 at Durham where he had resided four or five years previous. She further declares

that she was married to the said Jesse Prescott in the month of November after her husband's return from his first service and before he went out the second time as is before stated, at Kensington aforesaid by Rev. Mr. Fogg, that she lived with him until his death as aforesaid and has remained a widow ever since, that she now resides in New Market aforesaid Judith Prescott
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
Before me
Bradbury Bartlett.
{ Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
I hereby certify that from bodily infirmity the above named Judith Prescott cannot attend court.
Bradbury Bartlett. Jus. Court Common - Pleas -

State of New Hampshire Rockingham County ss.
I, J. B. Foss, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County do hereby certify that the Hon. Pradbury Bartlett who has subscribed the foregoing certificate is a Justice of said Court, and that his signature thereto, is genuine, and that full faith and credit should be given to his official acts as such.
Witness my official signature & the seal of said Court of Common Pleas hereunto affixed the Second day of January A.D. 1837.
J. B. Foss Clerk of the Court Com. Pleas — }-

Judith Prescott,
now on Pension roll
under act July 11th 1836-
with that she is not
entitled
David Murray agt.

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefits of the resolution of Congress of the 23 d of January 1845.
Whereas the Act of the 30 th of April 1844 prohibited Judith Prescott from drawing a pension for the same period during which her husband was a pensioner, I now make the following statement under oath, to obtain the benefits of the resolution above mentioned. I am the Administrator on the estate of Judith Prescott, who was the widow of Jesse Prescott, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution. She drew a pension at the rate of forty dollars per annum from the 28 th day of December 1833, and I now ask for the amount due her from the 4 th day of March 1831 to the 28 th day of December 1833, when her former pension commenced.
She made her Declaration before the 30 th day of April 1844, and it was filed in the Pension Office before the 23 d day of January 1845.
Jas. Prescott
Sworn and Subscribed before me, this 17 th day of March 1845, before me in the County of Nottingham and State of New Hampshire
David Murray Jus Peace

The State of New Hampshire Rockingham County ss.
I Ira B. Herrick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County certify that David Murray Esq is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commis- sion is dated on the 14th day of June A.D. 1842 and will expire in five years from that date, and that the within signature purporting to be his, is in his own hand writing & genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 18th day of March A.D. 1845.
I. B. Herrick Clerk

Newmarket N.H. May 20/45-
Sir,
Will you please inform the subscriber of the result of the examination of the foregoing claim
I am very respectfully Your Obl. Servt
David Murray
J L Edwards, Esq., Commr of Pensions Washington DC

578 Pension Office, April 24 th 1845.
Sir,
The declaration of the Administrator of Judith Prescott, for the benefits of the joint resolution of Congress of the 23 d of January, 1845, has been examined and placed in file.
M rs Prescott received a pension during her life under the act of July 4. 1836-
The resolution above referred to was passed for the exclusive benefit of claimants under the act of July 7. 1838.
David Murray, Esq.: New-Market, New Hampshire.

Proof of Marriage

"Tissie Prescott and Judith Johnson were joined in Marriage November 15 th 1776. "
I John T. Blake. Town Clerk of the Town of Kensington, County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire for the current year. do hereby Certify that the foregoing marriage, is an Extract, and a true copy of the Town Records of Marriages in said town of Kensington. And I further certify that said book of Records began as early as the year 1737.
John T. Blake: Town Clerk Kensington March 3 rd 1837.
State of New Hampshire. Rockingham ss. Kensington March 3 rd 1837.
I hereby certify that the abovenamed John T. Blake is at the present time Town Clerk of said town of Kensington & has been for the year past.
Ebenezer Blake Justice of Peace

Rockingham ss State of New Hampshire
J. P. Bartlett Foitt Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for and within the County aforesaid hereby certify that Ira Blake Esquire who has subscribed the within certificate is a Justice of the Peace within and said County and personally known to me as such that full faith and credit should be given to all his official acts and that the signature purporting to be his is in my belief genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this third day of March Anno Domini 1837
J. P. Bartlett Clerk

71339 Yse Resco
P. Walsh
1 year
adm
W. C. E.
$40.
Dear Duke Ever MH

11339
BRIEF in the case of  Elise Prescott of Durham  Shafford 67  in the State of New Hampshire  Act 7th June, 1832.
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 75  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     apl'75 - to Dec. — 8 — private Colt Rowe Colt Poor   Dec'70 - apl'77 — 4 x " Capt Parsons Colt Gilman the following    in Role of Service
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Kensington NH  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses,  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
No Clergy
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. G. Easton Examining Clerk.

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
awt March 14, 1925.
Mrs. Karl J. Brunner 11 Brunner Place, Lisbon, N. H.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 16060, it appears that Jesse Prescott was born at Kensington, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, date not stated.
While residing at said Kensington, he enlisted in April 1775, soon after the battle of Lexington, and served eight months as a private in Captain Winthrop Rowe's Company, Colonel Enoch Poor's New Hampshire Regiment.
He enlisted in December 1776 and served four months as a private in Captain Joseph Parsons' Company, Colonel David Gilman's New Hampshire Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 17, 1833, while a resident of Durham,

Strafford County, New Hampshire, aged seventy-five years, and he died there December 28, 1833.
Soldier married November 15, 1776 at Kensington, New Hampshire, Judith Johnson. She was allowed pension on her application executed December 30, 1836, while a resident of New Market, New Hampshire, aged eighty years.
Son Samuel, in 1837, was forty-six years old and resided in New Market, New Hampshire.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

Letter to Hon. B. M. Bean. 3. Feb. 1836.

Jesse Prescott N.H. act 7 June 1832 to what time period
Proffer Dec 28 th Dec. 1833 p 20 to that period 1/4

ELEVEN BRÜMMER PLACE LISBON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
February 3. 1925.
To the Pension Bureau, Department of the Interior, Washington D.C.
I am writing to the Bureau to ask for any record you may have of the service of Jesse Prescott of New Hampshire in the Revolutionary War. Our State Papers say that he was a pensioner. He lived in Deerfield I think. His wife was Judith Johnson. I think he died in 1833.
I want this for an application to membership in the D.A.R.

ELEVEN BRÜMMER PLACE LISBON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Thanking you for this information I am Very truly yours (Mrs. Karl J.) Mary Carlton Brümmer Reginald Gunthwaite Chapter, D. A. R.

1925- mch. 14. H.W. to Mrs. Hall J. Brumner and
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16060
Judith Prescott Wid of Jesse Prescott Priv Rev. War
Act July 4 th 186
Index: Vol. M , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Affidavit of Valentine Smith

I Valentine Smith of Durham in the County of Strafford & State of New Hampshire of lawful age, depose & say that I am Town Clerk of the said Town of Durham that I have examined the records of said town and find no record of any marriages previous to November the second 1780 -
Valentine Smith
State of New Hampshire December 30, 1836. Then person- Strafford ss. } ally appeared and made solemn
to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me
Benja. Mathes Jr. Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Valentine Smith is well known to me & is a man of truth & veracity
Benja. Mathes Jr. Justice of the Peace

Dover Sept. 17 th 1832
To the Hon. Henry of M ty
Sir
I herewith enclose for your consideration the applications of John Finney of Dover, & of Jesse Prescott of Durham, both citizens of this State, and Soldiers of the Revolution, for pensions under the act of June last.
And am
very respectfully,
Yr obed Servt
D. McDurell " "

11339
Jesse Prescott
J. M. Durell
Donner WA
THE END OF THE VOLUME
and paper, and all such descriptive explanations are respectfully the publisher and the printer of this volume. The use of the figures upon which the work is based and the publication thereof by the publisher, in the form of separate publications, is the right of the It is understood that all copies of this volume, with the exception of the printer's copy, are subject to the right of the publisher to reprint the whole or any part thereof without notice.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Lesse Prescott which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  Yes
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  Yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  No as to 2 nd 5 th & 7 th
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comm. Pensions
Washington City

Washington City
Jan. 23. 1837-
Dear Sir
Will you have the goodness to have the enclosed application examined, as soon as convenient and inform me of the result -
Very Respectfully
Yr. Obs. Servt.
ABM Bean
J. S. Edwards Esq.

Dover N.H. March 4. 1837
Sir,
We as attorneys at Law for Mrs Judith Prescott widow of Jesse Prescott Dec d late a pensioner in this State, have hitherto communicated with Hon. Benning M. Bean M.C. relative to her application for a pension under the Law of July 4. 1836. But as he has or will before the enclosed can reach you, leave Washington, and has forwarded to us himself a letter from you of which the following is a copy, we send directly to you the enclosed evidence of Mrs Prescotts marriage and request that the Certificate of Pension for her may be forwarded to us
We have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your O bt Serv ts Hale & Woodman
J. L. Edwards Esq.
J P Hale M. S. D cty for N.H. Chas W. Woodman

Copy
War Department Pension Office Feb. 3. 1837
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the papers in support of the claim of Mrs Judith Prescott, widow of Jesse Prescott, dec d have been examined and filed in this office. The service of her husband is fully established by his papers under the Act of 7 th June 1832 and by the rolls of the N. Hampshire militia. But as the last term of his service commenced about the time of the alleged date of the marriage, it is important that the date should be established by the most satisfactory evidence. Although there may be no Town Record of marriages at that date, there may be some Church or family record which would be very satisfactory. And in the event that no record can be found, the old neighbours and comrades of her deceased husband may probably furnish precise proof as to the date of the marriage.
I have the honor to be very Respectfully Your Obet Servt J. L. Edwards
Hon B. M. Bean House of Representatives

Dover N. H.
(April 13 1837)
Sir,
During the past winter we have communicated through Hon. B. M. Bean N. C. with the War Department relative to a petition of Mrs. Judith Prescott widow of Jesse Prescott a pensioner under the act of 7 th June 1832, acting in the business as her Attorneys. By letter from yourself to Mr Bean dated Feb y 3, which has been transmitted to us you stated that some record evidence of the precise time of her marriage would give the Department better satisfaction. We obtained a certificate of her marriage from the Town Clerk, properly authenticated, as we supposed, and forwarded the same on the 5 th of March. We have received no reply and are fearful that our communication miscarried. Will you please to over

inform us if the Certificate was received and if there is any objection to granting Mrs Prescott a pension agreeably to her application, and if there be we would be obliged to you to state the same, and if there is no objection; Will you please forward her Certificate to us. If there should be any hesitation in forwarding the same to us from the fact that you have not known us in the above application, those objections would probably be removed so far as related to our personal responsibility by reference to Hon Levi Woodbury
With Respect Yours Afft Sects Hale & Woodman
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office
War Department
Washington D.C.

May 1. Indra Pierce Adm file with papers Act 4th July 1836 No 781.
Edwars Esq Commission of Pensions Washington DC

Lower Mt April 25. 1837
Sir
The pension certificate of Widow Faith Prescott was this morning received by me
With Respect
Yours
Hale Woodman
H. Edwards Esq

James L Edwards Esq. Com of Pensions Washington D.C.

Dover NH May 12. 1838
Sir
At the late term of the U S Circuit Court held in this District, the Grand Jury found bills of Indictment against Samuel Prescott for forgery of the record of the marriage of "Elijah Hall to Lois Parker" also of the record of the marriage of "Nathaniel Cluney to Mary Leighton" & also of the record of the marriage "Ebenezer Gurney to Hannah Hearn" all said forgeries having been com- mitted with intent to enable the several widows to obtain a pension from the U S States. I put him to trial in the case of "Nathaniel Cluney & Mary Leighton" and the evidence was so convincing & overwhelming that he was found guilty by the jury without leaving their seats, & thereupon he was sentenced by the Court to two years hard labor in the State's penitentiary. Upon the suggestion of the Court that the pur- poses of public justice would be as well answered by a conviction & sentence in one case as in all, & also considering that Prescott had a wife & family of children dependent upon him for sup- port, the prosecutions in the other cases were dismissed

and he is now in the State-prison performing his sentence. Intimately connected with Prescott in this business have been engaged both Seth R Shackford & William A Shackford, and I would suggest for your consideration the propriety of an examination into all those cases where pensions have been obtained for widows or other persons through the agency or instrumentality of either of those three individuals, viz. Seth R Shackford, William A Shackford, or Samuel Shackford Prescott, as I am apprehensive they will all be found contaminated with fraud of some sort or other.
In a letter which I had the honor to write to you of March 31. 1838, I suggested that the case of Mehitable Prescott might be liable to the same suspicion, she being the mother of Samuel Prescott & the pension for her having been obtained through the agency of said Samuel Prescott
With much respect Yours John Hale U.S Atty for N.H. District
Jas L Edwards Esq. Com of Pensions