Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 3968-160-55, Francis Bennett, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
or Bennett Francis Bennet
B.L.W. 3968-160-55
Caturah
CONTENTS

163,262
Act March 3/55
June 9/55
Caturah Bennett, Widow of Francis Bennett, Corporal sergeant
Capt. Merrill, Col. Mapt. Mil:
Ent. - 1779 Me. Dis. - 1779 Mil.
Revolutionary War.
Aged 100 years 9 mo. + 15 days aw: 160 acres Aug. 20/55 Blyth
3968 if Aug 22/55
John N. Ayer, North Berwick, Maine.
Vol. B. 83. -
Rev. W.

Declaration of Catharine Bennet, widow of Francis Bennet, a soldier of the Revolution, for the benefit of the act of March 3, A. D. 1855, granting Bounty Land to widows of soldiers of the war of the Revolution, &c, &c, —
On this 16 th . day of April A. D. 1855, one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Catharine Bennet, aged, one hundred years, on the third day of November 1854, a resident of Pownal in the county of Cumberland and state of Maine, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Francis Bennett late of New Gloucester aforesaid, who died in said town on the 31 st day of October A. D. 1833. — Also that my said husband was a soldier in Capt Merrill's company of New Gloucester, in the expedition against Major. Baga-dance in A. D. 1779, as will appear by the Rolls of Capt Merrill supposed to be on file at the Pension Office or Department. She thinks that he served three months at that place, & to support her claim for Bounty Land she refers for evidence of his service to Capt Merrill's Rolls of aforesaid, she states that she was published to Francis Bennett in Mass. Gloucester over

October 15 th A.D. 1772, as will appear by that record in that town, — And that they were married in Gloucester Mass. on the 29 th day of October A.D. 1772 by one Daniel Fuller a clergyman — and that her name before her marriage was Caturah Fuller, of Gloucester Mass. And that her said husband was born in said Gloucester on the 12 th of July 1749, so says the record, and I was born the 3 rd day of November A.D. 1754, so says the record, — She declares that she has never before made any application under this or any other act of Congress for any Bounty Land and that I never have received any bounty land under any act granting the same She declares that her said husband died on the 31 st day of October 1833, and that she is now a widow & have not again married and for proof her identity she refers to the papers herunto annexed & to the rolls of the captain under whom her said hus- band served in 1779 at Benezue, she makes this declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of March 3 rd , D. 1855, — And she appoints as her agent John M. Ayer. North Pownal, Maine Witness. Lucy J. Wells Eliza A. Sargent. her Caturah X Bennett mark

We Lucy G. Wells and Eliza A. Sargent residents of Pownal in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine aged 38, & 21 years on oath Depose and say, that the foregoing declaration was sign- ed and acknowledged by Catharine Bennett in our presence, and that we believe that from the ap- pearance and statements that she is the per- son she represents herself to be, and that we do know that she is a widow, - And that we sincerely believe that the applicant has stated the truth, as she has always been considered a lady of truth and veracity, and a very strong memory for a person of her age. -
2 Witnesses, A. Waterhouse
Lucy G. Wells Eliza A. Sargent.
The foregoing declaration and affidavits were signed, and sworn to in my presence and before me on the day of the year first written and I certify that I know that the affiants are credible witnesses, and that the claimant is the person she represents her- self to be, & I have no interest in this claim, -
A. Waterhouse - Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston,
April 26, 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Francis Bennett appears upon the Muster Roll of Capt Nathan Merrill's Company of Militia raised for an Expedition against Penobscot, as Corporal, from July 8, 1779 to Sept 25, 1779 — 2 mos 17 days, Service.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. M. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application of Catherine Ben- net, widow of Francis Bennett, for evidence of her husband's Revolutionary service in 1779.
To The Secretary of the Com- mon wealth of Mass. Boston,, — This applicant states that her said husband was a resident of New- Gloucester in the county of Cumberland, in the time of the war of the Revolution, That he was a soldier in Capt. Nathan Merrill's New Gloucester's company as a corporal, and served as such about three months at Bangor in 1779. — She thinks that he served one other time, under said Captain, but she can- not tell how long, or in what year. — And in or- der to show the length, and grade of office, or service, of his she respectfully requests that all the evidence of her said husband's service be granted, which appear on the Books, rolls, and other documents, which relate to military service in the war of the Revolution to. At Water- house at North Pownal Maine,
Witness. Lucy G. Wells her Catherine Bennett mark Eliza A. Sargent.
State of Maine Cumberland, county S.S. Pownal April 17 th day, A.D. 1853. Signed, and witnessed, before me As Waterhouse Justice Peace

163.262
State of Massachusetts, County of Essex, Town of Gloucester. I find recorded in the Records of this Town. The Intention of Marriage between Francis Bennet and Keeturah Fuller Entered August fifteenth Seventeen Hundred and Seventy two. I also find recorded on the Parish. Records of the second church in Gloucester. The Marriage of Francis Bennet, and Keeturah Fuller by the Rev Daniel. Fuller, October twenty ninth Seventeen Hundred and Seventy two.
The above is a true copy of the records except the date and year which is written where it was expressed in figures on the Record as follows. { August 15 th 1772 Intentions October 29 th 1772 Married
George L Ford. Town Clerk
I, George L Ford, above named do declare and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, of the State County & State above mentioned, and that the above statement is a correct and true copy of the records with the exceptions before mentioned also that I have no interest in the above all of these Records are in my Possession
George L Ford. Town Clerk of Gloucester
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this sixteenth day of May A.D 1855 John Webber Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, June 1. 1855
I Hereby Certify , That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed,
John Webber was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
T. M. Wingate Secretary of the Commonwealth.

163,262
Bounty Land claim by act of 3 of March, 1855. for Revolutionary service.
Catubah Bennett widow of Noah Bennett.
J. M. Ayer agent North Pownal Maine

SS
State of Maine Cumberland County of Androscoggin, S.S. April 3 rd 1855 There personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Wells, and wife, Judath Wells, well known to me as credible witness and made oath,
We Nathaniel Wells and wife Judath Wells both of New Gloucester in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine aged seventy eight & seventy five years, on oath Testify and say, that we were well acquainted with, and was a neighbor to Mr. Francis Bennett and his wife Catherine Bennett, from our childhood, that they lived respectable as married people and brought up a family. We have heard him tell of his service at Bagaducee in 1779, in the war of the Revolution, and from his statements it was generally believed that he was a soldier at that time and at that place in the war of the Revolution, and also that he was a resident of said New Gloucester at the time of his said service and was married people at that date, and had children in 1779 1779. We also state that we well knew said Francis Bennett and his wife Catherine Bennett from our childhood until his death which was on the thirty first day of October Eighteen hundred and thirty three, and that we know it was so because we was at his funeral, and made a record over

of his death which now appears in our family Bible, and that his wife Catherine Bennett has not again married and is now living a widow to our certain knowledge, aged one hundred & one years old. We also testify that they told us that they both came from Gloucester Mass, when young before the war of the revolution and lived in said New Gloucester from that time until his death, that they were according to record born in Gloucester Mass, as follows, Francis Bennett born in Gloucester July 12 th , 1749. And that his wife who was Catherine Fuller daughter of David Fuller that she was born in said Gloucester Nov. 3 d , 1754, & that they were published Oct 15 th , 1772, in said Town. — We testify that we are disinterested witnesses, Witness. Asa Waterhouse                      Nathaniel Wells Betsey Wells                      Joanna my Wells mark
Subscribed & duly sworn to on the 3 rd day of April, 1855. before me H t Waterhouse Justice Peace

SS
State of Maine County of Cumberland  Androscooggin , S.S. April 3 rd 1855 Then personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Wells, and wife, Judath Wells, well known to me as credible witness and made oath, in due form of law, that the above affidavit by them signed is true before me
D Williams B. Warstow, Justice of the Peace
State of Maine
County of Cumberland, S.S.
April 3 rd , 1855. — I hereby certify that the aforesaid Nathaniel Wells & wife Judath Wells are very respectable people, and that their testimony in the foregoing claim, or in behalf of Katenah Bennett is entitled to full credit, in any case, at any time, or place, that they are christian people. —
A. Waterhouse, Justice of the peace,

3.968
1600 am

State of Maine.
ANDROSCOGGIN, ss.
CLERK'S OFFICE, SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT,
AUBURN, May 30 185 1 .
I, JOSIAH D. PULSIFER, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Androscoggin, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that
A. Waterhouse
is, and at the date of his certificate to the paper hereunto annexed, was an ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, within and for the County of Androscoggin, as appears by the paper hereunto annexed — that he is duly commissioned and qualified to administer oaths and take acknowledgments of Deeds and other instruments in writing, in the County aforesaid, and that the following signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
J. D. Pulsifer CLERK.

No. 163. 262
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received June 9 th , 18 55
Cataraqui Bennett, wid. of Francis Bennett Corp. Capt. Merrill Moame Mil. Rev. War
Warrant 3968-160-55
John M. Ayer North Corona Moame