USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Revolutionary pension declarations, Strafford county, 1820-1832; comprising sketches of soldiers of the revolution > Part 1
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Gc 973.34 N386t
Gc 973.34 N386t 1255301
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01076 3446
REVOLUTIONARY
PENSION
DECLARATIONS
Strafford County, 1820-1832
COMPRISING
Sketches of Soldiers of the Revolution
Compiled from the Court Records by
LUCIEN THOMPSON
Reprinted from the
GRANITE STATE MAGAZINE
for August, 1907
MANCHESTER, N. H .: THE RUEMELY PRESS, PRINTERS
1907
1255301
Revolutionary Pension Declarations
Strafford County, 1820-1832
On File at the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, but not indexed, in the Strafford County Court House, Dover, N. H.
Compiled by LUCIEN THOMPSON
N THE spring of 1907, Mr. William Lincoln Palmer* of Cambridge, Mass., and Mr. Lucien Thompson* of Durham, N. H., while engaged in looking up the ancestry of an old Oyster River family, had occasion to con- sult the Court Records of Strafford County, New Hampshire. Through the courtesy of William W. Roberts, Esq., clerk of the Superior Court, we were allowed the privilege of looking over the old books back to 1773 when Strafford county was separated from Rockingham county. We also looked over some of the hundreds of packages of impor- tant papers relating to the various terms of the courts. These papers were not indexed at all. While thus engaged we accidentally made a valuable find of a pack- age containing the "Revolutionary Pension Declarations of Revolutionary Soldiers" living in Strafford county between 1820 and 1832. No court official was aware of the existence of these papers. These declarations were made in the Court of Common Pleas or Superior Court for Strafford county, and contained a statement of their property and income, a declaration of their service in the Revolutionary War, and the number and names of the pensioners' or applicants' families residing with them and their ages and capacities to contribute to their support.
*Parties wishing further information in regard to these Revolutionary soldiers may corre- spond with either of the above-named parties.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
The court attached their opinion of the value of the property, etc., and sent a certified copy to the Secretary of War.
An abstract of the Revolutionary service of each one has been carefully prepared by Lucien Thompson, in some cases copying same in full, when quotation marks are used, otherwise only an abstract is given. Unless otherwise stated they all served in the New Hampshire line. In giv- ing names of those persons dependent on the applicant for support, etc., it should be kept in mind that the names of those children who did not live in his immediate family are not given.
The schedule of property given in the declaration has not been copied, as in each case it was of small amount and unimportant.
In some cases the occupation given was "laborer," and in some cases the occupation was not given. The writer has given the occupation except in those cases where he is called "laborer."
It is hoped that these Declarations will be of public interest, and that some persons in the other counties of this state, and other states, will hunt up the Revolutionary Pension Declarations of their counties and states and pub- ish them.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATION
Daniel Woodman (otherwise known as Daniel Martin) of Durham, formerly a slave in the Woodman family.
To the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Dover within and for the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, on the first Tuesday of July, 1820:
Dan Woodman, aged Seventy, resident in Durham in said County, comes into court and in pursuance of an act of Congress passed on the Ist day of May, 1820, brings with him, and in his proper person exhibits to said Court a
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
Schedule by him subscribed, containing his whole Estate and Income-his necessary clothing and bedding excepted -as follows: Sundry small articles of old household furni- ture estimated at $9.83.
his mark
DAN X WOODMAN.
And the said Dan Woodman in pursuance as aforesaid produceth to said Court the following oath by him duly taken and subscribed :- Viz.
I Dan Woodman do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for cer- tain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed the 18th of March 1818; 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 other income than what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed
his
DAN X WOODMAN.
mark
And the said Dan Woodman doth here in Court further declare on oath that he served in the revolutionary war as follows, viz .:
He entered on the 24th June 1777 in Capt. Rowell's company in Colo Geo. Reids Regt. New Hampshire line as a private Soldier & continued in in Said Regiment three years next ensuing said enlistment when he was regularly discharged.
That the date of his original declaration in order to obtain a pension is 19th Ap'l 1818 and the number of his pension certificate is 9617 :-- That his occupation is that of a labourer but am wholly unable to labour That the number and names of his family residing with him, and their ages and capacities to contribute to their support, are as follows, viz.
My wife Nancy aged Sixty four years & is unable to labour or support herself. Wherefore he prays the opinion of the said Court as to the value of the property contained in said schedule, and that the same, together with a copy of the premises be duly certified to the Secretary of War.
Sworn and declared before the said Court the fourth day of July 1820
his DAN X WOODMAN mark
Attest A. Peirce, Clerk.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STRAFFORD SS.
At a Court of Common Pleas holden at Dover within and for the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, on the 4th day of July 1820 before Daniel M. Durell, Esquire, Chief Justice, and Valentine Smith and Samuel Quarles, Associate Justices of said Court.
The aforesaid schedule and oath and the above declaration duly sub- scribed and sworn by the said Dan Woodman having been by him exhib- ited in person, and presented to the Court, and the same being seen and considered, it is the opinion of said Court that the value of the property contained in said Schedule is Nine dollars eighty three cents. Wherefore the Court order that a copy of the premises, together with the proceed- ings thereon be duly certified to the Secretary of War.
Attest, A. Peirce, Clerk.
ABSTRACTS OF REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS.
PETER AKERMAN of Rochester, N. H .; aged 81; dated February 5, 1829; no family. Service: enlisted for one year in December; 1775, in Mass., in the company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wentworth, Poor's Regiment; served until February, 1777; discharged at Morristown, New Jer- sey; wounded in the arm; he was then receiving an Invalid Pension of five dollars per month.
JOSEPH BEAN of Gilmanton, N. H .; farmer; aged 88; dated September 1I, 1821; wife Hannah, aged about 52; no children living with him, or able to support him. Ser- vice: Enlisted on or about September 8, 1776, in Capt. Timothy Clement's Company, Col. Pierce Long's Regi- ment, served until September 8, 1777; discharged at Still- water, N. Y.
SERGEANT JAMES BURNHAM of Somersworth, N. H .; carpenter; aged 74; dated February 9, 1829; wife, -. Service: Enlisted spring of 1775 in Capt. Benj. Titcomb's Co., Poor's Regiment, for eight months; immediately re-en- listed for one year, same company and regiment; discharged about February 1, 1777 at Morristown, New Jersey; rank during the whole service Sergeant. Afterwards served as Ensign in the service at West Point for the term of three months in 1780.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
HENRY BUZZELL of Middleton, N. H .; farmer; aged 65; dated February 5, 1825; son Jacob Buzzell. Service: Enlisted in 1775 for one year in Capt. John Brewster's Co .; Long's Regiment; discharged at Stillwater, N. Y., at expi- ration of term of enlistment.
MAJOR JAMES CARR of Somersworth, N. H .; husband- man; age 73; dated February, 1821; wife 62, lived with his son. Service: enlisted in 1775 as Lieutenant; in 1776 pro- moted to Captain & before the close of War received a Major's Commission, and remained in the army until the close of the war. He was then receiving a pension. (Cer- tificate No 6974) under his original declaration of April 17, 1818.
JOSEPH DANIELS of Barrington, N. H .; aged 72; dated November 26, 1823; wife aged 82. Service: Enlisted in August, 1776, in Capt. John Brewster's company, Long's Regiment; discharged August, 1777, at expiration of term of enlistment. "And that I served previous to that time as stated in my former declaration."
DANIEL DAVISON of Guilford, deceased invalid pen- sioner of the Revolution, died July 4, 1832, leaving a widow Abigail. Affidavits dated August 15, 1832. He married Abigail Quimby March 18, 1822. Service not stated. (Application for widow's pension.)
JOHN DAVIS of New Durham, N. H .; aged 69; dated February 4, 1829; "Declaration in order to be restored to the pension list under the Act of March, 1823. Service: Enlisted as Marinor for one year, October 16, 1779 at Kittery in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on board the ship Ranger commanded by Capt. Thomas Simpson, she being on the continental establishment, that he con- tinued to serve in the said vessel until she was captured, and did not get exchanged and return home till about the first of Sept. 1780-that his name has been placed on the
8
REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
pension list and dropped therefrom on account of his prop- erty." (His property now reduced in amount, etc.)
BENAIAH DORE of Milton, N. H .; age 64. Service: Enlisted in September or October 1781, in the District of Maine, in Capt. Fuller's company, 4th Mass. Regiment, commanded by Col. Shepard; "that he marched to West Point in the State of New York, and continued at that station until the last of August or first of September 1783 when being sick, he was discharged from the service at that place-that his name has been placed on the pen- sion list, and dropped therefrom on account of his property."
ABRAHAM DRAKE of New Hampton, N. H., deceased Pensioner of the Revolution. He married Nancy Smith, November, 1815. Rev. Simon Dana, New Hampton, signed affidavit to that effect August 20, 1832. Mr. Drake died March 4, 1832.
MOSES FERREN of Eaton, N. H .; aged 65; dated Sep- tember 6, 1820; wife aged 53, son Norris aged 17, daugh- ter aged 15. Service: "Enlisted under Capt. Sherman, Col. Baldwin's Regiment, Massachusetts line in 1775 for one year but before the time expired reenlisted for during the War & served under Capt. Robinson, Capt. Cherry & Capt Rowell in different Regiments and was honorably discharged at the close of the War .- he was at the retreat from Ticonderoga at the Capture of Gen'l Burgoyne-and with Gen'l Sullivan in the Indian Country-he was in the battle of Monmouth & at the Capture of Cornwallis."
Under his original declaration of April 29, 1818, he was receiving a pension (pension certificate no 9596).
JOHN GAGE of Strafford County (probably of Somers- worth); carpenter; aged 76; dated February 16, 1826; wife mare than 70; children had all left him. Service: Enlisted at Somersworth for nine months in June, 1775, in Capt. Jonathan Wentworth's Company, Col. Poor's Regiment;
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
discharged in April, 1776. He had not previously applied for a pension.
JOHN GARLIN of Wakefield, N. H .; farmer; aged 66; wife 52, four sons, Nathaniel 14, Franklin 12, Jeremiah 8, Josiah 6 and one daughter Hannah aged 10 years. Declar- ation dated February 16, 1827 Service: Enlisted for three years, May, 1777, in Capt. William Rowell's company, Sec- ond Regiment commanded by Col. Hale; discharged at Stillwater, N. Y., at expiration of term of service. His name has been placed on the pension list and dropped therefrom on account of his property.
CAPT. BENJAMIN GILMAN, EsQ., Tamworth, N. H.
We the undersigned Selectmen of the Town of Tamworth in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire certify that we are, and for a long time have been, well acquainted with Benjamin Gilman Esquire of said Tamworth, an applicant for a Pension from the United States, that we are well acquaintud with his character-That he has for many years Represented the Town of Tamworth in the New Hampshire Legis- lature-that he has ever maintained a fair and unblemished character for truth and veracity and that the most unlimited confidence may be placed in his declarations and that we have frequently heard it remarked and it is generally understood and believed in the neighborhood and Town where he lives, that he rendered services to his Country as a Soldier a part of the time during the Revolutionary war.
H. W. STAPLES, DANIEL Q. BEAN, ENOCH REMICH, Selectmen of Tamworth for A. D. 1832.
August 2d, A. D. 1832.
SILVANUS HALL of Tamworth, N. H .; Carpenter or Joiner; aged 64; wife aged 66; Declaration February 8, 1821 and September 17, 1824. Service: Served one year in Capt. Bradford's company, Col. Bailey's Regiment, Mass. line 1776-1777; Also three years in Col. Bassett's Regiment, Mass. line "except what time I was detached for one of Gen'l Washington's life guard and received a discharge which has been worn out"; dated March 13, 1780.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
The last service was performed in the years 1777, 1778 and 1779.
EPHRAIM HAM of Dover,* N. H .; aged 67; Declaration February 14, 1825. Service: Enlisted for three years April, 1777, Capt. Fred'k Bell's Company, Col. Hale's Regiment; discharged April 30th, 1780, at West Point, N. Y. That his name has been placed on the pension list, and dropped therefrom on account of his property which has been impaired.
WILLIAM TWOMBLY (of Dover), in support of Ephraim Ham's Declaration, stated that he (Twombly) served in Revolutionary war from 1776 to spring of 1780, Second New Hampshire Regiment, and that Ephraim Ham served in same regiment with him Spring 1777 to Spring 1780, etc.
ENOCH HAYES of Tamworth, N, H., Affidavit as to his character for the past twenty years by his pastor, Samuel Hutchins of Tamworth, who added that he had "no doubt that he (Enoch Hayes) served in the United States Service as he has set forth in his declaration, etc., dated Aug. 23, 1832."
Affidavit August 18, 1832, church committee, Select- men & Town Clerk stating Enoch Hayes had lived in Tam- worth "Above thirty years & has sustained an unblemished moral character during that period so far as we know and seen or heard."
LIEUT. THOMAS HAYES of Gilmanton, N. H .; aged 72; no family living with him, declaration September II, 1823. Service: Commissioned as Lieutenant in April, 1780, Capt. Moses Leavitt's company, Col. Scammell's Regiment for nine months; served until the last of Jan-
*Wentworth Genealogy, Vol. 1, page 166. Ephraim Ham (5), born in 1760, lived on his father's homestead; he was a soldier in the Revolution, was selectman of Dover five years; married Hannah Kelley in 1785. He died in 1847. Son of Ephraim (4) and Lydia (Ham.) Ham. (For Ham see "Ham Family," N. H. Hist. and Gen. Register, 1872.) McDuffee, in History of Rochester, Vol. 1, page 70, gives the following in Col. Reid's Regiment (from Rochester) : "Ephraim Ham Engaged April 10, 1777. Discharged May 1, 1780."
11
REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
uary, 1781; discharged at West Point, N. Y., at expiration of term of service.
NATHANIEL HAYFORD of Tamworth, N. H .; aged 68; wife 52; declaration September 4, 1823. Service: Enlisted for three years in the fall of 1777, Capt. Scott's company, Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, Mass. line; discharged fall of 1780 at the heights above Morristown, New Jersey, that his name has been placed on the pension list, and dropt therefrom on account of his property.
JOHN HOLMES of Strafford, N. H .; aged 65; farmer; wife 40; daughter 7, "a domestic girl aged about seventeen years and a domestic boy aged about eleven years." Declaration dated February 4, 1829. Service: "Enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary army in March, 1781, as a private in Captain Fogg's company in the second New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Read on the Continental establishment, and continued under the immediate command of Capt. Fogg untill he was promoted and succeeded in the command by Capt. Frye-that he served at White plains, near New York in the campaign of 1781 & in the autumn marched to Albany and Skenectady -that in the year 1782, he marched up the Mohawk river & remained on that frontier to protect the Inhabitants of that frontier from incursions of the Indians, & from thence was marched to Newburgh in the State of New York, where the Army took up its winter quarters-and at the conclusion of the Revolutionary war was discharged from the army, near West Point, on the 25th December, 1783."
ISRAEL HUCKINS of Barrington, N. H .; aged 60; wife 60; Declaration September 8, 1820. Service: Enlisted for one year, August, 1776, Capt. John Brewster's company, Col. Long's Regiment; discharged at Stillwater, N. Y., in summer of 1777.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
SOLOMON HUTCHINS of Wakefield, N. H .; farmer; aged 69; wife 62; sons Solomon L. Hutchins (consumptive) 26 years of age who has a wife and two children (4 yrs. and I yr. old), son Asa Hutchins 18 years of age deaf & dumb. Declaration February 6, 1829. Service: "Enlisted for the term of one year in the month of October in the year 1777 at Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire as a marriner on board the United States Sloop of War Ranger commanded by Captain John Paul Jones on the Continental establishment-that he continued to serve in said vessel until some time in the month of October, 1778, when he was discharged from said service in Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire-that the said Solomon Hutchins again enlisted for the term of one year on the 27 day of October 1779 at Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire as a Marriner on board said United States Sloop of War Ranger commanded by Captain Thomas Simpson on the Continental Establishment-that he con- tinued to serve in said vessel until the 12th day of May A. D. 1780 when said vessel was captured by the Brittish at Charleston in the State of South Carolina-that he con- tinued in the service of the United States as a Marriner until he arrived in Portsmouth in the State of New Hamp- shire by land about the first of September A. D. 1780, when he was discharged at said Portsmouth."
AMOS LEAVITT of New Hampton, N. H .; aged 62; wife Dorothy aged 55; daughter Polly aged 16. Declar- ation dated February 8, 1821. (He was receiving pension, Certificate No. 10882, under Original Declaration of April 23, 1818.) Service: that he entered said service in Capt. Rowell's Company and Col. Hale's Reg. of the New Hampshire line sometime in the month of May "seventeen hundred and seventy seven and continued therein three years." (Additional Declaration September 10, 1827, en- listed in April or May, 1777, etc.)
JONATHAN LEAVITT of Conway, N. H .; farmer; aged 61; wife Elizabeth 47; children Mary 15, Betsey 13, Han-
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
nah 11, Ebenezer 10, Jonathan 8, David 5, Harriet one year and five months. Declaration dated February 7, 1821. Service: "As a fifer in the company commanded by Capt. James Norris in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Poor in the line of the State of New Hampshire on the Conti- nental Establishment as is more particularly described in my original declaration" June 1818 under which he was then receiving a pension (Certificate No. 14030).
JOSEPH MARSH of Gilmanton, N. H .; blacksmith, aged 75; resided with his son. Service: Enlisted for eight months in Capt. Philip Tilton's Company, Col. Poor's Regi- ment; after expiration of eight months, re-enlisted for one year in Capt. James Norris' Company in the same regi- ment; at expiration of time re-enlisted "for six weeks in the same company that his first enlistment in the company of Capt. Philip Tilton was in May 1775 that he continued to serve in said Corps until February 1777 when he was discharged from the service in Exeter in the State of New Hampshire."
JOHN MARSTON. (Declaration missing.)
I do certify that I am well acquainted with John Marston the signer of the accompanying declaration and I believe him to be a man of truth and has that reputation and I have no doubt as to the service performed as set forth in said declaration
PAUL WENTWORTH.
Strafford ss. Aug't 23d 1832. Sworn to Before me
GEO. F. MARSTON Jus. Peace.
August 23d, 1832.
SAMUEL MARTIN of Sandwich, N. H .; farmer; aged 65 wife 52, children Solon 14, Caroline 9, Marcia 7. Declar -. ation signed September 4, 1823. Service: Enlisted for one year on or about the middle of August, 1776, in Capt. Timothy Clements' company, Col. Long's Regiment; dis- charged in August 1777 at Stillwater, N. Y .- that his name has been placed on the pension list, and dropt there- from on account of his property.
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
SIMEON MASON, N. H .; farmer; aged 71; wife Abigail 67, invalid daughter Elmira W. Mason aged 21 years. He mentions a son William. He affirmed the declaration February 6, 1829, implying that he was a Quaker. Ser- vice: Enlisted for three years on April 6, 1777, in Capt. James Norris' Company, Col. Hale's Regiment. Served until March 10, 1780, when he was discharged in Reading, Conn .- that his name has been on the pension list and dropped therefrom on account of his property.
DAVID MORRISON of Alton, N. H .; yeoman; aged 65; wife Mary 63; daughter Isabel, 38, unmarried and an inva- lid. Declaration February 3, 1829, in order to be restored to the Pension List, having been dropped on account of his property. Former Pension Certificate No. 13886 dated July 8, 1819. Service: Enlisted for three years, February 14, 1781, Capt. Robinson's Company and was afterwards transferred to Capt. Potter's Company, Col. Read's Regi- ment. discharged December, 1783, near West Point, N. Y.
BENJAMIN MORSE of Moultonborough, N. H .; aged 75: farmer; wife Nancy aged 64, grand-daughter Mary Ann Morse aged 7; declaration dated January 28, 1830. Ser- vice: "Enlisted June 1775 at Roxbury, Mass., for six months in place of David Hill by permission of Captain Thomas Cogswell who then Commanded A Company of Infantry in ColonelLaomi Baldwin's Regiment" Mass. line. Served until December following being the time for which said Hill enlisted. Re-enlisted at Roxbury, Mass., for one year in Captain Thomas Miels' company in Col. Baldwin's Regiment," where he served until December, 1776. Re- enlisted for the winter following at Trenton, New Jersey, in the same company and regiment, where he served until spring; discharged at Peekskill, N. Y.
During the term that he was in service he was in the Battle of White Plains at Trenton-At the Battle of Princeton and at the Battle of Quibbleton-that his name
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS
has been placed upon the Pension list and dropped there- from on account of his property.
JONATHAN MORRISON of Tuftonborough, N. H. (Dec- laration Missing.)
Affidavit of five persons signed July 7, 1832, that Jonathan Morrison of Tuftonborough, N. H., served in the Revolutionary War the several periods of time, he has specified in his declaration in order to obtain a pension.
EDWARD B. MOULTON of Moultonborough, N. H .; farmer; aged 67; wife Anna aged 59, a cripple caused by rheumatism; declaration dated February 11, 1822. Service: "Enlisted at Hampton, N. H., sometime the first of May, 1775, Capt. Henry Elkins' company, Col. Poor's Regiment; served until the Ist of January 1776 and by request of Gen'l Sullivan continued in the regiment aforesaid in the Compy of Capt. Beal until the first day of March, 1776, when he was discharged at Cambridge, Mass. Re-enlisted in August, 1776, under Captain Prescott, Colonel Tasker's Regiment and served until January, 1777, and was dismised at Peckskill, N. Y .- that he was in the battle at White plains in 1776."
REUBEN MOULTON. (Declaration missing.)
I do hereby certify that Reuben Moulton the signer of the accom- paning declaration is a man of truth and varacity and has always (I believe) sustained that reputation .- & have no doubt as to the service he states he performed is true.
GEORGE F. MARSTON.
August 23, 1832. Strafford ss, Aug't 23d, 1832. Sworn to before me, PAUL WENTWORTH, Jus. Peace
GEORGE NICHOLS of Holderness, N. H .; farmer; aged 68; wife Susanna aged 63, daughter Martha aged 38, inva- lid; declaration made September 9, 1822. Service: "As a private in the Company commanded by Capt. Arch. Crary -Col. John Varnum's Regiment, Rhode Island line in the month of June 1775; and discharged in the month of June
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