DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832
County of Grafton, State of New Hampshire
On this _____day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Daniel Colby, a resident of Canaan in the county of Grafton and state of New Hampshire, age 79 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 7 June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated to wit: that he enlisted as a minute man at Haverhill, Massachusetts in March 1775 in Capt. James Sawyer’s company in Col. Frye’s regiment Massachusetts Militia. That on the morning of the Lexington battle, the 19th April, he was called out and marched towards Lexington & continued in his march to Cambridge & was stationed at Cambridge till the day before the Battle of Bunker Hill, the sixteenth of June, when he hired James Pike to take his place, who was accepted & received as his substitute for the remainder of his term of enlistment as minute man which term in the whole was nine months. That previous to his going to Cambridge, he was called out & drilled in said company two days in each week for five weeks. That he served as a minute man at Haverhill & Cambridge two months & eight days in said company.
That he again enlisted at said Haverhill the last of June or first of July 1780 for the term of three months in Capt. Samuel Ayres’ company in Col. [Nathaniel] Wade’s regiment Massachusetts Militia. That he joined his regiment at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, then marched to Claverack, New York, the place of rendezvous, thence to West Point. That he fully served his said term of three months & was discharged.
That he again, the third time, enlisted in said [illegible] in Capt. Maland’s company…[illegible]….not recall the Colonel’s name, & joined the regiment at West Point. That he served his term of enlistment there, which was three months & was discharged.
That he served in the whole in the Revolutionary War six months and eight days.
That he was living in Haverhill when called into service. Was born in that town 1753. Record of his age there. Has lived in Haverhill since the war in Sanbornton, New Hampshire in Canaan where he now lives & has lived 46 years. Volunteered in each service.
Gen. Putnam was in command at Cambridge till Gen. Washington came on, & while he was at West Point, Benedict Arnold till his treason, when Gen. [Alexander] McDougall took his place. Never received any other [dishonorable?] discharges. That John Worth, David Dustin, Joshua Wells, George Winnhall & Elijah Blasdell & others of his neighbors will testify that he is person of truth & veracity & believe he was a revolutionary soldier as he stated. That he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person who can testify directly to any of his services except David Dustin.
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, — Daniel Colby [X = his mark]
& was aforesaid, George Woodward, Clerk
We, Elijah Blasdell residing in Canaan and Joshua Wells residing in New Canaan hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Daniel Colby, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 79 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.
Sworn and subscribed the Elijah Blasdell and Joshua Wells & the aforesaid Geo. Woodward, Clerk
I, George Woodward, Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Daniel Colby, for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and deal of office, this fifth day of September 1832
Geo. Woodward, Clerk
DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832
County of Strafford, State of New Hampshire
On this 30th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judge of the said Court of Probate, now sitting, Ebenezer Colby, a resident of Sanbornton in the county of Strafford and state of New Hampshire, age 70 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 7 June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated that he was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1761. Lived there till he entered the service as a Revolutionary Soldier. That he enlisted in December 1777 under Capt. Nathaniel Lacy [?] of Bradford. Do not recollect the name of the Lieutenant. Col. Peabody’s Regiment, Massachusetts line for three & a half months. Was marched immediately to Winter Hill near Boston. There guarded the prisoners that were surrendered by Burgoyne. Served three & a half months. The full time of his enlistment was dismissed. Had no written discharge.
That the 1st of August 1778 he enlisted for three months & served under Capt. Johnson, Lieut. Magoon [Magoun] or Molson—cannot be certain as to the name. Marched directly to Howland’s Ferry, Rhode Island & to the the Island. Was there at the time of the Battle on the Island, Gen. Sullivan’s retreat. That under said last mentioned enlistment he served one month and a half. Was honorably dismissed. Did not take any written discharge.
That in September or October 1779 he enlisted for three months by Capt. Johnson & marched immediately under Capt. Magoon or Molson, Lieut. Middleton from there to Greenbush & Albany, New York. Served three months & dismissed. Had no written discharge.
That he actually served eight months or greater during the above enlistments. That he has no documentary evidence and knows of none he can procure who can testify to his said services other than the persons having affidavits. That since he left the service, has lived in Haverhill about two years, then moved to Sanbornton, New Hampshire. Have lived in Sanbornton forty-eight years. Last part from [?] live in Sanbornton.
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, — Ebenezer Colby
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in court, Daniel C. Atkinson, Judge of Probate
We, Samuel Tilton, residing in Sanbornton, and Robert Hurkins, residing in Sanbornton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Colby, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 70 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in Court, — Samuel Tilton, Robert Hurkins
etc.
Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3rd March 1848 granting permission to certain widow ____ ____ received pension under the Act of July 7th 1838.
State of New Hampshire
Belknap, Jr.
On this twenty-fifth day of March 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Magistrate in and for the county and that aforesaid Anna Colby, a resident of Sanbornton in the county of Belknap and state aforesaid, aged eighty years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the procession made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Ebenezer Colby who was a private during the Revolution. That she is entitled to a pension under Act of July 7th 1838 at the rate of twenty-six dollars, twenty-six cents.
She further declares that she is still a widow. — Anne Colby (x=her mark)
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above.
Written before me, — Henry Y. Simpson, Justice of Peace through said state.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County
Town Clerk’s Office
Amesbury
May 5th 1843
I, Amos Weed of Amesbury in the county of Essex and Commonwealth aforesaid, depose and say that I hold the office of town clerk of Amesbury aforesaid.
That I have the records of said town of Amesbury in my possession. That I have examined the records of said town of Amesbury and cannot find any record of said town books of the marriage of Ebenezer Colby and Anne Hoyt, now Anne Colby. That I have held the office of Town Clerk of Amesbury aforesaid from March 2nd 1840 to the present time. That I have examined the records of said town from 1775 to 1820. That the records do afford evidence of the marriage in question as follows; viz.
Ebenezer Colby of Haverhill entered his intentions of marriage with Anne Hoyt of Amesbury December twenty-fourth, seventeen hundred eighty-three—April 7, 1783. That the records do not appear regular and full. That there is no records of marriages to be found on said town books from 1781 to 1784, and do not raise the least presumption against an alleged marriage within the town of Amesbury, which is not found thereon.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the records with the exception of the dates, which is expressed on the records in fair legible figures as above expressed.
Attest: Amos Weld, Town Clerk
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