Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18721, John Bly, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
76.9
Bly, John.
S. 18721
Carded
CONTENTS

225-7 Vermont
John Bly
Lyndon in the State of Vermont (was a private) in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg t commanded by Col. Hitchcock in the R. Island less for more than 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars 62 1/2 per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of November 1832 and sent to Amos Paine Danville Vermont
6 mos to 4th of Sept. 1832 120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Mch 1833 40.00 $160.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c uffield Clerk Book D Vol. 4 Page 48

John Bly's Declaration
N o 3013
P o

State of Vermont } ss. District and County of Caledonia
On this 23 d day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. Benj. F. Dunning Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia now sitting John Bly, aged seventy five years very nearly, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions 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.
That at Cumberland in the State of Rhode Island his then place of residence in the month of May 1775 he enlisted in the Rhode Island troops for the term of eight months in the company of Cap. John Angel, L t Cogshell Olney, Ensign Stephen Olney, in the Reg t of Col. Dan t Hitchcock. L t Col. Cornell, was stationed at Roxbury near Boston until after the battle of Bunker hill. at S d Roxbury on the day of that battle afterwards at Prospect Hill and was there stationed until he was discharged which was on the 31 st of December 1775.
That at said Cumberland in the fall of year 1776 he enlisted Rhode Island troops for the term of three months in the company of Cap. James Williams L t Bacon Ensign Asa Whipple. The Reg t was stationed at different places and is not confident as to the Col's name thinks it was Col. Cook. was stationed at Newport and the vicinity until after the British came into Newport Harbor. He is not confident as to the time of his enlistment but he knows that he had served out his three months except seventeen days when the British came into Newport at that time retreated up the Island and there remained and crossed over at Howlands ferry and there remained until his time was out. On his way home crossed the Way to Bristol and there found a company of his townsmen stationed at said Bristol under command of Cap. George Pack. he was solicited by S d Cap. Pack to take the place

of one Stephen Whipple a Sergeant in said Company who had gone home, that he did accordingly enter said Company and served as a Sergeant for the term of two months and was stationed at said Bristol - this service was in the winter of 1777
That at the end of said two months service he returned home to S. Cumberland and in a few days after his return he was drafted for one month and was stationed in the Company commanded by L t Thompson at Warwick and there served to the end of said month.
That at said Cumberland in the month of June 1777 he enlisted in the Rhode Island troops for the term of nine months in the Company of Cap t Reuben Ballou, L t Jacob Belknap 2 d L t Benj. S. Walcott, Ensign Simeon Dexter, in the Reg t of Col. Archibald Crary - L t Col. Toppam, Major James Williams marched to Bristol R.I. and was there stationed until fall and then went over to Siverton and Spencer's expedition remained at Siverton until that expedition was abandoned then returned to Bristol where he remained until the end of his term and was discharged on the 16 th day of March 1778
That at said Cumberland on the 16 th of June 1778 he enlisted in the Rhode Island troops for the term of nine months in the Company of Cap t Caleb Barr, Ensign Simeon Dexter in the Reg t of Col. Toppam, L t Col. James Williams - marched to Providence and was there stationed a short time - from thence to a place called Updyke's Newtown South of Greenwich - where he remained about one month - afterwards with about thirty men under Ensign Dexter at a place about two miles north easterly where he remained about six weeks - from thence to Siverton at Howland's ferry where the Reg t assembled together - from thence crossed on to the Island and was at a place called Butts hill was transferred to the advance guard - a select corps under the command of Col. Lawrence - a Frenchman for L t Col. name not recollected - Talbot, Major - followed the British down near the British lines there remained until the night of their retreat - retreated back several miles - about sunrise the enemy attacked the out Sentries - continued to

retreat for several miles, skirmishing on the way - at a hollow between Butts hill and Turkey hill was the principal engagement - in which engagement he was - the next day retreated off the Island crossed at Howland's ferry, and was stationed about two miles east of the ferry with a sergeant and eight men to guard a store of provision and there remained about two months - then returned to his reg t near Howland's ferry - from thence the Reg t went down towards Seacornet for Winter quarters - he was stationed near Seacornet point and there remained during the winter - quartered in private houses - until discharged which was the 16 th March 1779
Was born in Cumberland Rhode Island the 9 th day of August 1757 has no record of his age - Resided at Cumberland and in that immediate vicinity until the year 1799 when he removed to St. Johnsbury Vt e where he remained about two years and then removed to Lyndon Vt e his present residence where he has since resided. He never received a written discharge.
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.
John Bly
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Before Benj D. Daming Judge of Probate
I Stephen Dexter of Danville in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont depose and say that in the time of the revolutionary war I resided at Cumberland in Rhode Island - that in the time of said war, I was well acquainted with John Bly who has made the foregoing declaration and who then resided in said Cumberland. In the year 1775 I was in the eight months service at Roxbury & afterwards at Prospect Hill in the Reg t of Col. Hitchcock - I well recollect that S r John Bly was in the service at the same time and in the same Reg t but in

a different company - as to the time on which he entered or left the service I cannot particularly state - I have no doubt that he served as he states
Stephen Dexter
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid (Before) Benj. F. Deming Judge of Probate
I Asquier Aldrich of S. Johnsbury in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont depose and say - That I resided at Cumberland in the State of Rhode Island in the time of the revolutionary war - that at that time I was well acquainted with John Bly then of S. Cumberland who has made the foregoing declaration. That I served in the Rhode Island troops in the Regt. of Col. Archibald Crary for about nine or ten months and as near as I can state as to time from the spring of 1777 to about March 1778 - That I well recollect that John Bly aforesaid served as a soldier in the same Regt. he enlisted as I understood for nine months and I believe he served the whole of that time. I further depose and say that in the year following I was in the Regt. of Col. Tappan and served for a year or more in said Regt. I recollect that the S. Bly was a soldier in the S. Tappan's Regt. during the year last named. I think that he enlisted in S. Tappan's Regt. for nine months in the service last named and I believe he served that term.
Asquier Aldrich
Sworn to and subscribed this 24 th day of July A.D. 1832.
(Before) Benj. F. Deming Judge of 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 said Court that Stephen Dexter and Asquier Aldrich who have subscribed and

sworn to the foregoing affidavits are residents, the former of Danville and the latter of St. Johnsbury, both in the County of Caledonia - that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Amos Paul Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Bly for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 24 th day of July A.D. 1832.
Amos Paul Register

3013.
Served 33 months,
$80. per am.
Amos Paul Dandlle cpt.

BRIEF in the case of John Bly of Lyndon in the State of Vermont (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before a Judge of the Court of Probate then sitting  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy five 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 1775 8 Private Col: Hitchcock . R. Island   1776 3 do Col: Cook do   1777 2 Sergeant Capt: Geo. Peck do   " 1 Private Lt: Thompson drafted   June " 9 do Col: Arch d Crary R. Island   June 1778 9 do Col: Tompson do   33.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None of importance  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Cumberland R. Island  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, or by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are correct in form and authentication 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Wm Gordon Examining Clerk.

all mail W. Barron W. Comm. Mol.
to Mr. Boston Mass
to
Being kept
18 721 INVALID.
File No. _____
_____
_____
Act: _____
Index: Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Feb. 1891 F. C. Brownell N.Y. Herald B. N.Y. City.
Aug. 1891 70 Washington St. Harv.
Jan. 14. 1897 History Charles C. Embury Corr Inv. 15.298f also Feb. 3/97
March 20-1900 - A. Malden & Bly - busk Apr. 11-1903 - King Francis P. Killeney

March 21, 1900.
Nashua, New Hampshire:
Dear Sir:
Please furnish me with what information you can relative to one John Oly a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He was a resident of Rumbald R. D. when he enlisted.
Yours respectfully,
Waldo H. Oly.

NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE BOSTON HERALD,
N. Y. HERALD BUILDING. HERALD SQUARE.
New York, Jan 24 1895
Hon. William Lochren, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I am desirous of obtaining information concerning my great grandfather, John Bly, who served through the War of the Revolution and drew a full pension of $96.- per annum, until his death, which occurred in Lyndon, Vt. March 23, 1840, at the age of 87. I think he enlisted from Cumberland, R. I. but the records of that state

am so incomplete that I am unable to establish the fact. I should like, if possible, to get copies of the records showing time and place of enlistment, length of service, etc. in short any evidence which led to the granting of his pension. Any response attendant upon this I shall, of course, be pleased to meet.
Very Respectfully F. E. Bowworth.