Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5119, Richard Holbrook, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. H.
Holbrook Richard
R 5119
CONTENTS

No 37107 Richard Holbrook
NH
Act 7 June 1832

Declaration
State
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832 State of New Hampshire County of Coos ss - - -
On this 19 th day of September 1845 - personally appeared before Benjamin Hunking Judge of Probate for said County Richard Holbrook a resident of Stratford in said County of Coos aged Seventy Seven Years & eight Months also being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - - That in the year 1777 I removed with my parents to the Town of Stratford in the State of New Hampshire where I now reside - That on or about the twenty fourth of June AD 1779 a party of Hostile Indians came to the Town of Stratford aforesaid and took a number of Prisoners and plundered several Houses and carried some of the prisoners to Canada while some of the men got away within a few days afterwards the inhabitants of three Towns (viz) Stratford Northumberland & Lancaster held a meeting and agreed to make defence & finish the Fort which was previously begun they like wise chose officers Nathan Barlow was chosen by the People Lieutenant and Commander of the men there to work on the Fort then to be finished said Barlow continued to command and work on the Fort till it was almost finished and the said Lieutenant Barlow as soon as he was appointed over

called on all the People young and old that could handle a gun to be ready for Battle, provided the Indians should come again I was there all the time, our house not being but a few rods from the Fort and performed Military duty under the Command of Lieutenant Barlow and employed about the Fort & in Scouting parties as directed by the officers. — Captain Gilbert of the Congregational regiment arrived with a company of Men the latter part of July 1779 and finished the remaining part of the Fort Captain Gilbert brought to Strafford Lieut Montgomery he left Gilbert and the Men under his Command belonged to Col Hearn's Regiment Capt Samuel Paine was there from Lebanon N Hampshire in the year 1780
about the close of the year 1779 My Father John Holbrook received a Lieutenants Commission under the Authority of the State of New Hampshire and Nathan Barlow an Ensigns Commission at the same time. —
I continued to serve from that time under Lieutenant John Holbrook in Standing Sentry and going on Scouting parties during the year 1780 & 1781 except the Months of June & July of that year I was absent from the first Fort, — afterwards I returned to the Fort and continued under the same orders until June 1783 It being between three and four years Service — Furthermore there was various circumstances

which there occurred in the country with which I was fully acquainted that gave me reason to believe that Stratford Fort was the great cause of saving the country on Connecticut River from destruction from the ravages of the Indians. — — — — — He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his income is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State Richard Holbrook Sworn to and Subscribed } the day & year aforesaid
Benjamin Huntington Judge Probate
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier within the  the as he states
Benjamin Huntington, Judge Probate
I George A. Bossick Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Coos do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Holbrook for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this 19 th day of September A.D. 1845
Geo. A. Bossick Register of Probate

Hon James L. Edwards Commission of Pensions Washington

Lancaster Sept. 19 th 1845
Hon James L. Edwards
Sir Enclosed I send you the papers of Richard Stollbrook for a Pension you will find the application of David Stollbrook I believe properly authenticated, perhaps Sir you will wish to know why he has not apply d for a Pension before this time the reasons are, that he is a poor man living at the northern extremity of the united States , his Friends & relations live very distant from him, his brother David Stollbrook who now draws a Pension and was with him at the time of his Service removed from Shelburne soon after the close of the war to the eastern part of the State of Maine more than Three hundred Miles from this place, he convers d with me on the subject more than ten years since I told him if he could send & get the testimony of his brother I would assist him, he not being much acquainted with business neglected doing for some of years until now, he had a daughter removed to the State of Maine and there married his son in law has returned here and has furnished him with means which has enabled him to apply for a Pension he is a poor man and grew up to Manhood without obtaining much education he is a man of a strong mind with more than a usual portion of natural talent he is an honest man

working man and whose character stands high and is deserving the the bounty awarded to those who have faithfully served their country in times of peril & hardship that he served as he states I have no doubt and I have no doubt but but that he is as well entitled to the bounty of his country as any that are now on the Pension list was I not fully satisfied that he was entitled to a Pension I should not take any measures to assist him he is now very poor & needing the assistance of his country, his Father John Holbrook expended more than $1000 - in the time of the revolutionary war for which he has never received any remuneration if any one is deserving assistance from his country he is one of that class he is now almost 79 years old and has not long probably to continue in this world had he made application 20 years since he could have made more profit of his service, but there is no one now living but his brother and as his testimony is full in the case & his cooperation and some mps. of mine is so well attested that I think you will think the testimony sufficient to entitle him to a Pension you Sir have been always willing to award a Pension to those that you considered justly entitled

and who had faithfully served their country and I hope you will think this a case that will justify you in granting him a Pension, will you be so good as to favor me with an answer soon after you have examined the papers
Yours Respectfully
Reuben Stephenson

Ex'r.
OLD WAR.
No. 5119
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
Wolbrook
P.O.
Richard Wolbrook
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18____
Discharged: _____, 18____
Application filed: _____, 18____
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____

No 37107 Richard Holbrook
SL Let to Stephen Stephenson Ql. 23. 45. Hon. R. P. Doolittle Feb 6. 1846 60 (No 1) Aug 18/51.
act 7 June 1832

I do hereby certify that Michael Holbrook of this Town, We the undersigned have for many years been acquainted with him and know nothing to the contrary of his being a man of a good moral character, Truth and Veracity, and a man of a great memory. For a man of his age Stratford, Sept 28, 1845
C. W. Burland, B. A.,
I James M. Rice, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Coos, State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify that Marcus D. Johnson is a Justice of Peace, within and in said County that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Joseph Johnson Select Men of
Stratford
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 2nd day of September A.D. 1845.
James M. Rice Clerk.

Stratford Sept 20 th 1845 Then personally appeared the within named Elisha A. Barlow postmaster of Stratford and Joseph Johnson and David Root selectmen of said Stratford and made oath that the within affidavit by them subscribed is in their belief just and true Before me Marcus D. Johnson Just of Peace
This may certify that Richard Hartbrook of Stratford as I verily believe rendered valuable service at the Fort in Stratford for his country at the time of the revolutionary war the good of which is realized by the present generations and that the said Hartbrook and also Elisha A. Barlow Joseph Johnson and David Root are all men of truth and veracity M. D. Johnson. } Selectmen of Strat- ford and Just of the Peace

Sept 27 45
Dear James
ft. R. Holbrook
N.H.
Wadsworth 25th Sept
10
J. G. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
City
D.C.
Pension Office

Lancaster Sept 22 d 1845
Dear James L Edwards
See the enclosed certificate was omitted when the Pensive papers of Nath Holbrook were forwarded he requested me to forward it to you
Yours Respectfully
Reuben Stephenson
out paper Sept 25
2

I David Holbrook of Prospect County of Waldo & state of Maine - being of sound Mind and seventy nine years and six months old - Do testify and say. that I have in my possession a copy of a record of the doings of a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Lancaster North- -umberland and Stratford which bears date at Northumberland July 10th 1749 which copy brings to my mind a variety of particulars together with my Indefinite recollections of the circumstances which then and there took place the following facts to which I do testify and say that between the fifteenth and twenty fifth day of June 1749 a party of Indians came into the town of Stratford took several men Prisoners and plun- dered several Houses & carried some of the prisoners but some run away to Canada - and in consequence of which the above mentioned Meeting was called and at that time were chosen by the people then present the following Officers pro tem - Nathan Caswell capt - Nathan Banlow Lieut - and Dennis Stanley ensign - and chose Mag- -gonas M c Der to go to the General Court to get assistance at Exeter - at the above meeting Nathan Banlow was chosen to take charge of finishing the fort

which was begun previous to that time in the town of Stratford and also to take charge of the men as a commanding Officer pro tem - and this was in the fore part of July 1779 - and afterwards John Holbrook received a Lieutenants Commission and Nathan Barlow an ensigns Commission under the Authority of the State of New Hampshire Lieuten- ant John Holbrook being Commander of the fort till the Revolutionary War ended - said Lieutenan- t John Holbrook received his Commission about the close of the year 1779 Furthermore as soon as the said Nathan Barlow received his appointment he called on the Inhabitants of sd towns to Scout and guard the fort then finishing which was com- plied with - for the people were much terrified with fear lest the Indians should break in upon them again - I David Holbrook and Richard Holbrook responded to the call of Lieut - Barlow - our house being not more than four or five rods from the fort and we served under sd Barlow till John Holbrook receiv- ed a Lieutenants Commission from the Government in the Winter of 1779 - we continued to serve under Lieut Holbrook to guard and scout through the Winter 79 and 80 - and the above named Richard Holbrook continued in the same kind of service through the year 80 and Winter and Spring of 81 - in the month of June and July in 81 he was absent by the permission of his commanding Officer - and then returned to his Duty in the fort again until the War came to a close.

Furthermore I do testify say that he the the said Richard Holbrook was at that time of service a stout athletic young man and performed his Duty faithfully to the order of his Commander - and in consequence of the little Garrison and patriotism of those that kept it the towns below on Connecticut river owe them entire preservation from destruction by the Indians in their lives and property to the Garrison above mentioned had it not been for Stratford fort the Indians might have ransacked & plundered that whole region of country and might have laid every habitation in ashes at their will -
Witness W. H. Furniss Jonathan Moore
Deoria his X Noobrook Marks
Wards of July 23 1845 Personally appeared before me the Subscribed a Justice of the Peace within & for said County the above named  Deoria Deoria Noobrook & made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Charles Palmer Justice of the Peace
State of Mass
Wards of 3 William No. Furniss Clerk of the Judicial Court within & for said County certify that Charles Palmer is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned & qualified & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Supreme Judicial Court this 23 day of July A.D. 1845 - W. H. Furniss Clerk

STATE OF MAINE.
HUGH J. ANDERSON,
Governor of the State of Maine.
To all who shall see these Presents,
GREETING.
Know ye, That Jeremiah Grant of Prospect , in the County of Waldo , Esquire, whose name is borne upon the paper hereunto annexed, was, on the twenty fifth day of June , A. D. 1841, appointed and Commissioned, and on the twenty fifth day of Augusta , A. D. 1842, qualified as a Justice of the Peace, within and for our said County of Waldo . that he still continues to hold said office: _____
H. J. Anderson,
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 caused the Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed.
GIVEN under my hand at AUGUSTA, this twenty eighth day of July . in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty- five and in the seventieth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
BY THE GOVERNOR.
Wm B. Hartwell Depy, Secretary of State.

To whom it may concern we the undersigned citizens of the town of Prospect
Having been acquainted with Mr David Holbrook for many years take pleasure in saying that he has always been an man of sober life and conversation, and truth and veracity. And his moral character in every particular is beyond reproach. And although now about seventy nine years old his mental powers and faculties are remarkable sound for a man of his years and quite equal to common men of sixty and we should rely upon his memory in point of recollection and testimony with the most implicit confidence
Prospect July 22 d 1845
John Clark
Samuel S. Heazlett
An Ordained minister of the Gospel in the Free will Baptist order Selectmen of the town of Prospect
Ruth Litchfield Ellen C Grant John Harding Henry Seavey Ruth Litchfield
Citizen of the Town of Prospect in the

Waldo ss
Personally appeared before me the within named John Clarke Samuel S Heagan Nathaniel Littlefield Alden C Grant John Harding Eben S Severy and Peter Littlefield and made oath that the foregoing affidavit is true
Jeremiah Grant Pastor of the
Prospect July 22 d 1845

House of Representatives Jany 27. 1846.
Sir,
Richard Holbrook of Stratford, Coos County, N.H. has applied at your office for a pension for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. Will you please inform me of the situation of that application?
Respectfully Your Oblt Servt
R. P. Dinslap
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions.

Lancaster Coos County New Hampshire
May 9 th 1851.
Hon ble . James E. Heath, Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Sir
I have to inform you that I am requisted by Richard Hollerock of Stratford N.H. to solicit your favor to please to inform me what the prospect is of Richard Hollerock obtaining a pension for his services when a Boy in the war of the Revolution for from two to three years or about 3 years, under his Father Capt. John Hollerock at Stratford N.H. Fort, or Fort No. 6. or Fort Hollerock it was sometimes called. But Stratford Fort was the name it was generally known by, as it stood in Stratford N.H. on the Banks of the Connieticut River, and said Richard Hollerock now of said Stratford N.H. is about 83 years of age, and was then a Boy as aforesaid, and John Hollerock commanded the said Fort at that time and his said Son Richard served under him as above, And Sir, said Richard Hollerock informs me that he applied for a pension about 5 or 6 years ago, and that said Richard Hollerock's Declaration, and David Hollerock's affidavit, and accompanying papers of proof in his case was sent to Washington to Mr. Edwards by one Rufus Stephenson of Lancaster N.H. in the year 1845, and has never been since heard from as I am informed - Please Sir to examine said papers in his case and inform me how they stand, and to inform me if said pension can be granted to him by said proof or not, or if any additional proof is wanted to establish his claim thereto, please to inform me what is wanted or necessary in his case and I will try what can be done

in the same if I can, as Mr. Hollinack and family wishes me to do the business for him to try to obtain a pension for him for his said services as aforesaid if I can, and if the same can be allowed to him by you or not, you will please to inform me all about it soon and what to do in the case and how it now stands and what proof is in your office in the case, and what is wanted in the same &c. soon to me to Lancaster N.H. and you will much favor and oblige.
Very Respectfully
your obedt Servt Robert Mitchell