Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,695, for Joel Shepard, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass New York
Shepard, Joel
S 30.6.95 B.L.Wt 9475-160-55
CONTENTS
[Ruled lines for entry]
[Ruled lines for entry]

80.364 { Ser Mar 3/35 { Rec Apr 19/35
Pool Shop and Drift
Capi " " " Cu " " " Frigate for Willet Series Map of the coastline (see Willets fields)
Ad. paninier Map. June 32-15554
Brynton
Ad. 160 ac's Nov 8/35
By J. H.
Dodge
Vol. 1. page 32
John Wilson Saxifraga Mass

15551 Massachusetts
Col Shepard of Franklin in the State of Mass who was a Major in the Company commanded by Captain Henry of the Regt commanded by General Putnam in the N.Y. line for B.M. Works
Major Military Natl State Troops
Inscribed on the Roll of State Pensions at the rate of 10 Dollars 00 Cents per ann to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of April 1833 and sent to Alion  Frankfield  Major Arrears to the 14th of March 33 $81.17 Pension allowance ending 1/2/34 20.00 $101.17
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by W.H. Brewster Clerk Book 6 Vol. 20 Page 78
70 Franklin

FORM OF DECLARATION FOR SURVIVING OFFICER OR SOLDIER.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF FRANKLIN. }
On this twenty sixth day of March A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me, John Wilson a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid, Joel Shepard aged Ninety years, a resident of Montague in the State of _____ who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that he is the identical Joel Shepard who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  Army of the Revolution in the Regiment of _____ commanded by _____ and is now a person  in the war  on the Massachusetts Agency at  The rate of forty dollars per annum . That he _____ at _____ on or about the _____ day of _____ A. D. _____ for the term of _____ and continued in actual service in said war for the term of _____ and was honorably discharged at _____ on the _____ of _____ A. D. _____ on account of _____ as will appear by the muster rolls of said Company.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which he may be entitled under the "act granting additional bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States," approved March 3, 1855. And refers to his former declaration made under act of _____ upon which he obtained a Land Warrant No. _____ for _____ acres, which he having legally transferred and disposed of, is not within his power now to return.
He further declares that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under any other act of Congress, nor made any application therefor, than the one above referred to, under act of _____ upon which he obtained the said Land Warrant, No. _____ for _____ 1700 acres, and the one now presented.
Joel Shepard
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written; and I hereby certify that I believe the said Joel Shepard who signed and executed the above declaration, and is now present, to be the identical man who served as aforesaid, and that he is of the age above stated, and that I have no interest in said claim.
John Wilson Justice of the Peace.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF FRANKLIN. }
Personally appeared Jesse Andrews and John Williams citizens of the said County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn, depose and say that they are personally acquainted with Joel Shepard and that he is the person now present who signs and executes the above declaration.
Jesse Andrews John Williams
Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty sixth day of March A. D. 1855; and I certify that the said Jesse Andrews and John Williams are credible and respectable citizens.
John Wilson Justice of the Peace.

No. 364
Claim of Joel Shepard TO BOUNTY LAND.
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Presented by
JOHN WILSON,
Deerfield, Mass.

STATE OF Mass'tts } ss. COUNTY OF Franklin }
I hereby certify that John Wilson Esq., before whom the within declaration and affidavit were made and executed, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of _____ the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid at Greenfield this ninth day of April A. D. 1855.
Charles Mather Clerk. Register of Probate.

24469
Carl Shepard Mass
24 Pine 12 Nos
Elijah Wood Greenfield Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Coll Shepard Franklin Co Mass
   Period when the service was rendered Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Sub 1781 ~ 3 ~ ~ Capt Stockwell Col. Sears 58 years Montague Living Col. Stockwell for all of the service   1782 ~ 9 ~ ~ Capt Henry Col. Willet Mass  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the [redacted] of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the prisoner 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declarations.

244 Pg
Love Shepard Montague
Elijah Alvah Greenfield Ms.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS twentieth day of March A. D. 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas of the said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Joel Shepard a resident of Montague in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged sixty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Attest E. Alvord Clerk Joel Shepard
WE, Benjamin S. Wells & Arza Boardwell
residing in said Montague hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joel Shepard who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Attest E. Alvord Clerk Benjamin S. Wells Arza Boardwell
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 applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that that Benjamin S. Wells is a Justice of the Peace residing in said Montague, and Arza Boardwell is who has also signed the same is a resident in said Montague and they are both credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit; and that there is not any clergyman in said Montague.
Attest E. Alvord Clerk
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joel Shepard for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three .
E. Alvord. Rel. Clerk

I entered the service of the United States in the month of August 1781 - I entered as the substitute of William Campbell, in the company of Militia commanded by Jeremiah Hiccock of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts - I then belonged to Nobletown, now Hinsdale in the County of Columbia & State of New York - Our Lieutenants was Tracy - Our Colonel name was Sears - Our General, was Stark - I engaged for three months - I marched with our company from Sheffield of aforesaid in the fore part of August aforesaid to Albany New York - from Albany we marched to Saratoga New York, and continued there during the term of three months - During this term of service we were engaged in no battles - There were only two things of much importance transpired during said term - The one was the important news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which came to us, and the other was a circumstance which I well recollect happened  took place during this period of service at Saratoga - a man by the name of Lovelace was taken as a spy & condemned as a spy & hung as a spy - I was sentry over him when a prisoner - At the expiration of said three months - I received my discharge, I think by my Capt. by the word "right about face, dismissed" - I then returned to Nobletown -
In the Spring of the year following (1782) about the first of April I again entered the service of the United States, as the substitute  substitute of John M c Lee for the term of nine months - I went from said Nobletown to Albany N.Y., and there entered the company of Capt. Henry and there mustered - Our Lieutenants names were Vanbargo & Campbell - Our Colonel's name was Millet - Our Major's name was Van Scouter - Our Adjutant's name was Tundy - I served

The service of the United States, as a private, by John M c Lee for the term of nine months - I went from said Nobletown to Albany N.Y. and there entered the company of Capt. Henry and there mustered - Our Lieutenants names were Vanbargo & Campbell - Our Colonels name was Millet - Our Major's name was Van Scouter - Our Adjutants name was Tundy - I served in the company of Capt. Henry till the month of July - then I was transferred to the company of Capt. Newhall - Field officers were the same - we remained at Albany after said muster a month or more - From thence we marched to Skeneateles N.Y. from thence to Johnstown N.Y. & continued at the last named place a month or so - From thence we marched to Stony Arabia (Dutch Stone Roby) & continued there a few days - Thence we marched to Fat Plain thence to Indian Castle - thence to Harkness House - thence to Fort House - Some few of us went back to Harkness House to get provisions - Here we were attacked by a party of Indians with whom we had considerable of a skirmish - Thence we were ordered to the German Flats - we continued there & at Fort Dayton until our said term of service was expired - thence we marched to Fat Plain & received our discharge by word of mouth from one of our officers - Nothing of importance happened during this term of service which I recollect which I have not above related - I know of no evidence by which I can prove my service except the affidavits of Story Gots and Benjamin Spaulding which are in court produced Gots and Gots as I am informed in the Town of Plainfield in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut - February 6 th 1765 - I have no record of my age -
I have lived most of my time since the Revolutionary war in the town of Montague in the County of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts - where I now live -
There is no settled minister in the Town of Montague in which I live - Joel Shepard

244 Pg Joe Shepard Montague
Elijah Alward Greenfield Ms.

30695 INVALID. Rev
File No. 30695
Joel Shepard Chi Rev mts
Act: June 1 st 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 866
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9475
2
160 Ams

No. 80364
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received Sept. 14 th , 1875.
Subl. Shepard Pri-
Col. Willet
R. V. Series
Rev. Har
94 75-160-55-
John Wilson
Lee, field
Mass

Joel Shepard

Benjamin Spaulding of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age disposes & says that in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eightyone - I believe in the Month of August, I enlisted In Capt. Jeremiah Hickok's Company for the Term of three Months, and we the Company were Marched to Saratoga And there I the subscriber became acquainted with Joel - Shepard who was also a soldier in said Company for the Term of three months. I further say that at the Expir- -ation of said three months Joel Shepard & this deponent were paraded with said Company - And the word given was Right About Face Dismissed - which was all the Discharge the Company received, and that their Colonel's Name was Sears - given Name not recalled - And this deponent further says that General Stark was their Commandant, And further this deponent saith Not -
Benjamin Spaulding
Berkshire ss. On the twentyfirst day September A.D. 1882 the above said Deponent, was Examined & cautioned & sworn Agreeable to law, to the deposition after you herein subscribed. Taken at the request of the said Joel Shepard, for the purpose of establishing him to receive a pension from the United States - And I further certify that this deponent is an Old Gentleman steady Habits, and have no doubt of the truth of what said Deponent - states.
Jared Garfield Justice of peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire ss. I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court being a Clerk of said Court for said County of Berkshire do hereby certify that Jared Garfield before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Berkshire & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty ninth day of September A.D. 1882 Chas. Sedgwick Clerk

Joshua aft

State of New York Columbia County } ss
Story Gott of the Town of Hustedt Columbia County and State of New York Being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is sixty eight years of age - That he is acquainted with Joel Shepherd of Montague in Franklin County Massachusetts He was knowing to said Shepherd serving in the Army of the Revolution in the year seventeen hundred and eighty two - He saw said Shepherd at Johnstown in the State of New York and this deponent verily believes said Shepherd served in said year in the Army the term of nine months - He the said Shepherd was at the time aforesaid under the command of Colonel Willett - This deponent believes the said Shepherd is sixty seven years of age - The said Gott further testifies that he served in the same company with said Shepherd and he believes Captain Henry commanded said company and further this deponent saith not sworn and subscribed } Story Gott this 25 th day September 1832 before me Wm Lawrence Gustin. Pease }
I certify that I am acquainted with the above named Story Gott  above and that he is reputable and that he is to be believed Hustedt Sept 25 1832 and that I believe said Gott is sixty eight years of age Wm Lawrence Gustin. Pease.
State of New York } Columbia County } ss
I, Joseph D. M'Nutt. Clerk of the said County do certify that Wm Lawrence Esq before whom the preceding Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same. One of the Jus- tices of the Peace in and for the said County. And that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness My hand and Seal of Office this Eleventh day of January 1833
J. D. M'Nutt