John Grant Pension

W 14817

From pension file..
May 18, 1818 John Grant of Epsom, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 63 years of age, deposed:
that in May, 1775 he enlisted for eight months under Capt. Joseph Parsons, Col. Joshua Wentworth, and was stationed at Newcastle and Portsmouth for the entire time;
that about one month before the Battle of Bennington he enlisted for nine months under Capt. Rollins, Col. Drake;
that he was in the battles at Bennington and Stillwater and helped to take Gen. Burgoyne's army at Saratoga;
served out his term at Fishkill, New York and remained one month longer by request of his officers and received a written discharge which he has lost.
John Grant

Rejected as instead of the nine months service required by law of March 18, 1818 only eight months and 14 days service in Continental Line could be proven, and application returned.
July 1, and October 6, 1837 Dorothy Grant of Allenstown, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, 84 years of age, deposed:
that she is the widow of John Grant, formerly of Epsom, New Hampshire who served in the Revolutionary War 18 months;
that she was married to him April 20, 1776 in Rye, New Hampshire her name before marriage being Dorothy Foss;
and that her husband died at Epsom, July 14, 1822.
Dorothy Grant.

For particulars of service she forwarded the application made by her husband in 1818.
June 19, 1837 Huntington Porter, Pastor of Congregational Church at Rye, New Hampshire testified that the marriage of John Grant and Dorothy Foss April 20, 1775 is recorded in the Church book in the handwriting of Rev. Samuel Parsons, deceased, former pastor of the church.
Huntington Porter

December 25, 1837, JETHRO LIBBEE, of Allenstown, New Hampshire, 82 years of age, Revolutionary Soldier, testified that he formerly lived in Epsom, New Hampshire within a short distance of John and Esther Grant and that they later lived in Allentown within a few miles of each other; that he (deponent) enlisted in 1775 under Capt Brown of Brentwood and Lieut. Barnum of Deerfield and served eight months at the island of New Castle, New Hampshire while there frequently saw John Grant in New Castle, Seavey's Island and The Pines, but as this occurred sixty years ago and he never expected to be called upon to say how long Grant served he can not tell definitely. "He was a remarkable strong, muscular man having a firm constitution, enjoyed good health, liked a military life; and soldiers, especially such soldiers, then, were in great demand. While he was in the service at New Castle Samuel Davis, now living at Epsom, and about my age, lived with his family in Greenland, to do his labor for him"; that Grant served also in 1777 in Burgoyne's campaign, as was generally believed at the time; that during Grant's lifetime he (deponent) thought of applying for a pension but Grant told me his own application had failed as service was considered Militia.
Signed by mark.
witnessed my Emily Fife.

July 22, 1837 Nathan Goss of Allentown, New Hampshire 54 years of age, testified that he is married to Dorothy, (daughter of John and Dorothy Grant) 55 years of age and that his wife has two brothers living in Epsom, the adjoining town, Simon Grant, 65, and John Grant, 57 years of age, both of whom are married and have large families;
that he knew of his father in law's applying for a pension etc. of his death in Epsom in 1822; that he has often been told that the Grants were married in Rye where they lived for a time, then moved to Greenland and then to Epsom, where Grant died.
Nathan Goss

January 6, 1838 and August 30, 1838, JONATHAN URIN of Concord, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire and knew John Grant very well; that he (deponent) was hired by the town of Boscawen to serve and rendered such service under Capt. Isaac Farwell of Charlestown, New Hampshire was at White Plains, New York in the summer of 1778; saw Grant in service at Peekskill, New York in the spring of 1778 etc.
Signed by mark.
The first declaration was witnessed by Marshal Baker and G. F. Sanborn; and the second by Sewel Hoit and Catherine Hoit.

October 10, 1837 BENJAMIN PAGE of Chichester, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he saw Grant in service at New Castle in 1775 and also saw him in 1777 at Bemis' Heights, Stillwater and Saratoga; knew that he was married before he entered the service; in response to the question if it was common for soldiers stationed on the islands in Portsmouth Harbor in the early part of the war to change their Captains etc. deponent said it was not infrequent when more labor or men were needed to have the men shifted from one island and one company to another for a day or week as occasion seemed to warrant.
Benjamin Page.

December 8, 1837 SAMUEL DAVIS of Epsom (close by the Allentown line) Revolutionary Soldier, in his 78th year, testified to living in Rye in May, 1775 and going to Greenland, New Hampshire to take care of John Grant's affairs, he having enlisted in the public service; that he was a relative and knew the Grants very well; knows that neither of them married more than once; knew of the two services of Grant as he was living in his house etc. "I was myself out in the war of the Revolution six months and upwards under Capt. Cheeseman of Conn. in 1781 and was at West Point at the time of the execution of Major Andre, which I saw, and which was on the 2nd of October of that year. I was then 21 years old. I have never applied for a pension.
Samuel Davis.

February 12, 1838 THOMAS HAINES of Concord, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he was born in Hampton, New Hampshire and is now 77 years of age; that in the early part of the Revolutionary War he enlisted under Capt. Eben Frye of Pembroke, Col. Joseph Cilley of Nottingham and marched to Ticonderoga; was then only 13 or 14 years old; served the first year as waiter to Col. Cilley and after a year was put in the ranks and kept with the army that retreated before Burgoyne, until it became strong enough to defeat him; "In the last great battle that preceded the surrender of Burgoyne I was desperately wounded and left for dead with the dead on the field; but some time after when a detachment of our army were burying the dead, Lieut. Wilkins, a New Hampshire officer, discovered signs of life in me, when I was taken from the field of battle and carried to the hospital at Albany, where I was a patient, and at Schenectady more than a year. I was, after I was able to do duty, stationed at Fishkill down the Hudson river" that he knew Grant during the latter part of this time and continued the acquaintance until Grant's death; they often talked of their experiences etc.
Thomas Haines.

July 19, 1838 Hall Burgin of Concord, New Hampshire, 68 years of age, testified that in May, 1818 he was Associate Justice of Court of Pleas, in Rockingham County and continued to serve until Merrimac County was formed and he was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions for Merrimack County which office he held until the court was abolished; that during his term of office many old soldiers applied for pension, among them, John Grant, whom he knew very well and whose character was beyond reproach.

August 13, 1838 Nathan Goss of Allenstown, New Hampshire 54 years of age, testified again to having heard Grant tell his children, grandchildren and neighbors about his services at Fishkill, part of the time being spent in building fortifications;
Dorothy Goss, wife of Nathan testified to the truth of her husband's statement.
Dorothy Goss

August 14, 1838 Samuel Cochran, Jr. of Pembroke, New Hampshire, 61 years of age, certified to the good character of Samuel Davis, whom he had known many years; and also to that of John Grant with whom he had often conversed about the Revolutionary War, who had worked for him etc.
Samuel Cochran Jr.

August 14, 1838 Rev. James McCutcheon, an ordained minister of the Free Will Baptist Church at Epsom, New Hampshire testified to the good character of Grant, who "was so obliging and blameless and civil in his deportment that he made no enemies and every body that knew him seemed to be his friend" also to the good character of Dorothy, Grant's widow, a member of his church, who is "universally respected and esteemed in Epsom and generally in the adjoining towns, on account of her great age, and her charity, meekness, piety and remarkable intelligence."
John McCutcheon.

August 10, 1838 Josiah Sanborn of Epsom, New Hampshire 75 years of age, testified that Grant "lived and died within a mile and a half of my house where I have always lived and where I expect to die." that both Grant and his widow, Dorothy, sustained a good character etc.
Josiah Sanborn.

August 27, 1838 Philip Carrigan of Concord, New Hampshire, 60 years of age, testified to the good memory of Dorothy Grant, that her statements agreed perfectly with those of her cousin, Samuel Davis, although she did not know what Davis had said etc; that she has now moved to Epsom etc.
Philip Carrigan.

August 10, 1838 SAMUEL DAVIS "aged 80 years if I live until the second day of next September, " repeated his former testimony in regard to Grant; but states: "I myself enlisted in the war of the Revolution under a Capt. Jewell of Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire (Rye and Greenland are on the ?? ) and was marched to West Point in New York where I was detached under a Capt. Cheeseman of Conn. to blast rocks to make a cistern for Fort Putnam that would hold a vast many hogsheads of water for the use of the fort aforesaid"...."Andre's execution made an impression on me that I never shall forget while life lasts."
Samuel Davis.

Certificate from S. C. Badger, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for Merrimack County that among the witnesses who have testified in this case Hon. Hall Burgon [sp?, blurred] was formerly Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; Samuel Cochran Jr. is Justice for the Peace; Hon. Josiah Sanborn was formerly a Senator in the State Legislature; and that Philip Carrigan was formerly Secretary of State of New Hampshire.

December 17, 1838 JOHN DURGIN of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, 82 years of age, testified that while at Peekskill, New York in Nov. 1777 he often heard the name of John Grant called, but does not remember if after he went to Valley Forge.
John Durgin

December 28, 1838 JONATHAN FOGG of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified to having spent many an hour talking with John Grant, who was a jovial, large man, and somewhat addicted to stuttering; that he often told him of his services at New Castle and in New York state etc.
Jona. Fogg.

Jan. 4, 1839 JONATHAN URIN repeated his former testimony.
In letters to the Department, Phillip Carrigan, Attorney for Dorothy Grant, writes Feb. 20, 1838; "Some year since, on account of a contemplated publication, I was desirous to ascertain accurately the names of all the soldiers furnished by New Hampshire in the Revolutionary War and the late Gen. McClary of Epsom, whose widow now draws pension on account of his services in that war, gave me a list of all in that town and the vicinity whom he personally knew were Revolutionary soldiers and among them were Elisha Haynes and John Grant and the General put down Grant's services as one year and a half."
August 23, 1838 Carrigan wrote; "Hon Judge Burgin is also a religious man and long has been a preaching Elder of the Sect called Christians, and formerly lived near Grant."
Claim allowed and Certificate 2495, Concord, New Hampshire Agency, was issued Feb. 7, 1839, Act of July 4, 1836, Section 3.

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			Pension of John Grant & widow Dorothy
			W 14817 From pension file.. May 18, 1818 John Grant of Epsom, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 63 years of age, deposed: that in May, 1775 he enlisted for eight months under Capt. Joseph Parsons, Col. Joshua Wentworth, and was stationed at Newcastle and Portsmouth for the entire time; that about one month before the Battle of Bennington he enlisted for nine months under Capt. Rollins, Col. Drake; that he was in the battles at Bennington and Stillwater and helped to take Gen. Burgoyne's army at Saratoga; served out his term at Fishkill, New York and remained one month longer by request of his officers and received a written discharge which he has lost. John Grant Rejected as instead of the nine months service required by law of March 18, 1818 only eight months and 14 days service in Continental Line could be proven, and application returned. July 1, and October 6, 1837 Dorothy Grant of Allenstown, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, 84 years of age, deposed: that she is the widow of John Grant, formerly of Epsom, New Hampshire who served in the Revolutionary War 18 months; that she was married to him April 20, 1776 in Rye, New Hampshire her name before marriage being Dorothy Foss; and that her husband died at Epsom, July 14, 1822. Dorothy Grant. For particulars of service she forwarded the application made by her husband in 1818. June 19, 1837 Huntington Porter, Pastor of Congregational Church at Rye, New Hampshire testified that the marriage of John Grant and Dorothy Foss April 20, 1775 is recorded in the Church book in the handwriting of Rev. Samuel Parsons, deceased, former pastor of the church. Huntington Porter December 25, 1837, JETHRO LIBBEE, of Allenstown, New Hampshire, 82 years of age, Revolutionary Soldier, testified that he formerly lived in Epsom, New Hampshire within a short distance of John and Esther Grant and that they later lived in Allentown within a few miles of each other; that he (deponent) enlisted in 1775 under Capt Brown of Brentwood and Lieut. Barnum of Deerfield and served eight months at the island of New Castle, New Hampshire while there frequently saw John Grant in New Castle, Seavey's Island and The Pines, but as this occurred sixty years ago and he never expected to be called upon to say how long Grant served he can not tell definitely. "He was a remarkable strong, muscular man having a firm constitution, enjoyed good health, liked a military life; and soldiers, especially such soldiers, then, were in great demand. While he was in the service at New Castle Samuel Davis, now living at Epsom, and about my age, lived with his family in Greenland, to do his labor for him"; that Grant served also in 1777 in Burgoyne's campaign, as was generally believed at the time; that during Grant's lifetime he (deponent) thought of applying for a pension but Grant told me his own application had failed as service was considered Militia. Signed by mark. witnessed my Emily Fife. July 22, 1837 Nathan Goss of Allentown, New Hampshire 54 years of age, testified that he is married to Dorothy, (daughter of John and Dorothy Grant) 55 years of age and that his wife has two brothers living in Epsom, the adjoining town, Simon Grant, 65, and John Grant, 57 years of age, both of whom are married and have large families; that he knew of his father in law's applying for a pension etc. of his death in Epsom in 1822; that he has often been told that the Grants were married in Rye where they lived for a time, then moved to Greenland and then to Epsom, where Grant died. Nathan Goss January 6, 1838 and August 30, 1838, JONATHAN URIN of Concord, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire and knew John Grant very well; that he (deponent) was hired by the town of Boscawen to serve and rendered such service under Capt. Isaac Farwell of Charlestown, New Hampshire was at White Plains, New York in the summer of 1778; saw Grant in service at Peekskill, New York in the spring of 1778 etc. Signed by mark. The first declaration was witnessed by Marshal Baker and G. F. Sanborn; and the second by Sewel Hoit and Catherine Hoit. October 10, 1837 BENJAMIN PAGE of Chichester, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he saw Grant in service at New Castle in 1775 and also saw him in 1777 at Bemis' Heights, Stillwater and Saratoga; knew that he was married before he entered the service; in response to the question if it was common for soldiers stationed on the islands in Portsmouth Harbor in the early part of the war to change their Captains etc. deponent said it was not infrequent when more labor or men were needed to have the men shifted from one island and one company to another for a day or week as occasion seemed to warrant. Benjamin Page. December 8, 1837 SAMUEL DAVIS of Epsom (close by the Allentown line) Revolutionary Soldier, in his 78th year, testified to living in Rye in May, 1775 and going to Greenland, New Hampshire to take care of John Grant's affairs, he having enlisted in the public service; that he was a relative and knew the Grants very well; knows that neither of them married more than once; knew of the two services of Grant as he was living in his house etc. "I was myself out in the war of the Revolution six months and upwards under Capt. Cheeseman of Conn. in 1781 and was at West Point at the time of the execution of Major Andre, which I saw, and which was on the 2nd of October of that year. I was then 21 years old. I have never applied for a pension. Samuel Davis. February 12, 1838 THOMAS HAINES of Concord, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified that he was born in Hampton, New Hampshire and is now 77 years of age; that in the early part of the Revolutionary War he enlisted under Capt. Eben Frye of Pembroke, Col. Joseph Cilley of Nottingham and marched to Ticonderoga; was then only 13 or 14 years old; served the first year as waiter to Col. Cilley and after a year was put in the ranks and kept with the army that retreated before Burgoyne, until it became strong enough to defeat him; "In the last great battle that preceded the surrender of Burgoyne I was desperately wounded and left for dead with the dead on the field; but some time after when a detachment of our army were burying the dead, Lieut. Wilkins, a New Hampshire officer, discovered signs of life in me, when I was taken from the field of battle and carried to the hospital at Albany, where I was a patient, and at Schenectady more than a year. I was, after I was able to do duty, stationed at Fishkill down the Hudson river" that he knew Grant during the latter part of this time and continued the acquaintance until Grant's death; they often talked of their experiences etc. Thomas Haines. July 19, 1838 Hall Burgin of Concord, New Hampshire, 68 years of age, testified that in May, 1818 he was Associate Justice of Court of Pleas, in Rockingham County and continued to serve until Merrimac County was formed and he was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions for Merrimack County which office he held until the court was abolished; that during his term of office many old soldiers applied for pension, among them, John Grant, whom he knew very well and whose character was beyond reproach. August 13, 1838 Nathan Goss of Allenstown, New Hampshire 54 years of age, testified again to having heard Grant tell his children, grandchildren and neighbors about his services at Fishkill, part of the time being spent in building fortifications; Dorothy Goss, wife of Nathan testified to the truth of her husband's statement. Dorothy Goss August 14, 1838 Samuel Cochran, Jr. of Pembroke, New Hampshire, 61 years of age, certified to the good character of Samuel Davis, whom he had known many years; and also to that of John Grant with whom he had often conversed about the Revolutionary War, who had worked for him etc. Samuel Cochran Jr. August 14, 1838 Rev. James McCutcheon, an ordained minister of the Free Will Baptist Church at Epsom, New Hampshire testified to the good character of Grant, who "was so obliging and blameless and civil in his deportment that he made no enemies and every body that knew him seemed to be his friend" also to the good character of Dorothy, Grant's widow, a member of his church, who is "universally respected and esteemed in Epsom and generally in the adjoining towns, on account of her great age, and her charity, meekness, piety and remarkable intelligence." John McCutcheon. August 10, 1838 Josiah Sanborn of Epsom, New Hampshire 75 years of age, testified that Grant "lived and died within a mile and a half of my house where I have always lived and where I expect to die." that both Grant and his widow, Dorothy, sustained a good character etc. Josiah Sanborn. August 27, 1838 Philip Carrigan of Concord, New Hampshire, 60 years of age, testified to the good memory of Dorothy Grant, that her statements agreed perfectly with those of her cousin, Samuel Davis, although she did not know what Davis had said etc; that she has now moved to Epsom etc. Philip Carrigan. August 10, 1838 SAMUEL DAVIS "aged 80 years if I live until the second day of next September, " repeated his former testimony in regard to Grant; but states: "I myself enlisted in the war of the Revolution under a Capt. Jewell of Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire (Rye and Greenland are on the ?? ) and was marched to West Point in New York where I was detached under a Capt. Cheeseman of Conn. to blast rocks to make a cistern for Fort Putnam that would hold a vast many hogsheads of water for the use of the fort aforesaid"...."Andre's execution made an impression on me that I never shall forget while life lasts." Samuel Davis. Certificate from S. C. Badger, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for Merrimack County that among the witnesses who have testified in this case Hon. Hall Burgon [sp?, blurred] was formerly Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; Samuel Cochran Jr. is Justice for the Peace; Hon. Josiah Sanborn was formerly a Senator in the State Legislature; and that Philip Carrigan was formerly Secretary of State of New Hampshire. December 17, 1838 JOHN DURGIN of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, 82 years of age, testified that while at Peekskill, New York in Nov. 1777 he often heard the name of John Grant called, but does not remember if after he went to Valley Forge. John Durgin December 28, 1838 JONATHAN FOGG of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Pensioner, testified to having spent many an hour talking with John Grant, who was a jovial, large man, and somewhat addicted to stuttering; that he often told him of his services at New Castle and in New York state etc. Jona. Fogg. Jan. 4, 1839 JONATHAN URIN repeated his former testimony. In letters to the Department, Phillip Carrigan, Attorney for Dorothy Grant, writes Feb. 20, 1838; "Some year since, on account of a contemplated publication, I was desirous to ascertain accurately the names of all the soldiers furnished by New Hampshire in the Revolutionary War and the late Gen. McClary of Epsom, whose widow now draws pension on account of his services in that war, gave me a list of all in that town and the vicinity whom he personally knew were Revolutionary soldiers and among them were Elisha Haynes and John Grant and the General put down Grant's services as one year and a half." August 23, 1838 Carrigan wrote; "Hon Judge Burgin is also a religious man and long has been a preaching Elder of the Sect called Christians, and formerly lived near Grant." Claim allowed and Certificate 2495, Concord, New Hampshire Agency, was issued Feb. 7, 1839, Act of July 4, 1836, Section 3.
			Posted online by Christine Pettit 1/16/2002