Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35,577, for Zera Preston, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Preston, Zera
NUMBER
S. 35.577
Mass.
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

Connecticut Roll.
2071
Zera Preston Capt Holder
Private
Massachusetts line. 1778. 9 months In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 7. of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6. of Augt 1818 and sent to Zephaniah Swift, Esq. Windham, Conn.
Arrearages to 4. Sept. 1818.
4 m: 28/30. $39.46
{Revolutionary claims, {Act 18th March, 1818,}
He d. July 3. 1820 July 16. 1821 Windham

District of Connecticut, ss.
At a Special Court of Common Pleas, holden at Pomfret within and for the County of Windham, in said district—
ON this 25 th day of June A. D. 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record for the County aforesaid, [Having the power of fine and imprisonment,] Lera Preston of the said County of Windham — aged Sixty — years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz : That he enlisted for the term of Nine months — on the Seventh day of July — in the year 1778 — in the State of Massachusetts — in the company commanded by Captain Abel Holden — in the regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Micon — in the line of the State of Massachusetts — on the Continental establishment : that he continued to serve in the said corps until 11 th day of April 1779 —
when he was discharged from the said service in the place called Kings ferry in the State of New York . I am a Taylor by trade in good health my family consist of a wife aged 44 years out of health but can do some of the common house works. — I am a pensioner & received thereon on the 7 th day of April 1818. The number of my pension certificate is 2,071 —
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me ; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Schedule
Containing the whole of Mr. Lera Preston's estate & cash in his new party clothing & bedding excepted — — 2 Cables $2.00 3 dining chairs 2.25 — 7 Kitchen chairs 1.17 — 1 Tea kettle .75 — 14.17 1 Pot 83 c — 1 Spider & 2 Skillets 0.75 — 2 pair of tongs & 2 Shovels 1.25 — 2.83 1 Pair of fine dogs — 50 c — one case knives & forks 0.50 c — 2 combs & brushes 1.34 1 meat Barrel 50 c — 20 a Pork — 2.00 — 1 Warming pan — 1.00 — 3.50 Amount Carried over — $ 13.84

  Amount Brought over  $13.84    1 hand Bellows 0.25 c - 3 pair Shears - 1.00 - 2.00  1.25    2 Pumps 1.34 - 2 chipsets - 10 c - 1 bodkin 6 c  1.50    6 glass bottles 0.36 c - 1 Pail 34 c - Bible & other books 1.25  1.95    1 axe 60 c - 2 hoes 40 c - 2 chests 2.00 - 1 trunk 75 c  3.75    1 Small Looking Glass - 75 c - Crockery 25 c  1.00     $23.29  
Subscribed by me this 20 th day of June 1820 -
Lera Preston
Lera Preston Application
Nov 2, 1821
Sept 26 th 1818
Sept 10 th 1820
Sworn to and declared on the 20 th day of June A. D. 1820, before the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Windham, in the district of Connecticut.
Attest.
David C. Bolles Clerk.
I, David C. Bolles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Windham, in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration & oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is twentythree Dollars, and 29 - Cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court, on this 26 th day of June A. D. 1820.
David C. Bolles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Windham County.

L. Swift, Esq; Judge.
Fera Preston.
found on the Connecticut rolls for 9 months. -
See endorsement in the case of Benjamin Bag- -bee.
correct

I Lera Preston of Ashford in the county of Windham and district of Connecticut a resident citizen of the United States do hereby certify that in the time of the late revolutionary war on the Eleventh day of July one thousand seven hundred and Seventy eight I enlisted and for the term of nine months and entered the army of the United States under the continental establishment in the company commanded by Captain Abel Holden of the regiment under the orders of Colonel Thomas Vioxon in the Massachusetts line I served in said line the full term of the before said nine months and on the Eleventh day of April one thousand seven hundred and Seventy nine was discharged with a discharge accompanying this affidavit signed by Samuel French Lieut. of said company and the aforesaid Thomas Vioxon - I am now in reduced circumstances have no property in firm in health and need the assistance of my country for support -
Dated at Windham the 7 th day of April A.D. 1818 Lera Preston State of Connecticut ss Windham April 7 th 1818.
Personally appeared before me Ephraim Swift Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut Lera Preston subscribes to the foregoing declaration and made solemn oath to the truth thereof.
Attest Ephraim Swift

State of Connecticut to Windham April 7 th AD 1818
Whereas it appears to my satisfaction from the within declaration of the within named Lera Preston, and from his Discharge accompanying the same, that the said Lera Preston served in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy for the term of Nine Months in the Massachusetts line of the Continental army as he has testified in the within declaration.
I do therefore certify and transmit to the Secretary of the Department of War the aforesaid testimony pursuant to an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for a pension to certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war
Certified by Leaphanick Swift Chief Judge of the Superior of the State of Connecticut
I further certify That it appears to my satisfaction on due enquiry that the above named Lera Preston is in indigent and reduced circumstances and needs the support of his country Windham July 18 th 1818
Leaphanick Swift Chief Judge of the Superior Court

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWF/eel
June 17, 1929
Charlotte M. Porter 827 Lake Street Oak Park, Illinois
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.35577, it appears that Zera Preston enlisted July 11, 1778, and served in Captain Abel Holden's Company, Colonel Thomas Nixon's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged July 11, 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 7, 1818, at which time he was living at Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut.
In 1820, he was sixty years old and referred to his wife as aged forty-four years but did not give her name.
He died July 16, 1821.
There are no further data as to family.
In order to obtain the name of person to whom the last payment of his pension was paid, you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C., citing all of the following data:

Zera Preston, Certificate No.2071, issued August 6, 1818, rate $8 per month, commenced April 7, 1818, act of March 18,1818, Connecticut Agency.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

a Discharge from the chamber

Shippensburg April 11 th 1779
This may certify that Lera Preston of Capt. Holden's Company, a Nine Months Man, the time for which he Engaged is expired, this Day,
Sam l Groff Lieut. Tho: Vaxon Col.

35 577 Rev  INVALID.
File No. 35-577
Bera Preston His Rev. Wm
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 381
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1929 June 17-1929 to Charlotte M. Porter

WAUKEGAN CHAPTER
827 Lake St., Oak Park, Ill. February 4, 1929
Bureau of Pensions, Dear Sirs:
Please give me information regarding Gera Preston (1759-1821) of Ashford, Conn. whose name is on list of pensioners of 1818.
Was he married more than once, to whom and when? When and where did he and his wife die? Is there list of his children? To whom was pension paid?
Is there mention of a first wife, Mary Ann (Walker) Preston who was widow of a Revolutionary soldier, John Walker of Ashford, Conn.?
Gera Preston (above) served as a private under Capt. Thos. Knowlton, Gen. Israel Putnam's Regt., 1775.
I shall be very grateful for all possible information regarding these people.
Yours very truly, Charlotte M. Porter