Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22947, Seth Didson, Mass. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. Privateer
or Didson, Seth Ditson
No. 22947
Bridget
CONTENTS
[Lined area for entries]
[Lined area for entries]

2
Massachusetts 878
Bridget Hudson widow of Seth Hudson dec?
who died on the 22 January 1822 of Middlesex in the State of Mass ts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg t commanded by Col l Jackson in the Mass ts . line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of - 80 - Dollars ~ Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of May 1837, and sent Col l Adams Chelmsford Mass ts .
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $480.00 Semi-ann l . allowance ending 4 Sept. 40.00
$520.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d . }
Recorded by W m Addison Clerk, Book 4. Vol. Page 48

copied for J. Varium - see letter Sept. 23. 1834
Oct 13. 1820 Cambridge Mass. Nathan Dyer sent to Abraham Dyer
15011 Massachusetts Seth Dison
of Draught in the state of Massachusetts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson of the Massachusetts line, for the term of Three Years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 7 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of Sep 1819 and sent to Samuel Dana Esq. Groton Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819  135.43
Semi-ann. all'ce ending Mar. 1820  48.00
16 Mo. 28  $183.46 30  $183.46
{ Revolutionary claim } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
War P Continued

187
Seth Peterson
15011
[Faint handwritten text, possibly "Barnesville"]
[Faint handwritten text, possibly "Can"]
[Faint handwritten text, possibly "187"]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1820
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Sett Ditson resident in Chelseaford in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 15011, now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Sett Ditson late a Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,”
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
1 chain 10 tea kettle 25 7 tubs 33 $ 0.68 Sett Ditson mark
And said Sett Ditson says that he served six years and six months as a private soldier in the war of the Revolution, three years of which time he served in Capt John Holiston company in Col Henry Jackson, Regt of Infantry as set forth in his declaration now on file in the War office.
And said Ditson further says that his family consists of himself aged sixty eight years, and

his wife Bridget aged sixty two years, that he is wholly blind of one eye and so lame that he cannot walk a step without two canes, and wholly unable to do any kind of business and has no means of supporting himself and wife excepting the labour of his wife and his pension.
Pett his + Dition " mark

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Mined , a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
4 I, Seth Ditsou do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, 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 eighteenth 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. So help me GOD.
Seth Ditsou mark
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Seth Ditsou took and subscribed the aforeswritten Oath before me,
Stephen Mined Judge of said Court.
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record 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 sixty eight units
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20th day of July 1820.
Attr.
Abraham Biglow

Peter Didson -
Private
80 to 83
Jackson Mapact's
Regt.
Admitted

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
BE it remembered, that on this seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me, SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex, in the Commonwealth aforesaid) comes Seth Didson of Dracutt in said county of Middlesex and on oath declares, that he served in the war of the revolution against the common enemy six years and four months in the first eight months service at Cambridge under Capt. Peter Colburn, in Col. Brigs Regiment in the next went in the State service to reinforce the Continental Army, at Ticonderoga, in Capt. Tuck's Company, in Col. Jonathan Reed's Regiment, in the then enlisted into the Army upon the Continental establishment, for two years, in the Company of Capt. Dole Sumner in Col. Grafton's Regiment, called the Fourth, in the Massachusetts line, he joined the Army at Fishkill on the North river, and remained in Capt. Sumner's Company, until he completed his term of two years, which ended as well as he can recollect, in the fall of 1780 - He then went to sea in a private armed Ship called the Lark, Capt. Brown of Salem on a cruise of three months - On his return he was hired by the Town of Dracutt in Massachusetts to go into the Army, for three years upon the Continental establishment, he was mustered at Boston then proceeded to Fishkill in the State of New York, and was placed in the Company of Capt. John Miller in Col. Shepard's Regiment, the eighth in the Massachusetts line, Lt. Col. Mellen, in this Company he continued some time, and was then placed in the Company of Capt. Holliston in the same Regiment, commanded by Col. Henry Parkes where he did duty, until he received a discharge at Westport in Jan'y A.D. 1783, as he believes, this discharge he kept some time but has not seen it for several years last past - He is now sixty eight years old destitute of property, and
by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need of assistance from his country for his support. in presence of Daniel Richardson. Thus, made, subscribed, and sworn to, at Chelmsford in said county of Middlesex the day and year aforesaid. Seth Didson mark + Sam l Dana

To the Honorable JOHN C. CALHOUN, Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I, the undersigned Samuel Dana , Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being a Court of Record, duly established by Law, Do hereby certify, That on the seventh day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen  Seth Didson personally appeared and made and subscribed the declaration which is hereunto annexed.
from which it appears to me, that the said Seth Didson did serve in the War of the REVOLUTION, against the common Enemy, upwards of nine months. upon the continental establishment
Wherefore, in pursuance of the directions of an Act of Congress, made and passed the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," I have transmitted the said Declaration to you the said Secretary, that such further proceedings may be had in the premises, as the said Act may require.
In testimony of all which, I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand within the said Circuit, the seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen
Sam. Dana

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex County } ss.
On this seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, personally appeared before the Subscriber, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth aforesaid, Bridget Didson, a resident of the Town of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Mass. aforesaid, aged seventy nine years, who, being first sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836: - That she is the widow of Seth Didson, late of Danvers in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, who was a private in the Army of the Revolutionary War, as will more fully appear by Documents on file in the War-office of the United States, and as particularly set forth by the said Seth Didson in his Declaration, made by him to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress, passed on the 18th of March, 1818 - She further declares that she was married to the said Seth Didson on the twenty first day of June in the year 1777 - and that her said husband the said Seth Didson died on the twenty second day of January 1822 - and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed -
Bridget her Didson mark
Subscribed & sworn to by said Bridget Didson before me — J. P. C. May Prob.
And the said Judge of Probate does hereby declare his opinion, after examination of said Applicant & full investigation of the evidence exhibited, that she is a credible person and that the statements contained in her declaration are true & entitled to full faith & credit. J. P. C. May Prob.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I Isaac Reske Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth do hereby certify that Samuel P. May Esq. is the Judge of said Court duly commissioned & qualified, & that his signature here written on the foregoing Paper & also to the Certificate of the Deposition of Lydia Spalding hereto annexed are his genuine signatures; — I also certify that Joel Chadwick whose own proper signature is written to the affidavit to the Deposition of Deborah Blood & Henry Richardson hereto annexed is a justice of the Peace in & for said County of Middlesex duly commissioned & qualified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this twelfth day of December AD 1836 Isaac Reske Reg of Prob.

Briegit Dizon
Cheln/orl
Maßs.

The following are the names of the Children of my Father and Mother, Seth Didsen, deceased and Bridget Didsen, now alive, and residing with me at Chelmsford, to wit -
Joseph dead Sally> Sally dead Sylvia alive, and "the Deponent" Joseph dead Mary alive John alive Betsy alive Ruben alive Rhoda alive
There is no family Record, nor any other, as I am informed, by which I can give the time of the births of our family - My parents were not able to write, but I have always understood that the first Joseph was born while my father was in the Army in the year 1777, the exact time I am unable to state. I am their Third Child and now a widow -
Sylvia Spaulding
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Middlesex County, ss - January 20 th 1837 - Then the above named Sylvia Spaulding who is personally known to me as a person of truth and credit, and made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true Before me. Jacob Adams. Just Peace 777

Mr. Seth Deyon intend with me his intention of marriage with Bridget Goodhue, both of Dracut - Dated at Dracut June 21 st 1777 -
Entered per me William Hildreth, Town Clerk A true copy. Attest. Henry Richardson, Town Clerk of Dracut.
I Henry Richardson of Dracut in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts of lawful age depos- and say, That I am the Town Clerk of the Town of Dracut, and have the custody of the Records of said Town, and the above written Extract is a true copy of the Records of Publications of the Intentions of marriages in said Town of Dra- cut
Henry Richardson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex County. ss. On the 29 th day of November A.D. 1836 The above named Henry Richardson, (being well known by me as the Town Clerk of Dracut, as a man of truth and veracity) personally appeared and made solemn oath in due form of law, that the above written affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me. Joel Adams. Justice of the Peace for said County of Middlesex

Rev  WIDOW, &c.  em
File No. 22947
Bridget Didson widow of Seth Didson Dis Rev War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. A , Page 185
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Seth Kidson pri. 8 pp. mo. Mass. act 1818. To what time pr.??
Died 15 Jan. 1822/paid to that period
14
6.77.6
Jan 4. 1836.

Dec 206 Chelmsford Dec 16 1852
Maps. 4 July, '36 3d. Sec.
Annual
To the Hon. J. L. Edward
Commissioner of Pensions
Report to Hon. S. Hoar H.R.
Washington City
D. C.
Mr
Joseph

Chelsea June 14th, Dec. 15 - 1836
Dr. Sir,
I enclose the Application of Bridget Didson for a Pension, under the Act of July 4. 1836 - I have known her for many years and also was acquainted with her husband, and assisted him in obtaining his Pension, and after his decease I obtained the Arrears of Pension for his family, by taking a letter of Administration on his Estate - Mrs. Didson has not been married since the death of her husband, Seth Didson - The Marriage I attempted to prove by record, or witnesses, who were present, but I could not find either. I searched the Town Records of Dracut, where they were published and married, and found no record of their marriage, but found a record of their publication - I am told, The Minister who married them, left the place soon after their marriage and never made any return to the Town Clerk - There is no doubt, at all, but they were lawfully married, as Mr. Gideon Blood stated to me, that he saw Didson and his wife start on his father's horse to go to be married and saw them afterwards, and his brother David Blood attended the wedding. Didson went into the house again on the day after the marriage as Mr. Blood says - and I have no doubt of the truth of Mr. Blood's statement - He is quite a respectable and wealthy farmer - Didson and his wife had a numerous family, and she is now poor indeed - is supported entirely by her widowed daughter, who has but very little property indeed - not more than 300 or 400 Dollars - and unless Mrs. Didson can receive her Certificate soon, she will not, in all probability ever receive it, as she cannot long remain, being now confined to bed - I hope there will not be any difficulty on account the manner of spelling the name - It may be, that Didson was written Ditson , in his Pension Certificate, the name of the family has been written Ditson of late years, but I know them to be the same persons - I hope this case will receive early attention, and that a Certificate will be forwarded to me for her - I would refer to the Hon. M. Moore, M. C. from this State for information respecting myself, and am your Obt. Servt.
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comr. of Pensions
Jaeb Adams

Dear Sir,
Pension Office
Washington D.C.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page, mostly illegible.]

Mr Edwards As I send herewith the "Recn" of Seth Dutton It will be seen that he made it before me the 7 April 1818 soon after which it was sent to the War Department & in due course returned to me stamped, marked Deserted . I communicated it to the Selectmen of Tyngsboro, who have investigated the subject. They say that at an early period of the War Dutton did desert, but he was pardoned his offence, & returned home after that engage- ment had expired — That he again enlisted for 3 years and out his time & received an honorable discharge, this paper he c d not find, when he made his Recn but subsequently did find it the Selectmen bro th me & I sent it to the Pension Office about 4 mo. since, with Sam l Dethro's discharge & some other documents, the Recn probably met the discharge on its way to Washington, the discharge will be found in the Pension Office, upon a comparison with other cases which concerns himself entitled to be placed on the list. —
I also send the Papers of W m Dean, he has not sent the Certificates of the two Clerks of Essex & Middlesex which w d have cost him much labor to procure, & neither of them

can have evidence of their being Justices, only from a Shewing of their Com s . I have therefore ventured to recur from the usage so far in this case as to certify what my Clerk's ordinarily have done —
I also send the Papers of Josiah Davis I hope duly prepared — With esteem I am &c
Lam d Dana
July 22 d . 1819

Bridget Didson Cheam/ord Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County. I hereby certify that Bridget Diron or Diron of Chelseaford in said County, whose declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension as the widow of a revolution- ary soldier under the law of July 4 th 1836 was taken on or about the seventh day of December last at her residence in said Chelseaford before me, was at that time confined to her bed & too sick & infirm to go from home. Jan y 18 th 1837. J. P. P. Fay Notate for said County
N.B. In addition to an explanation of the omission of a certificate of the inability to attend a regular court made in a N.B. under a certificate for Anna Webber accompanying this, I would remark that the administra- tion of the oath & the examination of the party & of the evidence exhibited are the same whether taken in court or at the residence of the Declarant J. P. P. Fay

I Coburn Blood of Dracutt in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being Twenty Seven years of age, do depose and say that I have been acquainted with Seth Didsen and Bridget Didsen, his wife, now his widow, all my days. I knew them both when quite young and I will remember when they were married. The said Seth Didsen was in the Revolutionary Army, came home on a furlough and was published in Dracutt and married while on his furlough. They were published three times by the Town Clerk, by proclamation, in one day, and married in the evening of the same day. Mr. Didsen had my father's horse to carry his wife to the Rev. Mr. Davis, to be married. I saw them start off on my father's horse to go to be married, and my brother, David Blood, who is now dead, went with them to the wedding, and I have often heard my brother say he saw them married. The said Seth went back to the Army on the next day after his marriage, as I understood. The said Didsen, and his said wife always lived within about one mile of me, and they had a numerous fam- ily of children, many of whom are now living - and I think he died in January 1822 - and

was on the Pension list when he died, as I understood. The said Bridget Didsor, his widow has never been married again is now a widow living with her daughter in Chelsea, Mass. The Rev. Mr. Davis, who married them, soon after was dismissed, and left the Town, and I am told there is no Record of their marriage to be found, which is the case of many, who were married in this town during the Revolutionary war — The name of Didsor has been written Ditson of late years, and some times it is written one way, and some times the other — Coburn Blood
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex County, ss. On the 29th day of November A.D. 1836. The above named Coburn Blood (being well known by me as a man of truth and veracity) personally appeared and made solemn oath in due form of law, that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me — Joel Adams, Justice of The Peace for said County of Middlesex —

861. 3. Sec.
Bridget Didson widow of Seth
old case died in Jan y 16. 1822 32 To paid to that time 2 years pri.
80.
Allow $80 per ann. comm g 4 March 1831
Wm S. Hase Joel Adams Esq. W R Chelmsford Mass

I Lydia Spaulding of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being fifty years of age, do depose and say, that I am the daughter of Seth Didsen late of Dracut in this County deceased, and that my father, the said Seth Didsen died at said Dracut  Chelmsford on the twelfth day of January the year 1822 - and that he was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the time of his death - And I do further depose and say, that my mother, Bridget Didsen, the widow of said Seth Didsen is living with me in the Town of Chelmsford, that she has never been married since the death of the said Seth Didsen, and that she is now the lawful widow of the said Seth Didsen - I have often heard my father say that he came home on a furlough while in the Revolutionary War, as a private, and that he was married by the Rev'd Mr. Davis of Dracut, and then returned the next day into the Army
Lydia Spaulding
Mid 7 p: Dec 7 th 1836. Then personally appeared Lydia Spaulding, & made oath that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is true - And I do certify that the said Affiant is reputed to be a credible person, & I believe her statement to be entitled to full credib s -
J. P. P. Gay Wroby

State of Massachusetts, Middlesex County } ss. On this twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before the Subscriber, a judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the same being a Court of Record, Bridget Didson, a resident of the town of Shelburne in said County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy nine, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4. 1836. That she is the widow of Seth Didson, who was a private soldier in the Army of the Revolutionary War; that said Seth Didson entered the service of the United States as a volunteer from the town of Dracut in January 1777 for three years, and served under Capt. Sumner, in the Third Regiment, commanded by Col. Grayson, to the best of her knowledge and belief - She also thinks the said Seth Didson entered the service a second time, under a new engagement, and after the expiration of the three years, or first term of service; that he served over two years under his first engagement, having been absent a part of his term on a furlough, as she thinks - He was finally discharged in the year 1783, but that she is unable to say what battles, if any, the said Seth Didson was engaged in, or through what County he marched.
She further declares that she was married to the said Seth Didson in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, during the period of his first engagement, while he was at home on a furlough as she understood; She was married on the same day of the publication of their intentions of Marriage, which as appears by the record of the town of Dracut annexed to her first declaration, was on the twenty first of June in the year 1777 - That her husband the aforesaid Seth Didson died on the sixteenth day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two; and she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof annexed to my first declaration - The said Seth Didson was a Pensioner, under the Act of 1818, at the time of his death.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of April 1837 -
Bridget her Didson mark
Sworn to and subscribed with her mark by said Bridget Didson, at her residence in Shelburne, she being unable from bodily infirmity from attending Court - before me
J. P. P. Fay Probate
And the said judge does hereby declare his opinion after full investigation of the matter, that the statements of the declarant in her declaration are true. And he certifies that the said Applicant is a credible
J. P. P. Fay Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - I, Isaac Tiske, Attorney of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Bridget Didson for a pension; - I also certify that the signature of J. P. P. Fay whose own proper signature is hereunto shown written in the hand of said Court, is a true and correct copy of his own proper signature in matter to the deposition of said Court. I also certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Bridget Didson for a pension, as shown to me at my hand & seal, this 12th day of April 1837. Isaac Tiske Atty.

I Hannah Richardson of Dracut in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Widow, aged seventy nine years, depose and say. That I will remember being at Church one Sabbath day, during the Revolutionary War, and I there heard the Town Clerk, the late William Hildreth, read (who was my uncle) publick by proclamation three times in one day the intentions of Marriage between Seth Didsen and Bridget Goodwin, both of said Dracut, and I was told at the time, that they were married the same evening, by the Rev. Mr. Davis - Seth Didsen was then a private Soldier in the Revolutionary Army, and I understood he returned to the Army the next day after his marriage - The circumstances peculiar to their case, made a lasting impression on my mind - Didsen having been sick, to come home and be married on a furlough, and returning again so soon, created much talk at the time among the Towns people - Their first Child was born before said Didsen returned again, as I understood at the time - They had a numerous family of Children, and were always poor - I was not much acquainted with their Children, as the family lived remote from me.
Signed in my presence Lace Adams. JP. Pease.
Hannah Richardson her X mark

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex County ss.
On this thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1837 - The within named Hannah Richardson, she being personally known to me as a person of credit and respectability, personally appeared and made oath in due form of law, that the facts stated in the within written affidavit by her subscribed in my presence, were true
Before me. Joel Adams. Justice of the Peace for said County of Middlesex.

I Henry Richardson of Danville in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged twenty seven, do depose and say, that I am the Town Clerk of the Town of Danville, and that I have the custody and keeping of the Records of said Town, and that I have carefully examined the said Town Records and cannot find any record of the births of Seth Didson's children, I have only been able to find the Record of his publicament. The Town Records of this town are very imperfect during the Revolutionary War at which time said Didson was married as I understand, and there are but few records of births since the war, but a small portion of births are recorded, and a great many families are not recorded at all.
Henry Richardson Town Clerk of Danville.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex County. ss. On this 13 th day of Jan'y. A.D. 1837. The above named Henry Richardson personally known to me to be the Town Clerk of Danville and as a credible person personally appeared and made oath in due form of law, that the above written affidavit, by him subscribed was true.
Before me Jas Adams. Justice of the Peace.