Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,331, Asa Bolles, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bolles, Asa
N 17,331
Keziah
CONTENTS

10.653 Massachusetts
Asa Bolles
of Berkshire in the State of Mass who was a Brig. Sgt. in the Company commanded by Captain Sparrow of the Regt. commanded by Col. Tyler in the Mass line for 14 months, Twelve 8 " Arrears
78 Berkshire
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 86 Dollars - 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of April 1833 and Sept.  Charles Severy  Seney  Mass
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $173.34 Semi-ant. allowance ending 24 Sept. " 43.33
$216.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by A. H. Nelson Clerk. Book 2 Vol. 2 u Page 5

Dead. letter to G.C. Woodruff Oct. 4. 1839 L. D. J. W. Bolles Nov: 11/37
Connecticut L 102 Keziah Bolles, widow of Asa Bolles, who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 th June 32 and who died on the 10 th June 1824 of Itchfield in the State of Connecticut who was a P er  Inf in the Company commanded by Captain Parrow of the Reg t commanded by Tyler in the dep t . due for 22 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 86 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Sept. 39, and sent to Geo. C. Woodruff ,  Itchfield , com.
  Arrears to the 4 th of Mar.  $259.98     Semi-annual allowance ending  43.33     { Cor. exp d to  $303.31  { Act July 7, 1838. }    { Joshua W. Bolles    overdue to      the widow    
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk, bk A Vol. 15 Page 167.

10
Mr. Joshua W. Bolles
Hanoverton, Fitchburg 60.
6  4

Seney Octo. 19. 1838
Dear Sir. Since I wrote you last, I have rec d . the enclosed letter from the town Clerk of Chilmark. I fear, as no Record of her marriage can be found in the three towns written to, that you will have difficulty in proving it. — In her recollection so far gone, that she cannot state where or by whom she was married? Can not some of her children recollect hearing her or your father state something as to their marriage, from whom you can ascertain where it took place? — If you can find where she was married, you may possibly find evidence of the facts by going to the place — I have done all, in my power, I believe, that can be done asistance by me —
Yours &c.
W. P. Walker
M t . J. W. Boller —

William P. Walker Esq
Post Master
of Seneca
Illinois Oct 9 1842

Chilmark October 5 th 1898
Sir I have not found any record nor living evidence of Mrs Bolles Marriage Oldalen is not a Chilmark name but a Tisbury one of the family Married a Man by the name of Nathan Skiff a Great many years ago but she is Dead and she left two sons & a Daughter that still live in Chilmark.
I am Sir respectfully Yours Wm C Watherby Samuel Norton town Clerk of Chilmark

4639 Ana Bolles
Sayt 8 Months Phars 14 Do 22
5, 8, 11, & 12 Ob 20 Dec
1870. Charles Sedgwick Esq. Henry Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Asa Pills  of  Berkshire City  - in the State of  Mass -  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Magistrate -  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? No  3. How old is he? 76 years  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.     In 1776. June - 5 - privt. Capt. Wats. Wood - Col. Barry   78 Dec. 2 3 - " " Col. Parker Col. Bayley   79 - 2 8 - sergt. " B. Sparrow M c . Taylor   81 - - 6 - " " J. Gibbs Col. Jacobs   3 - 1791. Dec - 8 - privt. " D. Wood   3 - 22 yrs - 22 58 8 sergt. 3. Codys  Leigh  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Sullivan, Spitzer -  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rochester  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Documentary proof - Tradition -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective time not defined 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

5747
Declaration Keziah Bolles non compos. born
Act 7 July, 38.
m. 79 d 34
admit 14 mo pri 8 mo. Sery
$86.66
Payable to Joshua W. Bolles overseer of Keziah's Bolles
no deduction
Ez. Woodruff Litchfield born

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th July 1835 entitled "An act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows"
State of Connecticut } County of Litchfield } ss District of Litchfield
On this 5 th day of July 1839 personally appeared before the Court of Probate within & for said District said Court being a Court of Record for said District, before me, Abner Bell, a resident of Farmington in said County, aged 43 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain for his mother Keziah Bell of said Farmington the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1835 entitled "An act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows" That she is the widow of Asa Bell, late of Washington in the County of Berkshire & State of Massachusetts who was a soldier & part of the time a private & part of the time a Sergeant, in the army of the Revolution in the military service of the United States & that he served as such a period of about two years, that when he entered the service he resided in the town of Rochester in said State of Massachusetts. That said Asa Bell was a Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $86.67 per annum under the act of June 7 th 1832. That he cannot state with particularity the circumstances in relation to his service the service of the said Asa but for proof of it refers to his original declaration for a pension & to the record & documentary evidence filed in the War Department.
He further declares that the mental faculties of said Keziah are so much impaired by age & sickness that she is incapable of making a declaration in order to obtain a pension, and that on the 19 th day of March 1839 he was legally appointed the Censor of said Keziah.

and that he still is her overseer
That in consequence of her mental infirmity she has been unable to give him much information as to the facts necessary to be proved in order to obtain her pension, but that as she believes the said Asa & Keziah were married together in the year 1780, tho' on what day & month of that year she cannot ascertain; nor can he ascertain in what town they were married, tho' he has caused enquiries to be made for that purpose. They were married on the Island of Martha's Vineyard by — Atkorn Ely; & as the R d Johnice supposes in the Town of Chilmark but there is no record of their marriage on the records of that town. He knows of no record of their marriage, nor can he learn that any is in existence tho' he has made every diligent enquiry therefor.
He herewith annexes hereto a record of the births of their children which was made by the said Asa in his family Bible many years before his death & which is in the said Asa's hand writing.
That the said Asa died at Washington, Mass on the 10 th day of June A.D. 1834; & that he believes the said Keziah was not married to the said Asa prior to his leaving the service; but the marriage took place previous to the 1 st of January 1794 viz at the time above stated. And that she has remained a widow ever since the death of said Asa.
That the said Keziah is of the age of 87 years & that a short time after the said Asa's death she removed to Harwinton, Litchfield County, Penn where she has ever since resided.
Joshua M c Bolles
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year above written
Before The Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield Penn, Attest Geo. F. Woodruff Clerk

Thomas Bolls Born April 14 th 1784 Jemima Bolls Born June 2 - 1786 Anna Born August 5 - 1788 Rubin Bolls Born October 2 nd John Born November 14 1791 Joshua Bolls B. May 17 1793 1796
These were all Born in Rochester

R. 1 th 178 And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter that the facts stated & set forth in the foregoing declaration are true. By the Court, Geo. C. Woodruff Clerk
I George C. Woodruff Clerk of the Court of Probate within & for the District of Litchfield Conn do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joshua W. Buel for a Pension for Kezia Buel. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 5 th day of July A.D. 1839. Geo. C. Woodruff Clerk

1834
George C. Woodruff Esq. Litchfield Connecticut

State of New York Cortland County ss
Heuben Bolles of the town of Cortland- ville, in said County, being duly sworn, says, that he is a brother of Asa Bolles, deceased - that this deponent and the said Asa, were the children of Thomas Bolles, who formerly resided in the town of Rochester in the County of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts - that this deponent and the said Asa, were both born in the said town of Rochester - that this deponent was born in the year seventeen hundred & fifty five - and the said Asa about the year seventeen hun- dred and fifty six - that this deponent and the said Asa lived in the same house with our father in said town of Rochester, until this deponent was a- bout twenty five years of age -
And this deponent further saith, that the said Asa was married about the year seventeen hundred & seventy nine, or seventeen hundred & eighty, to Reziah Walden, who then lived on the island of Martha's Vineyard, in the State of Mass- achusetts - that the said Asa brought his said wife home to his father's house in the said town of Rochester, and there resided with her about ten years; when he moved to another house, about one fourth of a mile distant from my father's, and there resided about three years - when he moved back into my father's house aforesaid, where he resided several years - when he sold the farm (my father having previously died) and moved to Colebrook Hitchfield County and State of Connecticut, where he resided several years; and then, about the year eighteen hundred & thirteen, moved to Washing- ton, County of Berkshire, & State of Massachusetts, where he resided until his death, which happened, according to my best recollection, on the tenth day of June, Eighteen hundred & thirty four - And this deponent further saith, that the said

He was not married but once - that he lived with the said Raziah as his wife, from from the time of his marriage, until the period of his death, being over fifty years - that the said Asa had seven children, the issue of said marriage -
And this deponent further saith, that while he & the said Asa, were living at home, together, as above mentioned, the said Asa visited the said Raziah, then residing at Martha's Vineyard aforesaid, with a view to marriage - that he so visited her frequently - that this deponent recollects the said Asa making preparations for his marriage with said Raziah - and recollects the day he went to get married - and recollects that Daniel Deyo, was the ferryman, that rowed the said Asa across to the said Island of Martha's Vineyard, on the day of his wedding - that the said Asa told the family at home, that he was going to be married - that this deponent recollects that the said Asa was gone three days and returned, with the said Raziah, and introduced her to the family as his wife - that this deponent resided, with the said Asa & his said wife, after their marriage, about nine years - that the Revolutionary war was in progress, at the time of said marriage - that the said Asa on his return from the wedding told of the dangers they encountered from the enemy - that, to avoid them, they were obliged to steer their boat between two Islands, and then keep close along shore - that this deponent well recollects, leaving the said Raziah & Asa, (tell, that my wife Alhorn, then living on Martha's Vineyard) married them -
And this deponent further saith that he was seven or three years of age on the twenty second day of De.

Canter last part - that at the time of the marriage of said H. A., this deponent was about fifteen years of age - and the said H. A. about twenty five years of age - and the said H. A. was about one year and one half older than the said H. A., as this deponent has frequently been told by the said H. A., according to this deponent's best recollection.
And this deponent further saith, that Thomas Bickles, was the first living Child of the said H. A. & H. A.; and according to this deponent's best recollection, the said Thomas was born about three years after said marriage. Nathan Bickles
State of New York
Cortland County
I Joshua Ballard one of the justices of the peace of the town of Cortlandville, in the County of Cortland, do hereby certify, that I am acquainted with Nathan Bickles, the person named in the above affidavit, that he is a person of good character, and well entitled to credit for truth - And I further certify that on the fifth day of April A. D. 1839, the said Nathan Bickles, personally came before me, and was by me duly sworn - and made oath that the above affidavit was true -
Nathan Ballard Justice Peace
Cortland County
Chas. H. Officiat
I, Oren Stimson Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Joshua Ballard whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Affidavit was at the date of the same a justice of the peace in for said County and that his signature above written is genuine in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this 6th day of April 1839. O. Stimson Clerk

Asa Bolles Washington City Application for Pension Jan. 1- 1833

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this First day of January , A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER , Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, in Wadsworth's County Asa Bolles a resident of the town of Washington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven 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 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. To wit. — He enlisted at Hoocheste in Plymouth County in the said State of Massachusetts , in the militia or State Troops of Massachusetts , in the Company commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Wood in the Regiment commanded by Col. Barry in Brigadier General John Fellows' Brigade about the middle of June A. D. 1846 , passed through Middlebury in said State of Massachusetts , then marched to New Haven in Connecticut , from thence proceeded by water to New York City , where he remained until the defeat of the Mexican Army , & then went with the Army to Croton River , where he remained until the 13th Nov 1846 , when he received a honorable Discharge , which is hereto annexed — having served Five Months . — In the month latter part of November before last of December 1846 , he again enlisted for the term of three months , at said Rochester in the Company commanded by Capt. Jas. Parker in Col. Carpenter's Regiment , was marched to North Kingston in the State of Rhode Island , was there discharged , at the expiration of said term, but received no honorable Discharge .
He again enlisted at said Rochester in the Spring of 1849 . (He thinks in the month of May ) in the Company commanded by Capt. Edward Johnson in Col. Nathan Dyer's Regiment , was marched to Providence in Rhode Island , where he remained some weeks, & then went to Newport in said State . — On the tenth day of July 1849 , he was appointed a Sergeant in said Company as appears by the annexed Warrant , & served as such Sergeant in said Company until the month of January , then went where he was discharged , at said Newport , in no honorable Discharge . — He is unable, by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, to state the precise length of the term of service, but believes to have been

eight or nine months. — He again enlisted, in said Rochester, in the Spring of 1781. (he thinks in May) in the Company commanded by Capt. M c Gibbs in the Regiment of Col. Jacob Sturtevant & marched to the North end of the Island of Rhode Island, at a place called Butts Hill, at the fort, where he performed his term of Service, & was discharged, in the fall of said year. — the time length of this term he cannot for the reason before stated, precisely recollect, but thinks it to have been six months. — he did not receive a written Discharge. — He again enlisted at said Rochester in the Company of Capt. Isaac Wood for the period of three months & in the winter season — he cannot recollect the year or the names of the other officers, but he does recollect, that during this period he was stationed at North Kingstown, Rhode Island, & was marched to defend a ship an American vessel called Columbus which put out from Providence, & was driven in by the British fleet, having struck on point Judith.
Said Bolls further states that he was on the main land in the Battle of Sullivan & Spencer in the State of Rhode Island. — & was in the previous expedition of Genl. Spencer, but cannot recollect the years, in which they or either, took place —
By reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory he cannot state more particularly the period of his enlistments & terms of Service but he well recollects that he served in all for twenty five months — Previous to the date of the annexed Regimental Warrant, he served as a Private Soldier & after that time as a Sergeant, being appointed to that office at each subsequent enlistment but received no other Warrant. He does not know of any Witness living by whom he can prove the facts mentioned in this Declaration — He has never received a Pension but made a Declaration for the purpose of obtaining a Pension under the Law of March 1818, before Samuel Putnam Esq. a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts on the 6 th day of
May 1818, & proved his Services to the satisfaction of said Court — Said Declaration was returned from

years, being appointed to that office at each Subsequent Enlistments - but received no other Warrant. He does not know of any Witness living by whom he can prove the facts mentioned in this Declaration - He has never received a Pension but made a Declaration for the purpose of obtaining a Pension under the Law of March 1818, before Samuel Putnam Esq. a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts on the 6 th day of May 1818, & proved his Services to the satisfaction of said Court - Said Declaration was returned from the War Office with the following endorsement "Did not serve on the Continental Establishment. I had - missable" Said Declaration is hereunto annexed. He was born in said Rochester on the Seventh day of May 1 st 56. -
He has no Record of his age, but supposes that that there is a Record thereof in the Clerk's office of said town of Rochester.
He resided in said Rochester, at the time of each of the aforesaid Enlistments & continued to reside there until he was forty one years of age that he then removed to Cobleskill in the State of Connecticut where he lived fifteen years & then removed to Washington in Berkshire County in Massachusetts, where he now lives, & has lived nearly twenty one years.
He is acquainted with the Bro s . Samuel Shepard & James Porter, both of Senox in the said County of Berkshire, who can testify to his character for truth & their belief of his Services as a Soldier of the Revolution -

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 5.
Asa Bolles
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We Samuel Shepard a Clergyman, residing in the town of Lenox and James Porter residing in Lenox hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Bolles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven 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.
Samuel Shepard S. James Porter S.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
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 Samuel Shepard who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Lenox in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts , and that James Porter who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Lenox in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts , and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Asa Bolles for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this Seventh day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Henry W. Bishop Reg. Probate

ROLLES, ASA

Col. Nathan Tyler
Esquire,
Commandant of the            Battalion in the Army of the United States of AMERICA ,
To Mr. Billings
Greeting.
Reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity, DO, by Virtue of the Powers vested in me, constitute and appoint you to be Major in the Regiment under my Command. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Major by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging: And I do strictly charge and require all under your command to be obedient to your Orders, as Major . And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions, from Time to Time, as you shall receive from me, or any other your superior Officers, according to the Rules and Discipline of War. And this is your sufficient WARRANT-
G I V E N under my Hand this 10 th Day of
July 9. 1779
Nathan Tyler Col.

Dychaga
BOLLES, ASA,

(Baton River Nov. 19 1796
Solomon Bardsley, Zephaniel Harlow, and Bardsley John Harlow Thomas Gold Adam Lock and Gill and Joshua Thomas all of Capt. Wood Company and all Party's above are Discharged
By order of Genl. Spencer
John Fellows B 1
A True Copy, attest Nathl. Wood Capt

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17331
Keziah Bolles Wid. of Asa Bolles Sergt Rev War
Act: July 7, 1838
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 75
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Gallipolis, Ohio Oct 19th 1857 Hon Com ee of Pensions
Sir will you please inform me whether my father belonged to the Massachusetts Militia or to the Continental line in the war of the Revolution his name was Asa Bolles he was a Revolutionary in Berkshire County State of Massachusetts Yours Respectfully Joshua W Bolles

Asa Bowles - did not have in the Cente- nial Establish- ment
In a N.ville
— —

From the place of this seal were torn off the sergeant's warrant the discharge which are now appended to the new application of S. Ben. Common Pleas District of Massachusetts. C. Sedg.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, ss.
ON this Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord 1818 before the subscriber Samuel Putnam Esq. one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court personally appeared Asa Ballou aged Sixty two years, resident in the Town of Washington in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, in the said District—who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late 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." That he the said Asa Ballou enlisted in the month of June 1776 in Rochester in the State of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Nathl. Wood
of the 1st Regiment commanded by Col. Cary & continued to serve in the service of the United States in Connecticut until Nov. 13th 1776, when he was discharged at Boston in the State of Massachusetts - that in the month of Dec. 1778 he enlisted in the Town of Rochester in the company commanded by Capt. Joseph Parker & the 1st Regiment commanded by Col. Putnam - that he continued to serve until the Spring of 1779 at which time he was discharged - that he enlisted in the 1st Regiment commanded by Col. Putnam in the month of July 1779 at which time he was discharged - that he continued to serve in the said corps, in the service of the United States, until the Spring of 1781, in the company commanded by Capt. John Gibbs of Col. Gibbs Regiment & continued in Connecticut until the fall of the same year -
when he was discharged from service in Portsmouth, in the State of Rhode Island that during the whole of the time of his services in the United States he served more than two years on the main land. That he was in the battles of Sullivan & Spencer in the state of Rhode Island so called; - and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support;
And that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. except the warrant & discharge are herewith annexed. Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass
Asa Ballou
I Samuel Putnam Esq. one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Asa Ballou did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. given under my hand at Lenox the 6th May 1818 S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass
I JOSEPH WOODBRIDGE , Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within the County of Berkshire do certify and attest, that the abovenamed Samuel Putnam Esq. is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid and that the foregoing is his signature.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, the day and year first above written.
J. Woodbridge Clerk

Notice is hereby given that Joshua M. Bolls of Farmington in the County of Litchfield is appointed Overseer of Hiziah Bolls of Farmington for one year from the 20th day of March 1839 for the purpose of enabling him to act for her in obtaining a Pension from the United States - Dated at Farmington this 19th day of March 1839
Benedict Cattle Hester Beach Darius Wilson
} Selectmen
I Andrew Abernethy of the town of Farmington County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut being duly sworn deposed & say that the above is a true copy of the Record in the office of the Town Clerk of said town, of the appoint- ment of Joshua M. Bolls as Overseer of Hiziah Bolls & that the said Joshua is now the legal overseer of said Hiziah. And that I am the Town Clerk of said town & as such have the custody of the Records of said town (Dated at Farmington this 4th day of April A.D. 1839)
Andrew Abernethy Town Clerk
State of Connecticut Litchfield County ss Farmington On this 21 st day of April A.D. 1839 personally appear- ed Andrew Abernethy Esq. the Town Clerk of said town who is to me well known & who is entitled to credit who subscribed the foregoing deposition in my pre- sence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me Abijah Cattle Justice of Peace

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, } ss. Litchfield. LITCHFIELD COUNTY,
I Geo. C. Woodruff Assistant Clerk
of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Ebenezer Fuller Esq. on the 11 th day of April last was a
Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds . And that his commission was dated on the 29 th day of May A. D. 1838 and will expire on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1839 and that the preceding signa- ture which purports to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this
5 th day of July A. D. 1839
Geo. C. Woodruff Assistant Clerk
Appointment of Garrison

4639
Ana Bolles
Chas Sedgwick Leroy Miss

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Asa Pills, Berkshire County, Mass -  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? no 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? no 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? no 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
The declarant must be made before a Court of Record, as required by the Regulations.

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? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? 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? ————— Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? ————— 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? ————— 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? 2 —————
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.
under Act 18 Med 1818  It is advisable for him to procure his declaration, with all the documents which accompany the same and transmit the same with his amended declaration under the act of June 7, 1832. Possibly H. D. Bangs Esq. Secy of the State of Mass may be able to furnish evidence of the claimants services.

Mr. Oct 64
Keziah Bolles Church Museum of History Washington City D.C.

Uthsville Conn Sept 30 th 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq,
Sir,
On the 3 rd inst e a certificate of Pension was issued in favor of Elizabeth Boller of Farmington Conn, since which she has died, not having drawn her money. Thro' mental imbecility she was, when application was made for a Pension, incompetent to act, and the Certificate of the Pension is "Payable to Joshua W. Boller her Overseer" who is one of her children. Can the Overseer now draw the arrears? If I receive no reply to this communication I shall presume that he cannot, & that all her children must execute power of Attorney. It occurred to me that possibly the Overseer might still draw the arrears, the Pension being payable to him, and thus save the trouble & expense of obtaining the authority of the other children, which will be considerable as they reside in different States.
Respectfully Yours,
Geo. C. Woodruff

Copy of Statute Law de Criscent

"An act providing for the care & government of Idiots, Lunatics & Spendthrifts"
"Sect 6. The selectmen shall from time to time carefully inspect the management & conduct of all persons residing in their respective towns; & if they find any person by idleness gaming intemperance, debauchery, mismanagement, or bad husbandry likely to spend & waste his estate or her estate, to be reduced to want, & to become chargeable to the town they or a majority of them shall appoint some proper person to be his or her overseer; to advise, direct & order him or her in the management of his or her business; which appointment shall be under the hands of the selectmen specifying the cause & the time for which the appointment is made not exceeding three years & shall be set upon the sign post in said town, and a copy thereof shall be lodged with the town clerk of the town; & such selectmen shall have power to remove such overseer for neglect of duty or mismanagement in his trust & to appoint another in his place; & no person under the appointment of an overseer shall be capable of making a contract without his consent"
"Sect 7. It shall be the duty of the overseer to superintend the management of the estate & concerns of such person & to restrain him or her from imprudent contracts & from wasting his or her estate & to assent to all contracts & dispositions of his or her property, necessary for a proper management of his or her concerns & the support of such person or his or her family"
Then follows the provisions of the Statute relative to reaching the appointment or reformation, & in relation to further proceedings in case of no reformation & refusing to submit to the authority of the overseer & providing that in certain cases 2 justices of the peace may authorize the overseer to take his or her family & estate under his care

"Sect 8. It shall be the duty of such overseer to make out a true & perfect inventory of all the estate of such person both real & personal & deposit a copy thereof in the office of the town clerk. That such overseer shall have power to use & manage the estate in such manner as he judges will be for the best interest of such person; to collect & pay his or her debts; & to institute suits for that purpose; - to apply the income & avails of his or her estate to support him or her & his or her family; & when necessary to sell all or part of his or her personal estate."
Then follows provision for selling real estate; removal of overseer for misconduct & appointment of another & continuance of the disability of the person over whom an overseer had been appointed after vacancy in the office of overseer.
State of Connecticut
Litchfield County } ss Litchfield July 11 th 1839
I Origen S. Seymour Clerk of the County Court of the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing extracts are copied from the Public Statute Laws of the State of Connecticut & contain the whole Statute Laws of said State in relation to the powers & duties of Overseers of Idiot's Lunatics & Spendthrifts.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 5 th day of July 1839
Origen S. Seymour Clerk.

I Jonathan Chapel of Washington in Berkshire County in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty four years testify say, that I was well acquainted with Asa Bolles late of said Washington deceased. That the said Asa Bolles died at said Washington, on the tenth day of June in the year eighteen hundred & thirty four, while milking his Cow in a shed near his House. I was called soon after he was found & assisted in carrying him into his House & was present at his funeral. I lived near him & at the time of his death he was said to be a Revolutionary Prisoner. I am unable to recollect the date of his death with exactness from the singular circumstances attending it as above stated. As for further I say not Jonathan Chapel
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Berkshire ss. Issue of July 2 d 1839. Then Jonathan Chapel above named made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, and I certify that I am well acquainted with said Chapel & know him to be a man of truth & a credible Witness. — Before me
Geo. J. Tucker Justice of the peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Berkshire ss.
I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Judicial Courts within & for said County Certify that George J. Tucker Esquire is a Justice of the peace in & for said

County duly Commissioned & qualified As such, that full faith & credit are sought to be given to his acts & assertions done in that capacity, & that the foregoing signature & purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas this second day of July 1839. W. Sedgwick Clerk

5747
ct July 10
July 7. 1838.
Reginald Ballou ms. of Asa
J. P. Williams Esq. Commr of Pension Washington D.C.
FREE

Litchfield July 5 th 1839 J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
I enclose you Rebekah Brolas application for a Pension with the evidence etc., by her Grossman. Also as directed in yours, of the 28 th Feb y last the evidence of the overseer's appointment & a copy of so much of our Statute Law as related to the powers & duties of overseers. It may appear on examination that her husband served after the marriage, if such should be the case, they would of course prefer a pension under the act of 1836
Please send her certificate if granted to me
Respectfully Yours,
Geo. C. Woodruff

Keziah Bolles - wid 8
Asa born 1838
Dear Geo L. Whitney, Commissaire of Pensions Washington D.C.